Removal of basic human rights a frightening idea

Monday’s story on tolerance quotes George Washington: “Every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.” But when they start taking away your rights, be afraid, be very afraid.

Our constitution states we are all created equal and deserve equal rights under the law. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, black or white, gay or straight, Christian, Jew or Muslim. No group or individual should be allowed to take those rights from you. One of those rights is freedom of religion. The state cannot force you to worship in any one way. Some denominations say homosexuality is a sin but there are many who interpret Scripture differently. You can believe what you want, but don’t force your beliefs on me.

Even more frightening than taking away civil rights is the removal of basic human rights. If you take away any person’s right as a human being, it means you can do what ever you want to them. Hitler did it to several groups of peoples: Jews, gypsies and homosexuals. He rounded them up and tried to exterminate them. If someone views any group as “a threat to the continued existence of life” it stands to reason that person would go to any measure to ensure their own existence, even killing. Read about Uganda.

Paraphrasing Pastor Martin Niemoller: “Then they came for you and by that time no one was left to speak up.”

Fr. Richard Kautz, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond


(2010-08-29/pal-item.com)