Speech for next semester ...
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So a few friends and I are planning on getting together a big gay-rally next semester to raise awareness. To be sure, there has to be follow-throughts after great rallies, and we plan on it.
Lauren's "Ignoring Sex" blog inspired me to finish this speech I started writing a few months ago ...I plan on using it for next year. Feedback?
Too political, not political enough?
SAVING AMERICA FROM A SHAMEFUL COURSE OF HISTORY
Thanks, Kristen, for that amazing speech - boy, she is everything that's right with America and a true patriot, isn't she?
And each and every one of you here are the very things that are right with America and true patriots.
You are everything that's right with America because you've committed yourselves - much like the civil rights leaders of previous generations - to stand up to speak out against social injustices.
And you are true patriots because patriotism isn't defined just by the flag we fly or the songs we sing - as beautiful as they might be - but by the genuine desire to see our fellow countrymen do well, regardless of whether we agree with their lifestyles.
I would love to stand before you today and tell you we are gathered here not as Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals, but as Americans and human beings - united in a fight toward equality because we realize the legitimacy and worth of a couple's relationship is not based on how or who they love, but by how much they love.
As much as I'd love to be able to say this - it's not true. We are gathered here today as friends, families and supporters of gays and lesbians who, for too long, have been denied the right to love - a right that has been given and afforded to every human being by their respective creator.
We are gathered here today as those whose loved ones are law-abiding Americans who, for too long, have been judged not by the content of their character and their contribution to the American Dream, but by the basis of their sexuality.
And we are here today because we're tired of seeing our fellow Americans be denied the Constitutional rights our forefathers had hoped to deliver to all Americans so that it may steer them away from a shameful course of history.
But as we are here, there are other Americans who are doing just the opposite.
Together, in a collaborative effort, they've create legislations here in the Commonwealth of Virginia and other states to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman - not because marriage, as they see it, is in jeopardy, but because they simply cannot and will not take the time to understand how two people of the same gender may fall in love.
Using their 1st Amendment rights, some Americans have staged protests at the funerals of American servicemembers, not because they are against the war in Iraq or are concerned for their fellow Americans, but because their muddled minds have led them to believe that freedom-loving Americans are dying in Iraq because God is carrying out vengeance against America for having harbored homosexuality.
Disturbing and shameful as these legislative and Constitutional acts of violence might be, there have also been the ultimate shame - acts of physical violence directed toward homosexuals simply because they've chosen to love differently than the majority of the population.
While the Matthew Shepard tragedy comes to mind as the most infamous of these acts of violence, thousands of ordinary Americans are getting physically assaulted everyday, and these cases often go unreported, simply because they are gay.
And there are countless acts of discrimination directed toward homosexuals every day. Even here on campus, homosexual students have been denied admittance to certain ROTC programs - programs that use taxpayers' dollars - including taxpayers who are homosexual. It seems their eligibility for military service is being judged not on their love for America, but for their sexuality.
For too long, those who stand between homosexuals and social justice have hi-jacked God and religion to deny homosexuals of their Constitutional rights.
It is time we stand up and say we are men and women of faith who believe that no human beings should ever be denied the right to love, because it is, after all, God's gift to all mankind.
They, too, have used 'the law' as a way to deny homosexuals the rights to marriage.
My fellow Americans, it is time that we stand up and say that laws are made to be changed when they do not reflect our American values - values that dictate that everyone counts and everyone deserves a chance.
As Americans, we must recognize the inherent worth and dignity of everyone - even if it means defending the beliefs of those we most disagree with.
While we recognize the rights of those who may not share the same views as we do about homosexuality to freely practice their religion and beliefs - we must also draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough.
This is because it is a violation of human dignity to deny law-abiding Americans the rights to freely live their lives simply because we do not or cannot understand why they would choose a certain lifestyle.
It is a violation of human rights when fellow our fellow human beings are subjected to acts of violence because they do not fall into the norm.
And it is a violation of the Constitution when Americans are prevented from reaching economic stability simply because they've chosen to commit their lives to loving persons of the same gender.
Not too long ago, 'the law' was also used to deny women and African-Americans of their rights.
