Don't find yourself on wrong side of history

Recently same sex marriage has come back into the spotlight as more and more politicians are stating their support for equality, along with the Supreme Court cases. This is good news since all Americans are protected under the same Constitution, and entitled to the same protections.

The bad news is that there are still many detractors out here and that this support has come only grudgingly. We should remember that who one wishes to share their life with, raise their children with, or have sexual relations with does absolutely nothing to detract from their status as a human being or American citizen. The fact that there are those that still wish to establish second class citizenry for those with a different sexual preference than themselves is a tragedy. Laws against miscegenation were wrong when they were (and in some states still are) on the books and the opposition of same sex marriage are wrong for the same reasons.

In what way does another person’s love detract from your own? In what way does giving people more freedom and liberty detract from your own?

The answer is that it doesn’t. I look forward to the day where I do can say to my daughter that I stood on the side of justice and liberty in allowing all citizens equal protection under the law, and not just those that conformed to my narrow idea of sexuality.

I hope you can say the same and do not find yourself on the wrong side of history.

JASON BENELL

Sandpoint