Respecting Marriages by Respecting Voters

Dear Conservative Legislature,
            I would like to share with you my support of the Respect for Marriage Act which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. In our country, the business of marriage and marriage licenses are left as a responsibility to each state. The DOMA sets a federal guideline which then negates the decisions of majority voters in states that have legalized same-sex marriage. Currently in our nation, 9 states and the District of Columbia authorize same-sex marriages with 15.8% of our country’s population living in these states.
            Whether you morally agree with same-sex partnership and marriage yourself is not the issue at hand here. As a member of this democracy, there is an expectation that the vote of the majority is respected and honored. The DOMA essentially ignores the voices in these 9 states and D.C. that have said, “Yes, we will allow and recognize same-sex marriages.” Therefore, these legally married couples are still excluded from over 1,100 federal benefits and protections that are otherwise accessed by heterosexual married couples with the same state license. I understand that we live in a country still divided on whether same-sex marriage should be authorized; however with more and more states issuing marriage licenses for homosexual couples due to the votes of the majority, it is now our duty to respect these couples and respect their marriages.
            The RMA bill is expected to be reintroduced in the 113^th session of Congress. I ask you to please validate, respect, and honor the votes of these 9 states and the District of Columbia, by supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, thereby repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. I appreciate your time, attention, and consideration on this issue.
                                                                        Sincerely,
                                                                        Venée M. Hummel

I personally dream of a day when same-sex marriage is a possibility for all homosexuals in this nation, across all 50 states and DC. I hope for a day when a promise of love, honor, and commitment is recognized by equal access to state marriage licenses. However, when asked to write a letter to a legislature concerning a policy change I endorse, I recognized that I live in a Red State and all of my district representatives at the state level and Congressional representatives are Republicans. I knew I had to take a new angle to broach the idea of same-sex marriage equality to my representatives.

This country is rooted in the belief that the power is held by the people. This country is rooted in the democratic process and the power of a vote. Our representatives across the three branches of government are expected to uphold, support, and defend our Constitution which is the framework for the aforementioned beliefs.

If you do not support same-sex marriage on a basis of philosophical, moral, religious, or even bigoted reasoning, yet you are a member of the legislative body expected to protect and respect the democratic process-- then my letter is to you. Forget your stance on same-sex marriage, let us remember what it means when citizens take to the voting polls. By continued support of the DOMA, each vote, each voice, each step into the voting poll that spoke up in favor of same-sex marriage equality is ignored, invalidated, discredited. The majority spoke in 9 states and the District of Columbia, yet the value of a marriage license to a same-sex couple is marginalized compared to that of a heterosexual couple. 

Respect for the Defense of Marriage Act is a back turned on the democratic principles this nation is supposed to uphold. However, support for the Respect for Marriage Act tells voters of these states, "We heard you and we will respect your vote." It tells these couples who are legally married, "We will accept your marriage, because your state accepts and respects your marriage."

I hope one day we can honor the inherent dignity of all peoples, regardless of sexual orientation and identity. Until then, I will ask conservatives to at least honor the dignity of voters. 

In matters of truth and justice...

Justice (noun). \jəs-təs\

1. the maintenance or administration of what is just, especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments
2. the quality of being just, impartial, or fair
• the quality of conforming to law
3. Conformity to truth, fact, or reason

(Merriam-Webster, 2012)

"Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done." - President George W. Bush, September 20th, 2001

Since the wars in the Middle East began, 2,148 American men and women have lost their lives in the nation of Afghanistan in pursuit of what has been named justice. The war in Iraq began on what is often considered false pretenses with the result of 4,474 U.S. Armed Forces casualties. Over a decade of bloodshed has occurred while two man hunts ensued throughout various foreign terrain complete with intricate cave networks, mountainous earth, and dusty desert land.

"And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who lost loved ones to al-Quaida's terror: Justice has been done." - President Barack Obama, May 1, 2011

Life in and of itself is precious. Every human has inherent qualities that are worthy of positive distinction. Short of 3,000 death certificates were filed as a result of the events on September 11th, 2001. To date, 6,622 service members have died while deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearly 10,000 human beings have died in connection to what all began when flight 11 hit the World Trade Center's North Tower at 8:46am EST.

