Guest Editorials


BY HEM RAJ JAIN | MAY 16, 2012

hem raj jainObama’s same-sex statement

This refers to Obama’s statement that "[I think same-sex couples should be able to get married]" - and based on his statement that "[When I meet gay and lesbian couples, when I meet same-sex couples and I see how caring they are, how much love they have in their hearts, how they're taking care of their kids, when I hear from them the pain they feel that somehow they are still considered less than full citizens when it comes to their legal rights, then for me I think it just has tipped the scales in that direction]" – the on-going campaign by Democratic National Committee (Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz as Chairman) to mobilize support of Americans for Obama’s said statement by justifying that what brought him to support same-sex marriage, more than anything, is his strong belief in equal rights for everyone. This should be disapproved vehemently by Christianity in view of given below:

(1)- This statement from Obama is not his personal statement but from the U.S. President and it affects related laws in other countries also. Even in India misguided media has started praising it as progressive thinking and under such influence even judiciary of India has been issuing judgments and statements without understanding the profoundness of the issues involved in it.

(2)- Obama and DNC are confusing different legal categories of marriage and relationship. Marriage is an institution whereas a relationship is merely a contract. Different legal categories of marriage and relationships impact laws related to inheritance, divorce, parenthood etc. where these come automatically to spouse in a marriage but can not be the case in a relationship.

(3)- In the marriage institution even the parents, friends and the extended marriage relationships of both the spouses get so intertwined in a natural and profound way that its happiness, gratitude, pleasure and material and spiritual benefits can be understood and enjoyed only by those people who are leading a married life (as in India also) and which gives marriage an institutional status in comparison to merely the contractual status of relationship.

(4)- Of-course lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people should not be harassed and here the arguments of Obama and DNC have merit and law can be legislated in order to make life as secure and comfortable as possible for LGBT people, but religious status of marriage should be differentiated and retained.

(5)- In a nut shell if Obama, DNC and LGBT people think they will be able to give the same status to relationship (contract) as is given to marriage (institution) then they are not only living in their make believe world but they are also hoping against hopes.

(6)- Obama, DNC and LGBT people should try to understand that in this age of Science & Technology too, experimentation on any issue cannot be severed from human concerns. Moreover present human knowledge has advanced astronomically during last 500 years but is still only the tip of the iceberg. Hence beliefs of religion (which have been guiding mankind for thousands of years) should not be discarded summarily, because these may have some/final truth in it.

(7)- Bi-sexuality has some profound reasons behind it, also for the survival of any species in its struggle for existence (due to specific potential and capacities exclusive between male and female). Even procreation through asexual mutation is only in undeveloped species. Moreover no religion has its ULTIMATE BASIS on anything other than heterosexuality.

(8)- It seems that the confusion of Obama, DNC and LGBT people stems from the simple fact they are unable to appreciate the difference between material, physical, intellectual and spiritual fields which has been recognized for thousands of years in every culture and civilization of the world. This same confusion has lead many (like of Obama, DNC and LGBT people) to believe and profess that love is concerned only with the material and physical level (though it is the most important element of it) and has nothing to do with intellectual and spiritual levels.

(9)- This can be understood by the simple fact that when ever an extra marital affair comes to the attention of the aggrieved spouse she immediately asks the question of offending spouse whether the offender also loves the other party.

(10)- Therefore sensitivities of religion should not be violated by so fundamentally anti-nature and anti – higher human concerns, policies and statements and by no less than a person such as President of the United States, whose utterance has wide and profound ramifications all over the world.

(11)- It is hoped Obama and DNC will issue a clarification statement that what they mean is for the purpose of only making life as secure and comfortable as possible for LGBT people but there will be no legislation or policy which will obliterate the difference between the higher status of marriage (an institution) as compared to lower status of relationship (merely a contract).

(12)- No doubt rest of the world and other religions than Christianity expect that Christianity will leave no stone unturned in order to correct the aberration of Obama and DNC regarding their ill-conceived and ill-informed wish to give the same legal status to LGBT people as is legitimately deserved and enjoyed by people in the marriage institution.

(13)- The rest of the world also expects that at least Hillary will not be swayed by her political benefits but will take a firm stand in favor of different and higher status of marriage over relationship. Because who else can know the importance of the marriage institution better than Hillary who still might not have forgotten her excruciating sorrow and trepidation during impeachment proceedings of Bill Clinton due to the Monica affair.

Author of "Betrayal of Americanism," Hem Raj Jain is a native of State of Rajasthan in India, where he lives at present with his wife. They have four children - the eldest married to an U.S. citizen – that live in Minnesota. Hem is interested in the matters of USA because his children live here, hence he cares for the USA.