Because You Asked

I found this wonderful quilt photo on line and adopted it for my Facebook profile picture. 

Soon after posting the photo, I received this message: Can I ask u another totally random and unrelated question? Your fb pic, the quilted pic of the pink HRC logo- most people, unless they're gay aren't posting that unless they are touched personally by someone in their world struggling currently or in the past. Where did your motivation/conviction come from? And of course, feel free to tell me to mind my business :-)

Good question. Excellent question. I wish I knew the answer! 

Frankly, my friend, I don't think it was a conscious decision/choice, any more than your own sexuality is a decision or a choice. And I don't believe I was influenced by an individual struggle.

It is simply something I know to be right, the way I know it is wrong to prevent people of a particular race from voting; that equal pay for equal jobs is right and that women must be able to choose whether or not to bear a child.

I can't pinpoint when and how I knew gay marriage had to be legalized. It just stems from things I've always been taught to be true:

. . . Loving one another isn't limited to feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick; it extends to freeing the marginalized from the oppression of the sanctimonious. 

. . . And there's something somewhere else about all men being created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights.

Back in the 60s, I never marched for Civil Rights. I came to regret that.

Back in the 70s, I never demonstrated in support of Roe v. Wade. I came to regret that.

This may be my last chance to take a stand for something important. And I'm done with regrets.

Thank you for asking, Dibble. If you hadn't, I may not have written this.


Comments

I found my eyes welling with tears as I read this post. Thanks, Nancy.
Pamela Kieffer said…
Thanks, Nancy. I get so frustrated with remarks from my age group about this subject. I never know what to say. Wish I was one of those curmudgeons and could speak up for what I believe.
OT Quilter said…
Thank you, Nancy. Once again you have beautifully articulated what so many of us feel about this.
Barbara Anne said…
Amen, sister! Well said!

Long ago I heard someone say, "My rights end where the next person's nose begins." I took that to mean that I have no right to impose my beliefs on anyone else and I've tried to live that way.

Since God is LOVE, we are all loved equally.

To digress a tad, another thing I read is: "Beware of those who say 'Send your money to Jesus' and include their own mailing address!"

Thanks for this thoughtful post.

Hugs!
Helen said…
Your post pretty well sums up how I feel about gay rights. Thank you for stating it so well.

I have only demonstrated once...and that was a great feeling.

People are all different, have different needs, wants and circumstances. I always go back to Rodney King's statement..."Can we all get along?"
Quiltdivajulie said…
Beautifully stated . . .
LoieJ said…
I just read this: for many years, many of us have recited a pledge that includes: "With liberty and justice FOR ALL." Apparently you were paying attention to what you said.

Interesting, isn't it, that the conservatives often crow that the pledge isn't being said in schools any longer, although it is in the classes of people/kids I've asked. But do those who complain about its absence know what is really in it?

Do those who pray the Lord's prayer pay attention to the part about forgiveness?

Do those who attend church during Lent and hear the Gospel lessons hear the parts about justice?

Justice needs to go from words to belief to actions.

Thanks for posting your response.

ha: secret word I must type: Lordship
LoieJ said…
I meant the Gospel lessons during Advent, not Lent.
MB in MI said…
Thankyou for putting how I feel, also, into words. Nicely done.
Anonymous said…
Wonderfully written. The hatred and fear that surrounds this issue astonishes me, especially since it literally revolves around love.
Unknown said…
"freeing the marginalized from the oppression of the sanctimonious" Hear hear!!!
Vivian said…
Wow(applauding). I didn't even know about this organization so thank you for the education. Here's to no more regrets.
suz said…
very well said! thank you Nancy.