Thoughts on the fallout of Amendment One

By Adam Carlson

Well, the amendment passed and now the opinions are flying left and right like shit being hurled from the monkey house at the zoo.

There have been a lot of people who voted for this amendment stating that they did so and that they are proud of their choice to vote their beliefs. Furthermore most have also pointed out that they feel persecuted because those with progressive views (not to mention those of us who are actually educated and informed) are calling them ignorant for it.

For the record, if you voted pro Amendment One believing that it was really about blocking homosexual marriage from attaining legal status in North Carolina you did vote out of ignorance. Also, if you voted pro Amendment One believing that it was legislation to MAKE homosexual marriage illegal in North Carolina, you ARE actually ignorant (by definition). Gay marriage has never been legally recognized in N.C., part of this amendment was simply blocking the ability of any one judge to overturn that by writing it into our constitution. And that was just the bait!

Religion, politics and the ‘Christian Right’

By Adam Carlson

The First Amendment to the American Constitution outlines a concept known as “separation of church and state.” This legislation prohibits the making of any law favoring an established religion, interfering with the free exercise of religion, infrinfging on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceable assembly, or prohibiting the right to petition.

Furthermore, (and more importantly for this argument) the Internal Revenue Service prohibits any non-profit group or organization from contributing financially or in any other way to any campaign or candidate. This restriction applies to any recognized religious institution or organization and is in place because of these groups’ tax exempt status.