Tuesday, February 5, 2013

the danger of fundamental rightness

We must recognize the fact that many Nazis, Marxists and Fascists believe passionately in their fundamental rightness, and allow nothing to hinder them from their goal in the pursuit of their mission.
Dorothy Day

Wow -- that's a powerful thought



isn't that the danger of putting something so powerful
as religious belief
anywhere near our politics


that the zeal
that accompanies faith
in so many


may overwhelm
no
is BOUND to overwhelm


reason
and judgement


bringing normally sane men and women
to debate
whether YOUR church
should govern MY right to contraceptives.

to debate whether
YOUR church may
interfere with my medical decisions
which should only be governed by me
and my physician

to debate whether
YOUR church may remove
MY rights
in order to further YOUR aims


In 2012 -- we have many great matters to tend to
in our personal lives

but we have more important issues to tend to
as well

we have our liberty
our freedom
our rights to defend.

today
is Susan B Anthony's birthday
(the fact that she was pro-life aside)
but on this day
we follow HER example of citizenship

because she never stopped fighting for what she believed in
even when she was fined
even when she was arrested

she continued to raise her voice for the vote for women

she raised her voice in a time when women felt that
they had no voice at all

she raised her voice even when 
the bible was used against her 
to declare women unfit for the vote

she raised her voice
and she fought for public opinion

and we are here
doing the same

we're here to remind you
that
in America

we believe in the right
to life
liberty
and the pursuit of happiness

and I have to believe
that those rights belong to women too.