I don't even know where to begin with today's news. Honestly. Oklahoma is trying to ban recognition of Sharia Law? That's in direct violation of the First Amendment. I realize it wouldn't be the first time the constitution (which has really become more of a suggestion) has been stomped on but really?!?! It's not like we don't already have enough Muslim bigotry going on in our country right now. Let's just polarize US citizens a little more by building it into our judicial doctrine.
I'm not saying I believe in Sharia Law. I'm not a Muslim. But I respect their right to practice their own religion. I respect their right, under Sharia Law, to have their state of affairs, last will and testament, body and family taken care of in the manner outlined by their religious practice and personal preference based on those same beliefs. This bill would wipe all that out. How would you feel, for argument's sake, if your mother died and the state told you you can't cremate her, even though that's what she wanted and outlined in her will? Doesn't seem fair does it?
I find this little nugget (from State Senator Anthony Sikes, who led the effort for the ban) particularly shocking:
"The federal appeals court in Denver attempted to silence the voice of 70% of Oklahoma voters," Sykes said in a statement. "At some point we have to decide whether this is a country of by and for the judges, or of by and for the people. How far will the people let them go? This ruling* is right along with legalizing abortion and forced busing of school children."
*I should mention that, when he said "this ruling..." he was referring to the
Denver Supreme Court ruling to not recognize the ban.
So, wait...a STATE SENATOR is saying that the personal opinions of certain citizens should outweigh the outline that framed our country's legal system? Well shit. If that's the case then we should all be able to pass whatever bill about whatever bullshit we think might be a good idea based on our own personal ideals. Yeah...because that'll work in a mass populated society. Sure. Because if history shows us one thing with certainty it's that the slow and steady repression of civil rights works in mass population. :/
And FORCED BUSING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN?!?!?! Surely you don't mean it!!! Such a reprehensible thought could never exist! Oh dear Jesus what is this great nation coming to?!?!
A-hole.
Here's my point:
When you start singling out any belief system or any particular party of people, that's called BIGOTRY. You are a bigot. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Just about every 5th grader in the nation can spout off the 1st Amendment. It's the 1st one! You don't even have to memorize anything after that if you don't want to (after 4 my memory gets a little hazy). So really, to violate the most basic principle we have for our freedom seems, well, prejudice.
I'm ashamed of you, Oklahoma...I'm ashamed of the 70% of your citizens who voted yes on such a terrible idea.
bigot [ˈbɪgət] noun:
a person who is intolerant of any ideas other than his or her own, esp on religion, politics, or race [from Old French: name applied contemptuously to the Normans by the French, of obscure origin].
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