R002366
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 1:37 PM
Not Proud to be an American
I would much rather I had been born in any one of the Scandinavian countries
where they respect the rights of ALL citizens and guarantee the rights of
ALL citizens.
I grew up pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
but as I discovered the abhorrent discrimination that our government and its
people imposes on many minority groups, especially gays and lesbians, I soon
learned that America really wasn't the land of the free. It was instead the
land of opression.
I started to see Scandinavia as the way America is supposed to be. You are
guaranteed equal rights as a gay human being in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the
Netherlands and Iceland. Their governments don't even have a separation of
Church and State, and they are able to recognize the rights of ALL human
beings under the law.
And Scandinavia would pay equal monies to gay victims of any tragedy that
might befall a mix of citizens. People are people. Tax-paying citizens are
tax-paying citizens. Our American government does not see it that way. If
our government does not honor the rights of ALL victims from the 9/11
tragedy, then I as a gay citizen should have the right to not pay taxes.
I'm either a citizen and you recognize me as that or you don't get money to
support the country that I was born and raised in, it's that simple. To
deny rights to citizens that work hard and pay their taxes and contribute to
the value of American freedom and privilege is in essence a governmental
crime against freedom.
I even refuse to be charitable to any causes in this country because this
country refuses to acknowledge my equal rights. I do not want to help any
other citizen in this country who will not stand up for me and fight the
injustice of this country.
And if families of gay victims of 9/11 do not receive fair and equal
compensation, I will remember that when I walk by a heterosexual in peril; I
will not be a hero and I will let them suffer. That's how you want it, Mr.
Kenneth Zwick? I once saved a child from drowning in a lake-he would have
died had I not jumped in to save him-but you would rather I let the child
drown next time. Gay Man Saves Drowning Child, America Says Gays Are Going
To Hell.
Individual Comment
Minneapolis, MN