I'm about to piss some people off. . .

I have to vent. . . and stand up on a soap box.  We are all entitled to an opinion, but lately. . . things have gotten out of control. . . especially with this upcoming presidential election and honestly, I haven't seen anything but the other side bashing the other side.  When did we stop becoming a Government for the People by the People?  WHEN???

And what really bugs me are issues that each side takes up and honestly, while it's an important issue, it really shouldn't be the issue that it is for one reason:  Our Fore Fathers established a Separation of Church and State for a reason and it's written in the First Amendment which states:  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Marriage quit being a religious issue when you could be legally married by a Justice of the Peace.  Or when state governments started recognizing common law marriages.  Or even better yet, when you could become an ordained minister online for $19.95 just to officiate a ceremony.  Did you know you could be an Atheist and be an ordained minister online?

Back when my Mom was in college. . . and this was the late 60s. . . It was almost unheard of that people of different religions got married.  My own Grandma had a problem with my Mom dating a Catholic. . . because we were Lutheran.  She didn't approve and couldn't support it if they were to have gotten married.  Now my Lutheran cousin is married to someone who is Jewish.  GASP!  :)

I think this all got me thinking a lot this last week because I have gay friends who are in committed relationships (and I just saw the play Rent on Friday), but you shouldn't dislike/hate someone because of who they love.  I, of all people, know you can't help who you love.  How many times have we really pondered why someone we know is with a certain someone???  I usually am just attracted to douche bags.  :)  But that's why you should dislike/hate someone. . . because they did something horrible to you and treated you like crap and killed your puppy.  That's a good reason to not like someone.  They are a jerk.  It makes sense.

I just don't understand how these so-called "Christians" speak of all this hate when they talk about how marriage is only between a man and woman because it's in the Bible.  The Bible also says you should love everyone and says to forgive.  Maybe people should start putting THAT on the signs back to those people.

I just think that same sex marriages should be legal. . . and leave it up the church to decide if it should be religious.  Because in America (and I'm guessing all over the world) not all marriages are religious ceremonies anymore.  So if we are supposed to have this separation of church and state, and kids get in trouble for praying in school before tests because of religion, then we need to take the church out of marriage because it's not there anymore anyway, and let the Church decide what they want to do with it.  And let our government get back to being for the people and for equality for all.

And end rant.