Questions remain. Conspiracies flurry. Yet as justice has been declared done...ask yourself what justice means for yourself. What does justice mean for nearly 10,000 lives and the countless families affected in result. Did a sense of "justice-served" wash over the hearts of Americans on May 1, 2011? Since that date, 526 additional military personnel have died while deployed, have their families experienced that loss any differently with al-Quaida's leader now deceased?

Turn away from propaganda, step out of the mainstream on occasion and evaluate the world around you with the senses you are equipped with, the higher-decision making brain you were born with, and the consciousness only a human possesses.

"There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts." -Mahatma Gandhi

While the nation was ThanksEating...

I was accused of trying to take away Thanksgiving last week.

I was merely questioning an individual's perceived purpose of the holiday. I observed countless posts, tweets, and picture uploads of well-fed peers continuing on about food like they haven't had a morsel in their mouth for days. Doubt grew within me about whether all of these Americans truly love turkey, stuffing, corn, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, ham, yams, sweet potato and pumpkin pie so very much. Would this spread be requested as a last meal, because people surely act as if this one day of the year brought all of their most cherished dishes. As if this one day of the year was the only opportunity to eat this particular meal.

Now, I understand tradition. I understand the opportunities for days off work, travel, and family get together created by a national day reserved for....eating. Yet is that the only purpose? Travel across the country for a meal with the family that we rarely make time for, for a meal that we are capable of cooking any time of the year. Let's not forget, right after we are done giving thanks and over eating-- let's show off our consumerism even more by engaging in Black Friday shopping where people don't seem so thankful and traditional anymore.

I propose a new tradition. Next year, spend money on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, yams, and pies. Spend time in the kitchen preparing an impressive spread and put gas into your car for a drive. Then serve your feast to a family or group of people who truly have not had a morsel in their mouth for days. Perhaps split the food and leave some at home for you to enjoy with your family later in the day. But GIVE. If you have much to be thankful for, why not spread that onto others.

I have a feeling that many Americans would not give as much time, money, and care to the meal they prepare if they knew it was not going to feed their own family. Would you still do homemade stuffing or just fluff a box of Stove Top for the poor? That pie...are you going to make your own crust or buy the $2.98 finished pie from the store if it's for the "less fortunate." Do only your family and friends deserve your carefully selected ingredients and self-made creations? I challenge you to spread the same quality and quantity for others. If you have much to be thankful for, take the time next year to then partake in the other half of the holiday's name and allow forgotten populations to also engage in this national holiday afforded to, yet not experienced by, all citizens.

My sister served a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless last week and a young boy about 7 years old had never heard of  or had gravy before. Whoa - who thought that gravy might be a luxury item, it humbled me.

Next year...I will not partake in ThanksEating. I will be ThanksGiving.

No legacy will flatline

Let the dead continue to evoke change.

When brain activity discontinues, a heart stops beating, and lungs no longer fill with air-- death occurs. A life will no longer leave traces of fingerprints, fallen hair, or a scent upon clothes. A voice becomes mute, a laughter becomes silenced, and a smile never curls into perfect place again. Peace is wished upon the deceased, but often havoc stirs up in the hearts of the living.

104 days ago a friend died. 108 days ago a friend died. I wrestled with the passing of two young, smiling and inspirational people. I wrestled with the pain I observed in the people effected by the loss of a great woman and a great man. After roughly a week of both mournful and joyous reflection, inspiration peeked out from the memories of these two.

Let the dead continue to evoke change.

Take a lesson learned from a person who passes and let it influence how you go on through the world. Let the deceased continue their legacy through the living. No lesson is too small to be of value, no change is too little to be of impact. May peace wash over the lives still living as the memories, stories, pictures, and lessons create even the slightest inspiration of resolution.

Let the dead continue to evoke change...and find your peace to share with the world on behalf of another.