We CAN Go Backwards

by: carolh

Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 03:01:30 PM EST

Uganda is about to pass a law that would either imprison homosexuals FOR LIFE or actually put them to death.  What was so frightening about the story was what preceded this chilling turn of events  - the sheer number of prominent elected US officials such as Sen Inhoefe and evangelical activists preaching that you can " Pray Away the Gay" from the US, who had made many a "humanitarian" trip over to Uganda to impose their religious views in that country.  While we weren't paying attention.  While we had our guard down. While we did nothing. These are the same folks pouring money and hate into NJ to make sure Marriage Equality doesn't pass.  

In human history, in this age of cell phones and apps and gadgets and scientific enlightenment, it is easy to assume we will always go forward toward the light.  That the motion of progress always goes in one direction.  But we remember Sarajevo and Darfur, and Somalia, and other places of civilization that fell to the dark drives of the part of our humanity we haven't quite got control over yet. Our basic primitive need for trouble making, blame shifting, scapegoating, hatred, and violence.

In our own country - founded on religious freedom, no less, we witnessed the slaughter of the Native Americans on our own soil, and the slave trade AFTER we had fought "for freedom".  So many things to apologize for, so little time.

My point is this.  We Can Go Backward.  But we don't HAVE to.  We can fight the negative, frightened rhetoric we hear spouted every day by politicians who wish to curry favor with the crazy right wing.  

On Monday, December 7, 2009, we can make this a day to celebrate in the future as the day we actually delivered civil rights to our brothers and sisters, family and friends, or the day we did nothing and let the world go backwards again.  Show up in Trenton and let the Legislature know, that unlike in Uganda, we are vigilant and "fired up".  We care about civilization and enlightenment.  We are FOR progress.

If good men and women stand back and do nothing, you get ....Uganda.  

Please help our dear friends in NJ get the rights they deserve. It's high time NJ took that next step FORWARD.  We can either pass the Marriage Equality Act, or we can go backwards.  Progress doesn't happen all on its own.  It isn't a natural as the sun coming up tomorrow.  It has to happen by the sweat and the tears of those who can actually imagine a better world, and who take the time to create that reality.  We have a chance here.  We have the good will. Now we need your boots on the ground.  Be in Trenton on Monday for a historic vote on Marriage Equality and show our NJ Legislature that you want NJ to go FORWARD.