What is the first thing that goes through your mind when you hear the news?
You probably imagine them sight-seeing on their honeymoon or enjoying themselves on a cruise, then coming back to set up house together. You might see them buying a house, buying furniture, planting flowers around the house, taking romantic walks together. On weekends, you picture them shopping at the Farmers' Market, going out to dinner, and maybe attending church on Sunday. You suddenly see them with children, potty-training them, teaching them how to tie their shoes, dress themselves, taking them to school, doing family things. They vacation at the beach together every year. The couple goes through some difficulties in their lives, but their love keeps them together and they live happily ever after, like in a fairy tale.
Is that what you imagine when you hear the news?
image source: congerdesign on Pixabay
Now, what do you think about when you hear that Jane is marrying her childhood sweetheart, Nancy? Or that Robert is marrying his childhood sweetheart, Steve?
Are you as happy for them as you are for Betty and George?
Companionship is the hallmark of any close relationship.
It also saddens me that there aren't more lovers of democracyΒ β even in the US, ffsΒ β who are glad that freedom exists (in a few countries) to allow marriage between any two people who are in love. Some folk do not seem to value personal liberty and, instead, vote against the rights of others in this regard. What if it were their rights hanging in the balance and closed-minded attitudes prevented them from pursuing their dreams? They do not seem to have the mental capacity to think that far into the matter, nor the empathy to care about others.
Even if same-sex relationships are against one's religious viewpoints, that is still not justification to squash the freedoms of others. People should follow their religious beliefs in their own lives and not impose those beliefs on anyone else. If my religion teaches that eating bread is wrong, would it be fair for me to lobby the government to make bread illegal so that no one else could eat it? Of course not! It should be up to ME to follow that belief in my own life by refraining from eating bread. By the same logic, anyone who is against same-sex marriage should never marry someone of the same sex, while allowing others the freedom to do so if they wish.
Most religions have some variation of something that is often referred to as "The Golden Rule" which reads something like this:
I challenge everyone reading this post to treat others as they wish to be treated in all things, and "Thank you!" to those who do so. π
Return from Companionship, Marriage, and The Golden Rule to πππ₯π₯πͺ's Web3 Blog
