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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 6, 2004 Our View A blatant disregard for civil rights With more than 80 percent of the vote counted, it was reported that 57 percent of Oregonians have voted to amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage. We can't say it wasn't expected, but still when we saw this tally, it came as a surprise. The vote was certainly a defeat for gay rights groups in the state. But, in our opinion it was an even bigger defeat for civil rights. Make no mistake, Measure 36 asked voters of Oregon to decide if the state Constitution should be used to deny a minority of its right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, however they might define it. When asked why marriage should only be between one man and one woman, the consistent response seems to be that that's the way it has been for over two thousand years and it is so written in religious texts. Such a response seems specious at best. It comes as no surprise, however, that Christian groups voted 2-to-1 in favor of the ban and the promotion of the measure was faith-based. Keep in mind, however, that there was a time when the idea of "separate but equal" in America seemed inviolate and blatant racial discrimination was part of society's fabric. It was accepted that blacks should not be afforded equal protection under the law. Schools in some parts of America were segregated, as were drinking fountains, buses, public forums, and marriage between the races was in many states unlawful. The integration of the races was viewed by many as deplorable, to be resisted by all means necessary, and even, sacrilegious. The reasons then smacked of the same flawed arguments as those touting Measure 36. The legal basis for "separate but equal" was ultimately challenged and deemed unconstitutional, not to mention contrary to the spirit and intent of the Bill of Rights, most especially the 14th amendment - the guarantor of equal protection under the law for all citizens regardless of race or creed or color. And, we should say, sexual orientation. How could it be otherwise? The Oregon vote to ban gay marriage is no small thing. It is a milestone civil rights issue and its passage, though perhaps not surprising to many, is deemed by this paper as being an egregious miscarriage of justice. But we can take some measure of comfort in the fact that in our country, discrimination, be it against people of color or people of a certain sexual orientation, has not and will not stand. And it is our hope that Measure 36 will one day be relegated to a dark chapter of history books next to the chapter on "separate but equal." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams