How did all this begin? How do we decide what's right?
Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker overturned California's gay-marriage ban in a landmark case that could eventually force the U.S. Supreme Court to confront the question of whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to wed. Most people missed the news flash or did not care about the result. But each of us should care, because today's ruling is History in the making and one of similar events that have changed humanity. Things were not always like this. Freedom and Justice were much harder to achieve 800 years ago. Over time, mankind has moved from a position in which our "fate" was thought to be pre-established by god, even before our birth, to the freedom we enjoy today. At one dark point it was argued that Humanity did not have free will to decide things for ourselves.
Make no mistake. We are not free now. If you think you are free, get high, and drive naked at 100 miles per hour. That should cure you.
Humanity is much freer today than they were in 1215. Prior to 1215 the common belief was in the "Divine Right of Kings". It meant that the King was selected by god to lead us and his will must be obeyed. No voting, no courts, no judges. The King decided everything. It is almost a joke to believe this was common "law" prior to 1215. No joke, the King made all the decisions.
Liberals, those progressives who hate existing norms, pushed for Laws to govern humanity. On June 15, 1215 the Magna Carte was signed. The Magna Carta of 1215 required King John of England to proclaim certain liberties, and accept that his will was not arbitrary, for example by explicitly accepting that no freeman could be punished except through the law of the land, a right which is still in existence today. This was the beginning of the long road to the current level of freedom enjoyed by us and some of humanity.
Other events helped to shape the freedom we enjoy. The writing and signing of the US Constitution, the Abolition of Slavery, the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, giving women the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On each of these days, History was made in that Freedom was expanded to more of humanity.
Today, History was made in San Francisco and we need to remember it has been an 800 year fight to get this far. Labels, like Conservative or Liberal, have changed greatly over the last 800 years. The one thing that has not changed is the march forward for more and better individual freedom for Humanity. When issues, like Gay Marriage arise, you have a choice. Are you on the side of increased Freedom for Humanity or are you a supporter of restricting Freedom for yourself or others? Throw out the worn out labels and make decisions based on expanding freedom for Humanity.
Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker overturned California's gay-marriage ban in a landmark case that could eventually force the U.S. Supreme Court to confront the question of whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to wed. Most people missed the news flash or did not care about the result. But each of us should care, because today's ruling is History in the making and one of similar events that have changed humanity. Things were not always like this. Freedom and Justice were much harder to achieve 800 years ago. Over time, mankind has moved from a position in which our "fate" was thought to be pre-established by god, even before our birth, to the freedom we enjoy today. At one dark point it was argued that Humanity did not have free will to decide things for ourselves.
Make no mistake. We are not free now. If you think you are free, get high, and drive naked at 100 miles per hour. That should cure you.
Humanity is much freer today than they were in 1215. Prior to 1215 the common belief was in the "Divine Right of Kings". It meant that the King was selected by god to lead us and his will must be obeyed. No voting, no courts, no judges. The King decided everything. It is almost a joke to believe this was common "law" prior to 1215. No joke, the King made all the decisions.
Liberals, those progressives who hate existing norms, pushed for Laws to govern humanity. On June 15, 1215 the Magna Carte was signed. The Magna Carta of 1215 required King John of England to proclaim certain liberties, and accept that his will was not arbitrary, for example by explicitly accepting that no freeman could be punished except through the law of the land, a right which is still in existence today. This was the beginning of the long road to the current level of freedom enjoyed by us and some of humanity.
Other events helped to shape the freedom we enjoy. The writing and signing of the US Constitution, the Abolition of Slavery, the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, giving women the right to vote, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On each of these days, History was made in that Freedom was expanded to more of humanity.
Today, History was made in San Francisco and we need to remember it has been an 800 year fight to get this far. Labels, like Conservative or Liberal, have changed greatly over the last 800 years. The one thing that has not changed is the march forward for more and better individual freedom for Humanity. When issues, like Gay Marriage arise, you have a choice. Are you on the side of increased Freedom for Humanity or are you a supporter of restricting Freedom for yourself or others? Throw out the worn out labels and make decisions based on expanding freedom for Humanity.
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