Last Friday morning while listening to NPR on the way to work, I heard Republican governor of Ohio, John Kasich, quoting Matthew 25 and talking about how we need to be feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and helping the poor. Then I came home to hear that a federal judge has struck down Alabama's same-sex marriage ban. These two events were signs that there is some sense in which more people are slowly coming to realize what a just society entails.
"My heart shall sing of the day you bring,
Let t he fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn."
~ Canticle of the Turning
Perhaps we are indeed a step closer to that beloved community where there is an awareness that how we treat the weakest of our citizens matters. Perhaps we are closer to the point that we will no longer intentionally marginalize those whom we see as different. Perhaps we are closer to seeing a society intent on justice and committed to seeing that every citizen shares equally in the benefits of citizenship.
I am enough of a realist to know that the upheaval sounded in the Magnificat is slow in coming, but some days are lighter that others. Some days we see the turning.
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Picture: "The children are asking"
Painting by Mary Southard
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The judge's decision....is it a question for mayoral politics? Would Artur Davis or Todd Strange embrace same-sex marriage in their city if they are (re) elected? Mr. Davis will be a guest in the morning (Monday the 26th in the 6:00AM hour) on Alabama News Network--CBS 8 or ABC Montgomery.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Charles.
Thanks, Tim. In the news we see that state politicians are seeking a stay and wanting to appeal the decision. Some are bringing up the issue of states' rights and saying we can't have some federal judge overruling the will of the majority (I think we have covered that ground before in this state). As the Birmingham News Op-Ed stated in today's Sunday edition ("On gay marriage ruling, Alabama should stay on the right side of history"), those politicians are just pandering to their local voter/constituency. Surely they see that the tide is turning and judicial rulings must be upheld. Hopefully the momentum is such that the Supreme Court will indeed uphold the lower court rulings in this and in similar rulings across the country.
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