The U.S.
has had a long history of separating out some of its residents and treating
them as less than. In some cases actively causing harm and/or death as well as
legislating against them. Indigenous people, Africans and their descendants, people
of different faiths, Asian Pacific Islanders, various immigrant groups, women,
Latinos, etc. And in each and every case, it has ultimately been acknowledged
that the treatment of these and other groups was oppressive, unwarranted, cruel
and inhumane.
An often overlooked fact, despite being a critical lynchpin to an analysis, is the fact that various manifestations of organized religion has in every single case of these occurrences been a significant part of the foundation for the justification of the systemic oppression, harm and even murder of different groups. Example: The concept of Manifest Destiny. The idea that white men had a divine destiny to expand across America.
Today the LGBTQ community struggles to be equal under the law,
just as so many others have before us. And yet, despite all of the historical
examples and the knowledge that this country has been rife with harmful, even
deadly prejudicial discrimination the discriminatory practices and laws
continue. And as it has harmed so many others, organized religion (not all but enough) continues to serve as a foundation for oppression.
“We the People” - it means ALL of the people!
