Ok, regardless of whether or not you are conservative Christian, or if you are in the gay community, or even if your best friend or relative is gay, this issue skirts the, well, issue. It doesn't matter what I think, either, and I'll spare you the majority of my own opinion. What I'm talking about is the Separation of Church and State.

A wonderful rule, it is. It keeps religious ethics from interfering with logical progression. We all know that some religions progress slowly. The Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Judaism, and Islamic tradition come to mind. Whether or not that progression is beneficial to humankind is another matter entirely. When we created the doctrine of this country, we made the distinction that religious beliefs are to remain apart from the affairs of the government. As a religious person myself, that is a wonderful decision.

Which brings me to my point: The Bush administration publicly decries same-sex marriage, as if we were all a southern Baptist community; as if the nation had to swallow the ethics of its President just the same as a third world country must cater to the the likings of its despotic dictator. I can't believe that we, as a nation, are so tolerant to the whims of our ELECTED government. Marriage is a foundation of religion, as well as the union of same-sex couples. Far be it for me to decry the motives...what is right for one man or woman, should be right for another. It doesn't mean that I have to agree, that is not the point of our legislature. The point is 'humanitarian rights'. I mean, our nation has been subject to things such as polygamy, same-sex unions, and fights over female clergy. That is not the battle of our government. It is the battle of the synods, elders, pastors, and congregations.

I know this is a touchy subject, but how can we deny the foundation of our country? It has maintained through the years, because essentially it is timeless (to an extent). We regulate our country, and we are allowed to criticize, support, and defend. It is truly wrong for Bush, as the President of the United States, to make his will known. His job is to uphold the Constitution, and not let personal might take hold. A good President can live life the way he or she wants to, but when it comes to the reflection of the populace, the President is a conglomerate image. He or she represents you and me. I believe we should make the note of the division of Church and State known once again, because it is a wonderful devotion to live our lives by. It is great that we can celebrate our own beliefs, and greater still that we can progress while maintaining those beliefs. George W. Bush needs to re-evaluate his line of thinking, and realize he is now an institution, and not a congregational member.