Rising young Republican leader, Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, writes in favor of a LGBT-inclusive, gay rights GOP.
Ms. McCain will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Log Cabin Republicans meeting.
Bravo Meghan! Thoughtful young leaders like you brighten the hopes for an America that embraces liberty and justice for all.
Comments 2
While I harbor no illusions about the nature of the U.S. (i.e. a nation that sacrifices its youth in the jungles of Vietnam for mineral wealth and the deserts of Iraq for oil wealth); I never the less remain skeptical of the gay-lesbian call for political redress of civil rights.
Perhaps, my naivete stems from simply not being aware. But I don’t understand what is left to legislate in terms of civil rights for any group. It is simply not possible to pass a law that will make people behave righteously.
Posted 11 May 2009 at 15:22 ¶Hi C.W. — good to see you here and thanks for the comment!
In many states (including Utah, where I live) a woman who paid her rent on time for five years and was a “model tenant” can be evicted from her rental home simply because the owner learned she is lesbian–no other reason need be given. It’s completely legal for the landlord to say, “I’m evicting you because you’re homosexual.” (And yes, it does happen).
In many states a gay man can be fired from his job, despite an exemplary work record, simply because of his sexual orientation–no other reason need be given. Completely legal. Is that fair and just?
With regard to your statement that “It is simply not possible to pass a law that will make people behave righteously,” I beg to differ.
If laws don’t influence behavior, why is murder illegal? Drunk driving? Burglary? Only for punishment, no deterrent rationale? I think not. Outlawing unjust behavior does make people behave differently.
Taking employment and housing discrimination as but two examples, consider that in the recent past, people of color, people with disabilities, women, and people over age 65 were all evicted or fired (or not hired) because of their differences. Because of equal opportunity legislation, it is much less common for people in those groups to be discriminated against. Therefore, I would disagree that laws don’t influence behavior; they affect our decisions almost every day.
Posted 11 May 2009 at 16:05 ¶Post a Comment