Ran across this old post at the defunct Know Thy Neighbor Florida blog and thought it was good enough that you should read it. I did not author this:
Today, I was compelled to just review our Constitution, I wondered what treasures lie therein that give me my rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Florida. I didn't get very far in my reading today, in fact, I got stuck at the Preamble. There is a huge lump in my throat, and honestly, I was nearly brought to tears when I read the very first part of our constitution.
How is it that we are even debating the rights of citizens, when it so clearly states the purpose of the constitution in the first line? What is happening?
PREAMBLE
"We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this constitution."
It doesn't say some of the civil and political rights for some of the people,
It doesn't say partial civil and political rights for all of the people.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for only those designated by petition initiatives.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for everybody except...
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for the majority opinion.
It doesn't say partial civil and political rights for the minorities.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for the majorities.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you belong to a certain political party.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you belong to a certain religion.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you belong to a race or ethnic origin.
It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you are heterosexual.
IT SAYS guarantee equal civil and political rights to all.
If Christ Church of Peace and it's members were standing up to fight for rights of heterosexual families, and advocating dialogue to help heterosexual families grow stronger - there would be no rhetoric, only expectation and appreciation that we are doing the right thing. But for many their focus is on the 'gay issue' and not the civil rights issue.
All people deserve equal rights, period, and it says in the Preamble to our constitution that was established to do so. Whether you agree with gay marriage or not, as a citizen of this great state and nation, surely you believe in the foundation that everyone is entitled to equal civil and political rights.
View the constitution by clicking here
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