And Justice for All…!
For those folks who oppose the idea of basic human rights for all people, today’s unprecedented decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court was a monumental setback.
For those like me, who believe that justice for all, in fact, means justice for all, the Court’s decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is nothing short of AWESOME! I am not gay, but I believe that all people, be they black, white, brown, yellow, gay, straight, rich, poor, or somewhere in the middle; smart or less so, deserve the same human rights as everyone else. And thank God, five out of four members of our extremist conservative Supreme Court felt the same.
Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement where he called the DOMA decision an “enormous triumph for equal protection under the law for all Americans.” President Obama also released a statement saying: “We are a people who declared that we are all created equal. And the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”
The decision was very close (5-4), which in and of itself is quite telling. It suggests that all 4 of our most conservative Justices believe it is perfectly okay to discriminate (Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito, & Clarence Thomas). While their dissent is not a surprise, it still saddens me that one of the most conservative members on the highest court in our great land is a black man. But for that matter, it is hard for me to understand any Black, Jewish or Japanese person who finds him or herself prejudiced against another group of people, considering the long history and intimate relationship they have each had with institutionalized bigotry.
That being said, there were enough members to overturn the DOMA.
Interested in discussing this with me, Attorney Francine Ward, regardless of your opinion. Join in my conversation on my Facebook Fan Page, Twitter, or in a LinkedIn Group.
Setback? I was not sure at 1st… How to perceive this major life changing decision. Then looming was the thought that, this,may it be a victory was in fact a setback. We are still under the “control” ultimately of a very conservative supreme court who, is out of touch with their own history. Also, watching the LBGT community celebrate the verdict of same sex marriage I couldn’t help but think… The supreme court just made the decision to not get involved. What does that say for the next state would comes across these very issues. Setback… More like Setbacks.
Prudence Wesson
Anytime there is a vote in favor of a nondiscriminatory act, it is a good thing. No doubt there will be more challenges ahead, but we can deal with challenges–we always do.
Not too long ago a black person could not marry a white person. In fact, they were put in jail, because it was against the law. Someone fought for the right to marry whomever they wanted to marry, and now, that seems like ancient history. Everything starts with a dream and some courageous’s person’s willingness to take action — against the status quo. Had it not been for Loving vs. Loving, you (nor I) would be married to the men we love.