If it weren't for the courage of woman like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, women would still be unable to vote today - because, after all, it was the law.
If it weren't for the courage of Oliver Brown, who stood up and challenged the law to allow his daughter to attend a school consisted of all the races, our campus would still be segregated today.
As they knocked on the door of civil liberties, these brave men and women were knocked down and trampled upon by those who did not understand why women would want to vote or blacks would want to attend the same schools as whites - but one by one, they got up and continued to knock on the door of liberty until they broke it down.
In doing so - they saved America.
They saved it from the undue discrimination toward women that would have plagued us - and it still does - as a nation. They saved us from the archaic ways of thinking and the assumption that somehow we are all different because of the color of our skin - and that our worth and values are not depended upon our God-given abilities, but by where our ancestors came from.
In all, they saved us of dredging down a shameful course of history - a course that, to be sure, would have made us the embarrassment of the world.
As we continue their fights for civil rights, let us remember them - for we are the products of their sacrifice.
However, it is time, once again, my fellow Americans, for us to knock on the door onfcivil liberties. This time, we must do so for our fellow Americans - those whose rights have been denied because of their sexuality.
While I believe that, at the end of the day, the right cares for America as much as we do, we must have the courage to stand up and say when it comes to allowing homosexuals to marry, the right is wrong and we, the left, are right.
Those of us who've been lucky enough to have achieved the American Dream have a moral obligation to give back to those who have not; those of us who've been lucky enough to have loved freely and as it pleases us have the moral imperative to ensure our fellow Americans have those same rights.
It is neither unpatriotic nor anti-Americans to challenge laws that are not consistent with our American values. In fact, it is imperative.
It is ungodly and against everything our forefathers stood for to watch idly as our fellow Americans are discriminated against.
It is immoral to remain silent against legislations that claim the moral high-ground by denying a specific group of Americans the rights to live their lives.
Most of all, it is unpatriotic to allow our country to continue down a shameful course of history. It is time we steer the course.
As Americans, we should be very proud of our nation, yet at the same time, equally shamed of its history.
My fellow Americans, on this day, let us make a pledge to work together so that one day, future generations can say they are proud of both!
Lauren's "Ignoring Sex" blog inspired me to finish this speech I started writing a few months ago ...I plan on using it for next year. Feedback?
Too political, not political enough?
SAVING AMERICA FROM A SHAMEFUL COURSE OF HISTORY
Thanks, Kristen, for that amazing speech - boy, she is everything that's right with America and a true patriot, isn't she?
And each and every one of you here are the very things that are right with America and true patriots.
You are everything that's right with America because you've committed yourselves - much like the civil rights leaders of previous generations - to stand up to speak out against social injustices.
And you are true patriots because patriotism isn't defined just by the flag we fly or the songs we sing - as beautiful as they might be - but by the genuine desire to see our fellow countrymen do well, regardless of whether we agree with their lifestyles.
I would love to stand before you today and tell you we are gathered here not as Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals, but as Americans and human beings - united in a fight toward equality because we realize the legitimacy and worth of a couple's relationship is not based on how or who they love, but by how much they love.
As much as I'd love to be able to say this - it's not true. We are gathered here today as friends, families and supporters of gays and lesbians who, for too long, have been denied the right to love - a right that has been given and afforded to every human being by their respective creator.
We are gathered here today as those whose loved ones are law-abiding Americans who, for too long, have been judged not by the content of their character and their contribution to the American Dream, but by the basis of their sexuality.
And we are here today because we're tired of seeing our fellow Americans be denied the Constitutional rights our forefathers had hoped to deliver to all Americans so that it may steer them away from a shameful course of history.
But as we are here, there are other Americans who are doing just the opposite.
Together, in a collaborative effort, they've create legislations here in the Commonwealth of Virginia and other states to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman - not because marriage, as they see it, is in jeopardy, but because they simply cannot and will not take the time to understand how two people of the same gender may fall in love.
Using their 1st Amendment rights, some Americans have staged protests at the funerals of American servicemembers, not because they are against the war in Iraq or are concerned for their fellow Americans, but because their muddled minds have led them to believe that freedom-loving Americans are dying in Iraq because God is carrying out vengeance against America for having harbored homosexuality.
