Love is Part of a Balanced Equation

Courtesy of sfist.com

I love love. I always have. I am one of the biggest hopeless romantics, even when I thought I was crushed and jaded and would never love again, I still loved love. In my opinion it is one of the most important factors of our lives, whether it is family, friend or intimate love. It is essential in keeping us balanced and has the most influence to make us completely the opposite. I think everyone is entitled to whatever kind of love they choose as long as at the end of the day, they are happy. Which is why I have always supported gay marriage. For me personally, I can not remember a day in my life where I thought otherwise. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions and I am not the kind of person to drill my own into other people. One of the great things about America is that we can all have different ideals, but there are some things that I believe so deeply in, that it is hard for me to imagine someone else feeling differently.

Yesterday President Obama made a historic announcement by stating his support for gay marriage. I can not claim to be a heavily political person. I watch the news from time to time, I get updates on my phone from Newsday and News 12 and I get a large amount of my contemporary issues knowledge from John Stewart and Stephen Colbert. I have never had a huge problem with Obama, yet I do not know enough to back him blindly. I did vote for him in 2008. He seems like a cool guy, someone you could hang out with. Maybe even start a band with him and Bill Clinton, since apparently Obama can sing. What really moved me and surprised me is that during an election year Obama chose to voice his opinion on a very split issue and stand by it. Just the night before I told my boyfriend Obama couldn't make a stance on the issue, even though Biden was hinting his support, because it would ruin his campaign. He proved me wrong and for that simple fact alone I am proud to have him as my president right now.

I had to touch on this issue because human rights and civil liberties are a very important factor in what contributes to an American's inner balance and I know I am guilty of taking advantage of them. I admit that I day dream about my wedding day and marriage a lot. I'm a girl, sue me. But I also know that these dreams are possible, and legally acknowledged. I have seen the downside of marriage (See: my parents tragic divorce) but in a world where we have fortunately progressed over the years and have made slaves free and have given women the right to vote, how on earth are the ones still being persecuted, the gays? The first historical mention of same sex marriage occurred during the Roman Empire. How is it possible that we as a people have become more closed minded?

Love me or hate me for these views, but I live in a world with rose colored glasses where I want everyone to be happy and everyone to be loved. So, Obama, I salute you, not even necessarily as my president, but simply as a person.