A black man will take the oath of office blocks from where slaves were once housed in pens and sold for profit. He and his black wife will sleep in a house built by slave labor, nearby where Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This moment makes me cry with joy. This moment makes me cringe with shame. I am not gay. I have two grown sons who are not gay. You don’t have to like or approve of the lifestyle of gays; but, as a matter of principle, they are entitled to all of the fundamental rights that other Americans enjoy. Marriage is one of these fundamental rights. The irony in California is that on the same day that blacks were voting 95% to install a black man in the White House, they were voting 70% to deny a group of citizen the fundamental right to get married—a right which the blacks themselves were denied less than fifty years ago.

To deny gays the right to marry is to deny a fundamental right to individuals who possess characteristic that they cannot change—immutable characteristics. This is the very definition of denial of fundamental civil rights. I am old enough to remember when it was a crime in many states for a black to marry a white person. “Christians” and organized religion now make the same argument against gay marriage as they made against interracial marriage in 1961—with only slight variations. When I was growing up as a boy in Texas, these same Christians did not permit me to worship in their white churches—all done in the name of Christianity and religion.

I am old enough to remember Proposition 14, which was on the ballot in good old liberal California, which had as its purpose the denial of blacks to rent and buy property like other citizens. This was in 1964! The same “Christians” and Mormons argued that it wasn’t a question of denying blacks the right to buy property, but rather it was a question of property rights—as if property owners had unfettered freedom regarding their property. Every county in California except Marin approved Proposition 14. The Supreme Court saw through this charade and overruled it. I hope the Court will do the same with Proposition 8. Blacks voted overwhelmingly against Proposition 14; yet they now appear to be deaf, dumb, and blind to the denial to a large group of even a more pernicious discrimination.

Mormons led the Proposition 8 “Yes” appeal and financed it more heavily than any other group. This same group denied black Americans the right to become Elders in their church until the late 1970’s. If my memory is correct, their leader, suffered a revelation” and changed this racist policy when it became obvious that Mormons were increasingly running the risk of loosing their tax exemption status.

Let me be clear: Black Americans are hypocritical; they seem to think that the only discrimination important to oppose is racial discrimination. They are wrong. They mouth Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech and then proceed to vote to deny a fundamental right to gays Americans, largely on religious grounds. Are not gays all God's children, too? I don’t remember a gay persons ever asking anything other than to be judged by the content of his character and not by his or her sexual preference.

Serial monogamy appears to be more a threat to traditional marriage in California than gay marriage. Over the years, marriage has changed fundamentally. We no longer marry to have children, to adopt or to live together. If the purpose of marriage is to promote family stability, to advance society’s interest in rearing children and to promote respect for each and one another, then it is hypocritical for Christian and religious leaders, especially blacks whose family structure is in ruins, to oppose gay marriage.

Many white gay couples adopt black children and provide them with a far better life and environment than their own people care to. Approximately two third of all foster kids today in America are black. There is hardly a white left to be adopted, but there are many, many black kids who are warehoused in foster homes while blacks oppose, on Christian or religions grounds, gay marriages and gay adoptions.

I am profoundly disappointed with black Americans’, who are just over one generation out of virtual slavery and rabid segregation, voting 70% to deny a fundamental right to such an outstanding group of Americans, who contribute so much to our country in many professions.

Where are the civil rights leaders who have remained silent in this assault on these loyal American citizens?

I will call all of them out by name: To the NAACP, the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, Julian Bond, the Urban League and assorted other black parasitic leaders, why have you remained silent in this unprovoked assault on the fundamental rights of the American gay community?

They and we ought to be ashamed to have voted to deny another group of Americans the very right that we fought so hard to attain.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------©All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is permitted provided credit is given. Lenton Aikins, Ph.D., J.D. Dr. Aikins has traveled widely, lived abroad in Europe and Latin America, recently spending three years in Costa Rica as Director of a Spanish Language school. He holds a Ph. D. in Political Science from University of Southern California, a Juris Doctor in Law from Western State University, College of Law. He is the author of many articles and of While African Americans Slept: Leadership by Parasites, now available at: http://zitpub.com, and available in all bookstores July 1, 2008. To read his blog, Dr. Aikins Political Commentary, go to: http://lentonaikins.com and click on blog.

Tell Me What to Do Now That I've Won!!!

Listening to the Republican Party strategists and “talking heads” you’d think all along they had Barack Obama’s interest at heart. Every "psuedo-independent” talking head from Amy Holmes to Dowd now express the opinion that Obama must “govern from the middle.” They, of course, wish him “success,” as long as he follows their direction. His win now suddenly has noting to do with his agenda!

The republicans having suffered a veritable drumming in the November 4th election, now resort to offering their “crocodile tears” advice on what President-Elect Obama is to do to succeed!

It’s as if to say, “ you beat me, now let’s govern together.”

This reminds me of the American Idol winner, Jordon Sparks, whose nearest competitor, sensing that he’d lost, whispered in her ear, “ if I win, I’ll ask you to sing the final song with me and if you win, you do the same.”

Although only 17 years old, the young lady instantly declined his “kind” offer.

Obama should do likewise.

You win, you get the challenges, benefits, fruits and disappointment of the winner.

You lose, you “come to Jesus” and assess just why you lost.

Republicans, come to Jesus.

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©All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is permitted provided credit is given. Lenton Aikins, Ph.D., J.D. Dr. Aikins has traveled widely, lived abroad in Europe and Latin America, recently spending three years in Costa Rica as Director of a Spanish Language school. He holds a Ph. D. in Political Science from University of Southern California, a Juris Doctor in Law from Western State University, College of Law. He is the author of many articles and of While African Americans Slept: Leadership by Parasites, now available at: http://zitpub.com, and available in all bookstores July 1, 2008. To read his blog, Dr. Aikins Political Commentary, go to: http://lentonaikins.com and click on blog.