Disturbing and shameful as these legislative and Constitutional acts of violence might be, there have also been the ultimate shame - acts of physical violence directed toward homosexuals simply because they've chosen to love differently than the majority of the population.
While the Matthew Shepard tragedy comes to mind as the most infamous of these acts of violence, thousands of ordinary Americans are getting physically assaulted everyday, and these cases often go unreported, simply because they are gay.
And there are countless acts of discrimination directed toward homosexuals every day. Even here on campus, homosexual students have been denied admittance to certain ROTC programs - programs that use taxpayers' dollars - including taxpayers who are homosexual. It seems their eligibility for military service is being judged not on their love for America, but for their sexuality.
For too long, those who stand between homosexuals and social justice have hi-jacked God and religion to deny homosexuals of their Constitutional rights.
It is time we stand up and say we are men and women of faith who believe that no human beings should ever be denied the right to love, because it is, after all, God's gift to all mankind.
They, too, have used 'the law' as a way to deny homosexuals the rights to marriage.
My fellow Americans, it is time that we stand up and say that laws are made to be changed when they do not reflect our American values - values that dictate that everyone counts and everyone deserves a chance.
As Americans, we must recognize the inherent worth and dignity of everyone - even if it means defending the beliefs of those we most disagree with.
While we recognize the rights of those who may not share the same views as we do about homosexuality to freely practice their religion and beliefs - we must also draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough.
This is because it is a violation of human dignity to deny law-abiding Americans the rights to freely live their lives simply because we do not or cannot understand why they would choose a certain lifestyle.
It is a violation of human rights when fellow our fellow human beings are subjected to acts of violence because they do not fall into the norm.
And it is a violation of the Constitution when Americans are prevented from reaching economic stability simply because they've chosen to commit their lives to loving persons of the same gender.
Not too long ago, 'the law' was also used to deny women and African-Americans of their rights.
If it weren't for the courage of woman like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, women would still be unable to vote today - because, after all, it was the law.
If it weren't for the courage of Oliver Brown, who stood up and challenged the law to allow his daughter to attend a school consisted of all the races, our campus would still be segregated today.
As they knocked on the door of civil liberties, these brave men and women were knocked down and trampled upon by those who did not understand why women would want to vote or blacks would want to attend the same schools as whites - but one by one, they got up and continued to knock on the door of liberty until they broke it down.
In doing so - they saved America.
They saved it from the undue discrimination toward women that would have plagued us - and it still does - as a nation. They saved us from the archaic ways of thinking and the assumption that somehow we are all different because of the color of our skin - and that our worth and values are not depended upon our God-given abilities, but by where our ancestors came from.
In all, they saved us of dredging down a shameful course of history - a course that, to be sure, would have made us the embarrassment of the world.
As we continue their fights for civil rights, let us remember them - for we are the products of their sacrifice.
However, it is time, once again, my fellow Americans, for us to knock on the door onfcivil liberties. This time, we must do so for our fellow Americans - those whose rights have been denied because of their sexuality.
While I believe that, at the end of the day, the right cares for America as much as we do, we must have the courage to stand up and say when it comes to allowing homosexuals to marry, the right is wrong and we, the left, are right.
Those of us who've been lucky enough to have achieved the American Dream have a moral obligation to give back to those who have not; those of us who've been lucky enough to have loved freely and as it pleases us have the moral imperative to ensure our fellow Americans have those same rights.
It is neither unpatriotic nor anti-Americans to challenge laws that are not consistent with our American values. In fact, it is imperative.
It is ungodly and against everything our forefathers stood for to watch idly as our fellow Americans are discriminated against.
It is immoral to remain silent against legislations that claim the moral high-ground by denying a specific group of Americans the rights to live their lives.
Most of all, it is unpatriotic to allow our country to continue down a shameful course of history. It is time we steer the course.
As Americans, we should be very proud of our nation, yet at the same time, equally shamed of its history.
My fellow Americans, on this day, let us make a pledge to work together so that one day, future generations can say they are proud of both!
!
