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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us October 4, 2004 Misusing the Constitution The primary reason so many different religions flourish without interference in America is because of the First Amendment of our wonderfully empowering Constitution. The reason we are allowed to practice whatever religion we choose, or none at all, is because our constitution wisely and strenuously protects that right. We should be grateful. And those who may believe that their particular religious beliefs give them the right to force those beliefs on others are wrong. As you enjoy your freedom to believe and lead your life as you choose, so must you agree to allow others to do likewise. The right to equal treatment under the law is also protected by our Constitution. Regardless of what you believe, in America, you are entitled to equal treatment and equal rights under the law. The law grants many benefits to our citizens. It's not legal, and it's just not fair, to deny these benefits to those among us who simply don't share our religious beliefs. A person's religious beliefs may conflict with the concept of gay and lesbian relationships, but that does give any person the legal right to impose that belief upon others. And no one has the right to prohibit anyone from receiving equal benefits under the law. Proposed Constitutional Amendment 36, on the Oregon ballot this fall, would undo over 200 years of respect for the rights of individuals, 200 years of equal treatment for all, 200 years of fair play. The Oregon Constitution should not be amended to single out a single group for unequal treatment. The Constitution exists to guarantee and protect rights for us all, even those whose beliefs and practices we may disagree with, whose beliefs place them in the minority. The Constitution is not to be used to deprive rights to those whose beliefs and lifestyle the majority may disagree with. The same constitution that protects your rights to believe as you choose and lead your life as you see fit, must protect the rights of all people to do so, or else it is meaningless. Approving this amendment would set a very bad and dangerous precedent - which group will be singled out for unequal treatment next? Whose beliefs may be punished by the majority in a future amendment? Any of us, if our belief was singled out by the rest, would be a minority. Respect for the beliefs of all people, regardless of whether those beliefs conflict with your own, is the American way. In essence we protect our own rights by agreeing together to protect the rights of all. It's a pact which must not be broken. This fall, protect your rights, protect the rights of all, vote no on Oregon Constitutional Amendment 36! Michael Bolacca Ashland 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 Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams