It is well known folly to raise politics, religion or race unless you are cruising for a fight.
Yet, the president of the United States has managed to serve up a concoction of all three by virtue of his recent pronouncement that he believes gay couples have a right to marry.
I’m not sure what political calculations transpired to lead both Vice President Biden and President Obama to issue their endorsements of one of the country’s most controversial propositions now – after all, the gay constituency is not exactly a swing vote — but you can bet there was some heavy duty adding and subtracting going on in the West Wing just days before they gave the thumbs up.
Previously, President Obama had said he approved only of civil unions between gay people. I would hate to think that, all along, he really supported gay marriage and held back that ultimate approval like a trump card, to be played with strategic timing and for effect. But, that’s politics for you; it’s all about what’s best for the politician, not necessarily for the masses.
On the other hand, Mr. Obama may have simply evolved. Graduated in his thinking.Progressed in his philosophy. Still, why now?
Whatever may have occurred in the White House war room, this much is for sure: They sho’ nuff started something. Especially in black houses of worship.
A good number of black ministers have denounced the president’s position, declaring it in conflict with the Bible, wherein God is said to condemn homosexual relations as an “abomination.”
It sometimes makes you wonder if some of the Christian clergy have read both parts of the Bible. The “abomination” passage comes from the Old Testament, the annals of Jewish law and prophecy aimed at getting people to behave so that the Messiah would come. Notably, the New Testament, which chronicles the life of Jesus Christ and the infancy of Christianity, makes no mention of such relationships and underscores God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and accessibility to all.
No wonder that there are countless people who are conflicted over this matter – maybe because they have gay friends, co-workers or relatives; maybe because they are, themselves, secretly gay; maybe because they simply cannot make sense of despising or discriminating against someone who is only asking to be who he or she is.
Yet, some ministers – Atlanta’s Eddie Long and Bernice King prominent among them – exacerbate the conflict by preaching hellfire and brimstone, carrying on about the wrath of God, as if there aren’t a host of other things that might draw the Almighty’s ire.
I have no patience for that kind of ministerial guidance, which does nothing to enlighten the strivers, but only insists on their lemming-like consent.No need to open a mouth against a closed mind.
I would, however, like to hear them explain where there’s anything in the Good Book that tells me I should do unto others as I would hate for others to do unto me.
