"I'm a uniter, not a divider."

News Inspired Rant:

The Episcopalian House of Bishops appointed the first openly gay bishop this past summer; the Reverend Gene Robinson.

Anglican and Episcopalian churches around the country - and around the world - have denounced the House of Bishops for the appointment.

The Canadian Government has all but approved same-sex civil unions.

This past weekend, a same-sex couple from Canada were denied entry into the U.S. because they wanted to fill out a joint customs declaration (and, ironies of ironies, they were travelling to attend a Human Rights conference).

Remember Bush's quote - above - during the 2000 election circus? "I'm a uniter, not a divider." And yet, no president or administration in recent history has tried so hard to divide us; by race (Trent Lott, anyone?), by religion (Jerry Fallwell) and by sexual orientation ( Shrub, himself!).

Ah, those wonderful Fundamentalist Christians. Is there a more intolerant group on the face of the earth? Well, actually, yes. But they're a sub-set: Fundamentalists of all stripes.

They are so certain that they are right - on every subject - that it is literally impossible to have an intelligent conversation with one on any subject. Some conversations seem normal until you stray into some subject covered by their "holy book." Their book, whatever it happens to be called, contains all the answers to every problem ever conceived. No matter that these texts were typically written centuries ago when civilization consisted of small groups of herders or farmers in small villages and towns. No matter that it was before any technology more advanced than bronze and iron. No matter that it was before the ability to read DNA made us aware that we are all basically the same - to 99.9999% of our genetic material.

Their scriptures and their invisible friends (god, allah, jehova and thousands of others) assure them that they are the chosen ones and that all others are "infidels" or "sinners" or - well, pick your derogatory religious slur. You know all the words. And these "others" are to be conquered, converted, or if all else fails, killed. Over the centuries "other" has included people of other religions (of course), of other colors, of other countries, of other races, other villages...

But all this has been said, usually better than I have. What to do if you're a progressive and can't bear the thought of sanctioned intolerance? There are plenty of places to go to make yourself known and heard. See some of my links to the right. Write to your local, state and federal representatives. Write to your local paper. Spread the meme that we are all humans. Science, in the form of DNA sequences, has already proved that we are all the same. Now it's up to us to spread the word, to show by our actions.

I just wanted to add my voice.

Now add yours.