Hate and Job Losses

The push to codify intolerance in Indiana's Constitution continues. As most probably know, the General Assembly doesn't have time to be bothered with more pressing issues of Indiana including our State's massive job losses. Instead Indiana's legislative body continues its drive to present to Hoosier voters a Constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriages. No matter that Indiana already has defined marriage in our state by statute, we apparently need to make a constitutional amendment before one of those crazy activist judges gets their hand on this pressing issue. From my calculation, twenty-six other states have also approved a similar amendment to their state constitution.

Some of Indiana's largest corporations have joined to denounce this amendment. Eli Lilly, Cummins, Well-Point, Dow Argo Sciences and Emmis Communication all have made their position clear. Accordingly these companies have said that this amendment would hinder its ability to attract talent by demonstrating this state is one of intolerance.

I find the placement of discrimination in our state constitution very disturbing. The state constitution was created to guarantee rights to our citizens. Why would we wish to alienate a significant portion of our citizens who contribute to our state in multiple ways?

I also don't see why everyone is so concerned about prohibiting two consenting adults the right to make their lives together. Is it for children? Every study I have seen has found no negative psychological effect on children by being raised by a homosexual couple. I would also gather that a child would do much better in a loving environment of a committed homosexual couple than in a screwed up relationship between a man and a woman. I guess it is for the protection of marriage. I know it has been said before but heterosexual couples have put enough holes in the sanctity of marriage. I don't think a fifty percent success rate is anything of which to be proud.

Make no mistake. If this amendment passes and becomes part of the Indiana Constitution its life will be relatively short lived. Our children's children will look at the amendment the same way that my generation looks at the Dred Scot case or the poll tax. They will end this shameful period of our State's history.

In other news, an Indiana teacher was suspended and may ultimately be fired for printing a article in its school newspaper. In Woodburn Indiana, a teacher failed to get approved a story in the school newspaper about tolerance for homosexuals. As a result she may lose her job and almost half of the student reporters have quit in protest.

There is no question that the law is on the side of the school on this one. Here the teacher had to follow the policies of the school. One of those policies is to get approval of the stories from the principal before its publication. Her failure to do so will likely mean she will be looking for another job. That being said, if the story had been something less than a hot button topic I doubt it would have even been a problem for the school.

But again I don't think that is the big issue. What message is the school sending to that district's students. Don't stand up for what you believe in? Be hateful of those different than you? Shy away from controversial topics? I don't think many companies are looking for yellow bellied hate mongers as new hires. Maybe that is part of the reason Indiana's economy is struggling. Who would want to grow a company here when we are grooming kids who are completely inept with dealing with the realities of the working world?

Back to the amendment, there is a silver lining to everything. Before an amendment can become part of our constitution, it has to be approved by a majority of Hoosier voters. Voters striking down this amendment would send a strong message to the clowns at the General Assembly that it is time to deal with the real pressing issues that affect our state. It would send an even stronger message to the rest of the country that Indiana is the type of welcoming environment in which they would want to do business.