I was watching the news on Monday morning, and this segment on New York mayor candidate Carl Paladino put the cherry on the top of a great morning. (Notice the sarcasm oozing from that statement)
Paladino gave a speech about his anti-gay marriage stance. In the speech, Paladino expresses his idea of homosexuality-that it is unsuccessful, and those who grow up to marry a member of the opposite sex are much better off. "I don't want them [children] to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option," Paladino said.
The speech begins by him apologizing to homosexuals and saying that his remarks are against gay marriage, not meant to offend anyone who is gay. Alright buddy. If you feel the need to apologize before you say something, obviously you know the connotation and effect of your words. I'm sorry, but if someone told me my way of life was a terrible, unsuccessful thing, I would be extremely offended too.
The speech, the interview, and Paladino's cold reaction to questions about whether or not he thought his anti-gay marriage statements would fuel discrimination against homosexuals made him look rehearsed, rather ridiculous, and misinformed. When asked about his views, however, Paladino begins one of his sentences by saying "I'm a Catholic..."
I was infuriated. This is the type of person people are using to judge all Catholics by. This politician, whose only reason for speaking out against gay marriage is because his opponent decided to attend a gay pride parade with his daughters, and Paladino was fishing for votes.
Yes, I am fully away that in the eyes of God, a marriage between two men or two women is not a marriage at all. People who believe in the validity of this institution are simply people who have a different view. You and I may feel it is wrong, but how does that make a gay couple unsuccessful, invalid, and terrible? I just don't see it. Homosexuals can do great things too! They can be happy, adopt children, and raise them to be happy, confident, independent, successful people. Maybe they won't be Catholic. Big deal. I would much rather associate with a solicitous, conscientious person who was raised by gay parents than someone who is Catholic and can't seem to lift a finger for others, or works more hours than they spend with their children. Good people come from all different kinds of backgrounds, and having an open mind about their roots, sexual preferences, beliefs, etc, is really the key to getting along.
Paladino made himself look like a stereotypical bible thumper, not someone whose actions and thoughts are purely to praise God, his son, and his creation.
And now, I am in need of a segway into a conversation that Taylor and I were having earlier today. She says I should use "On a completely unrelated note..." However, the literary genius in me is going to try to make this relate.
Today, Mo-T invited all of us to attend the March for Life trip to Washington D.C. Though many hours on a bus, a couple days in D.C, praying, praising God, and all other kinds of awesome are things are bound to happen, anything that has to do with pro-life propaganda and abortion protests general makes me uneasy.
Don't get me wrong. I am 100%, without a doubt, against abortion. This is not something I endorse, accept, or would ever choose for myself. In that regard, I am pro-life. On the other hand, I would not want abortion to be made illegal. Restrictions, yes. Required education, yes. But I don't want my right-a woman's right-to choose to be taken away. To have an abortion is not a choice I would make, because I don't think I have the right to choose life or death. However, the fact that I had the option of making a choice would mean everything to me. I'm not going to choose it, but having the option seems like one more weapon a woman can use to protect herself against the evils in this world. In this regard, I am pro-choice. I want to have the opportunity to make a choice. I want other women to be able to make a choice. Just because I choose to have a child does not mean that someone else is going to feel the same way about their child. All we can do is pray for them and hope they can repair their relationship with God. Its like this-I don't feel that it is my right to take away someone else's right to choose.
I hate those labels: pro-life and pro-choice. Can't I be somewhere in between? It makes me feel like, if I'm not pro-life, I'm pro-killing? So not true. If I'm pro-choice though, it's as if I can't be pro-life. Does it make me a terrible person if I don't want to scream the horrors of abortion at the top of my lungs while holding a nearly offensive sign? I guess I just like to keep to myself. I want to share God's love, not tell people everything they believe in and do is wrong wrong wrong.
(insert something super clever here, but nothing overused, like Peace or It's Been Real)
Alanna
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