GAY MARRIAGE, AND OTHER HUMAN ISSUES

Posted by Cam Mosher

I love how the Universe keeps dragging me “kicking and screaming” into self-examination!

Coming from my own little narrow perceptive background AND applying to myself the principles I teach (see at least my previous post PERCEPTION AND REALITY, 7/20/2010, and the Principles under the Our Work tab above), the issue of Gay Marriage is up for me.  It brings up a personal and internal debate for me, and being all over the media, it brings up a great legal and social debate for us as Americans, and perhaps for us as Human Beings.  There is much passion on all sides.  Those opposed to making any form of same sex marriage/union legal or even accepted in society are viewing it through their own filter of perception, probably a perception based solely on their own experience and what they have been taught by society and their religion.  Those in support are viewing it through their own filter of perception, possibly (probably) a perception based on their own experience.  And since every one of them (and each of us!) IS RIGHT about our own perception of reality, of course our perception must apply to everyone AND be enforced on everyone.

If we really want to solve the problems of the world, including the problems of our own lives, relationships, and communities, WE MUST GET THIS PRINCIPLE.  None of us know what is real.  All any of us know is what we perceive to be real! Regarding a subject as personal as Gay Marriage (and many other issues facing us today), for anyone to tell another human being what their reality must be is simply wrong and impossible!  If we claim to want to live in community on this planet (and sadly, I am not sure that is what we as a species REALLY WANT, based on human history!), we must FIRST accept the diversity of us.  Let’s get real, folks!  The only thing we truly share in common is the fact that we are human.  Unfortunately, some of us won’t even accept that.  There are races, cultures and religions among us that see others and their choices and behaviors as inferior.

I am of the belief that no matter who or where a human being comes from on the planet, we all share the fundamentals of humanity.  We all love, grieve, hurt, feel joy and excitement, and share in common the basic human emotions.  We all want pretty much the same things for our life partners and children, security and opportunity.  No matter the color of our skins, we all bleed red.

I believe the United States of America was founded on (or has at least matured to) some basic principles contained in its founding document.  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  I see no exceptions in that simple statement.  And I hold out that this statement IS TRUTH as it states, and that it applies to all human beings everywhere as it states.  If we humans want to solve the problems of the world (beginning at home, wherever we live!), we must all get the meaning of this incredible line from the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.  ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ARE ENDOWED WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, which are enumerated in simple terms.  These apply to ALL MEN EVERYWHERE (meaning all men and women), including all races, all genders (and gender preferences), all nationalities, all cultures, etc.  I am forced by the principles I believe in and teach to confront my own personal beliefs, judgments, biases, prejudices, etc., kicking and screaming if I must.  I invite you to confront yours.  The Creator who created ALL MEN mentioned in that document can have intended no less.

Life is good, if we are willing to live it in a goodly way!

Cam Mosher