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[Savannahmann]

29. Curious.

When people believe things, for example religion, it's because someone told them, usually at a young age, that something is true. Faith requires that you believe in things that are unproven, and unable to be proven. It's the old conundrum. I can not prove God exists, nor can I prove God does not exist. I can only tell you what I believe. I may not remember the person who planted the seed of faith or doubt, but that seed grew to my current belief.

The thing about Religion is that those who are your friends in it become the forces that strengthen that faith in times of doubt. When you face your crisis of faith, someone is there to help you regain it.

So when you are considering issues of social import, say Gay Marriage, then your view is based upon your beliefs. For those of us who hold the Constitution as the (forgive the term) sacred document. The question is simple. All of us are equal before the law, and all of us are entitled to equal protection under the principles of that founding document. For those of faith, their religious texts are higher in the grand scheme than the Constitution. God comes before Country if you understand my meaning. You can not do something for Country, if it is against God.

Secretary Clinton's exposure to Religious ideals by her own words put her at opposition to that faith, or the Constitution. In order to oppose Gay Marriage, she had to hold something higher than the Constitutional principle of equal protection under the law. Now, the motivations are few to take such a position. Bigotry, in other words she found Homosexuals intolerably insulting. Faith, she believed that God frowned on such behavior even if she did not find it personally offensive. The worst possible answer is the last one. Political acceptability. She was opposed to Gay Marriage because many powerful people were and she did not wish to go against them.

If she overcame the Bigotry, then that is admirable. Often times we have such bigotry without even considering it. When we recognize that we are in fact bigoted, then we can consider, and address it within ourselves. We can improve as individuals, and through that our treatment of our fellow citizens.

If it was because of Faith, then what changed her mind to support it now? Has some Deity spoken to her and told her that God doesn't mind Homosexuality anymore? Did the Angel Ismael descend in a ball of light and step out saying "Hillary you schmuck, you're wrong and here's three reasons why"? If she merely consulted her conscience, and then decided that the Bible is written by humans, and therefore can be trusted as a general guide of loving our neighbors and fellow beings and in doing so we are serving God, that is also interesting. I say it is interesting because the Bible talks about charity, and caring for your fellow beings, and showing mercy. Those are principles that I can certainly get behind. It is the standing in judgement of people and their choices that harm not me, nor anyone else that I have a moral issue with.

Finally we come to the worst possible answer. Political positioning to be acceptable. If this is the reason, then we have a consummate politician who believes in nothing but achieving power. They will say anything, believe whatever is desired by the masses, to get support and get elected. Her positions are not core principles, but calculated to garner support. No one can ever know what such a person truly believes, because they don't believe in anything but getting to the desired office. We can have no idea what such a person would do with that power, because their core beliefs are hidden behind statements designed to make us believe one thing about them.

I just changed my mind is not an answer to why. I have changed my mind over the years, but I know why I did so. I know what words, or thoughts, or principles came into conflict with what I thought was right. I've said before, I like debating people who disagree with me because it forces me to examine my own principles and ideals and see if they are right. When I find one of them is not, I examine the issue in this light to see what changes I should make.

Growth and evolution are normal parts of life. But most of us can point to the thing that got us thinking about the changes that came along in our lives. Just Because is the lamest of all reasons Parents give, and should never be acceptable in one who hopes to be our leader one day.