Love Wins
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| We were invited by the Seattle Symphony to March with them in the Seattle Pride Parade, the opportunity to march in this parade became even more wonderful with the landmark decision by the Supreme Court allowing Gay Marriage in all 50 States. |
From The Associated Press:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Same-sex couples won the right to marry nationwide as a divided Supreme Court handed a crowning victory to the gay rights movement, setting off a jubilant cascade of long-delayed weddings in states where they had been forbidden.
"No longer may this liberty be denied," said Justice Anthony Kennedy.
The vote was narrow - 5-4 - but Kennedy's majority opinion was clear and firm: "The court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry."
The ruling issued Friday will put an end to same-sex marriage bans in the 14 states that still maintain them, and provide an exclamation point for breathtaking changes in the nation's social norms in recent years. As recently as last October, just over one-third of the states permitted gay marriages.
Kennedy's reading of the ruling elicited tears in the courtroom, euphoria outside and the immediate issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in at least eight states. In Dallas, Kenneth Denson said he and Gabriel Mendez had been legally married in 2013 in California but "we're Texans; we want to get married in Texas."
Also in the article:
Four of the court's justices weren't cheering. The dissenters accused their colleagues of usurping power that belongs to the states and to voters, and short-circuiting a national debate about same-sex marriage.
"This court is not a legislature. Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea should be of no concern to us," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in dissent. Roberts read a summary of his dissent from the bench, the first time he has done so in nearly 10 years as chief justice.
"If you are among the many Americans - of whatever sexual orientation - who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision," Roberts said. "But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."
Justice Antonin Scalia said he was not concerned so much about same-sex marriage as "this court's threat to American democracy." He termed the decision a "judicial putsch." Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas also dissented.
You should read the article init's entirety: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_GAY_MARRIAGE?SITE=AP
You know what they Say, It Ain't over till it's Over! Gay Pride Parades have been all about Gay rights and until These rights are fully established without dissent the March will continue.
The states affected by Friday's ruling are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, most of Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. So the debate over Liberty is not over. Certainly is is a Big step forward in the history of the United States . It is amazing how Americans live in this bubble without being conscious of developments in all the other nations
The above Map shows Twenty Countries with Legal Gay Marriage, the US was the most recent to join the group. The Netherlands started the ball rolling in 2001 and you can see the complete list at: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/landscape/entry/c/international
It is in the Declaration of Independence that these words are written:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The words Created equal, Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, and Safety seem pretty important. Also Justice seems to ring out pretty loud here as well. When we were in college at The University of Texas all teachers had to take 3 hours of Ethnic Studies. Lynn had a class in African American Studies and her professor said that Justice means "Just Us"! Well for a lot of American History he was exactly right. But now with the recent Supreme court decision there is a lot more Justice in "Just Us" Finally Gay's are included in the Justice community. There is still more work to do on the Justice side for sure in America.
One other idea that Thomas Jefferson put forth is the idea of Separation of Church and State. Here we have a system where we first get a license to marry from the state then most often go to a church and a minister performs the ceremony. Whatever, the importance of Separation of Church and State seems to be an ever increasing need for all of us as the world becomes smaller and much more international. Just take a look at these future predictions:
This shows the growth in the worlds religions by the year 2050
Here you can see the Muslims will catch up to the Christians.
When you think about some of the worlds religions we certainly want to encourage Separation of Church and State to the fullest extent possible, Would you risk being governed by Islam and the Koran?
Of course not. That is why we do not want to be governed by the Bible as well. Our Forefathers knew that religion has no place in Government but they were smart enough to also include Freedom of Religion so that we may all practice our beliefs as we see fit in our families and communities. The same protections afforded the Christians are also being enjoyed by a growing sector of Muslims in the United States.
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| We were recently downtown in Seattle, a very International City. We saw two women dressed in Burgas like these above. |
Lynn and I both had an unexpected reaction to seeing these women in their Burga. We both felt a sense of caution and a sense that it was so totally out of place anywhere in the US. We judged without even knowing anything about them. I am sure if we went to a Muslim country where this is customary then it would not seem out of place. This is an extreme example of course to drive the point home that Separation of Church and State is important. By making Gay marriage legal does not cause anyone living their lives with their chosen religious beliefs to be any different, it simply allow all to be equal in the eyes of the law. It deepens our Declaration of Independence and sense of Liberty. Justice expands and is more inclusive.
The Theme that resonated in Seattle was that LOVE WINS and we were very fortunate to attend this National Celebration.
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| IN our Seattle Symphony Pride T-shirts getting ready to walk downtown to join our symphony friends. |
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| Downtown is sparking for the event |
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| After meeting with our group at Benaroya Hall we all walked a few blocks to this staging area under a I - 5 bridge. |
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| Our group in our little corner watching the party crank up. see: http://youtu.be/3CUT3RROO68 |
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| We were there. |
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| After over two hours It's Almost time to march! |
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| Turning on to 5th Street the Audience thickens. |
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| Love comes from every direction, Everyone Appreciates Everyone! Partying with the group behind us http://youtu.be/kYI5LICstpI |
Just search 2015 Seattle Pride Parade on youtube.com and you will get several clips. Here are a couple I thought were pretty good:
Some Highlights set to music at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9arDx6ySzjI
And an almost complete video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztcfOylPqjE
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| Even the Center For Wooden Boats Celebrated Pride |
Even the Center For Wooden Boats Celebrated Pride
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