Love for all of humanity: give peace a chance
Kali Lingen
Issue date: 9/30/09 Section: Opinion & Editorial
"Gay? Fine by me." Those are words that resonate strongly with me. Last spring, I bought a T-shirt that reads that from the Gay Straight Alliance. I did not buy the shirt because I am gay, but rather because I care about humanity and have love for a fellow human being.
I know this YouTube clip is a little outdated, relatively, but it still resonates with me. Keith Olbermann, a MSNBC anchor, made a special comment on Nov. 10, 2008, about California's Proposition 8 which banned gay marriage. Olbermann's very emotional six-minute speech ignited the activist in me.
I think the following is the most powerful quote out of his whole speech.
"You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love," Olbermann said.
It is true. Gay marriage and gay rights in general, are things which I think should be granted and expected. Love is a natural human right. Who am I to tell you who you can and cannot love? And who are you to tell someone else that they legally cannot be with the person they love? I think it is cruel and unfair to everyone involved.
Seriously, watch Olbermann's special comment. Every time I watch it, I get more and more worked up about the gay marriage issue, which I think should not be an issue at all in 2009. When Olbermann pointed out that it is a question of love, it made me think. It made me question the religious beliefs I have, or had. After listening to Olbermann's compelling speech, it changed my mind forever about gay marriage.
I applaud the states that have legalized same-sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont.
Maine's same-sex marriage laws were supposed to take effect on Sept. 11, but now will be on the ballot in November. In New Hampshire, same-sex marriage will be legal on Jan. 1, 2010. In New York and Washington D.C., same-sex marriages are recognized, but not performed. I look forward to the day when same-sex marriages are at the very least recognized, if not legal, in all 50 states.
I know this YouTube clip is a little outdated, relatively, but it still resonates with me. Keith Olbermann, a MSNBC anchor, made a special comment on Nov. 10, 2008, about California's Proposition 8 which banned gay marriage. Olbermann's very emotional six-minute speech ignited the activist in me.
I think the following is the most powerful quote out of his whole speech.
"You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love," Olbermann said.
It is true. Gay marriage and gay rights in general, are things which I think should be granted and expected. Love is a natural human right. Who am I to tell you who you can and cannot love? And who are you to tell someone else that they legally cannot be with the person they love? I think it is cruel and unfair to everyone involved.
Seriously, watch Olbermann's special comment. Every time I watch it, I get more and more worked up about the gay marriage issue, which I think should not be an issue at all in 2009. When Olbermann pointed out that it is a question of love, it made me think. It made me question the religious beliefs I have, or had. After listening to Olbermann's compelling speech, it changed my mind forever about gay marriage.
I applaud the states that have legalized same-sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont.
Maine's same-sex marriage laws were supposed to take effect on Sept. 11, but now will be on the ballot in November. In New Hampshire, same-sex marriage will be legal on Jan. 1, 2010. In New York and Washington D.C., same-sex marriages are recognized, but not performed. I look forward to the day when same-sex marriages are at the very least recognized, if not legal, in all 50 states.
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