I'm with Vice President Cheney on this one -- Same sex-marriage and gay bashing.

In our 8-21-04 post entitled "You saw the Cheney headline: "[F]reedom means freedom for everyone." -- But there is more here . . . .," we reviewed the Vice President saying that he sees gay marriage as a state issue, that he and his wife Lynne have a gay daughter, and thus it's an issue with which his family is very familiar. The Vice President states:

"With respect to the question of relationships, my general view is that freedom means freedom for everyone. People . . . ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to."

Another Republican who also has a gay daughter sees it differently. That person is Sadie Fields -- president of the Christian Coalition of Georgia, principal leader in the effort to incorporate the gay marriage ban into the state constitution, the person responsible for delivering the votes in the Georgia House responsible for getting the proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot, and without question one of the most powerful women in Georgia politics (if not the most powerful) -- until this past week has never publicly mentioned the sexuality of her only daughter.

Unlike Vice President Cheney who last month broke with President Bush on the issue, saying that people ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to, Sadie Fields has made no such concession on behalf of her daughter.

Ms. Fields told PI (9-21-04) according to :

"I love my daughter, but I don't agree with her choices." "[The Nov. 2 issue] is not about prejudice. This is about doing what's right, regardless of the pain."

And what does the daughter tell PI: "I would hope that Georgians don't let fear and prejudice divide their state in the same way they've divided my family."

As so accurately observed by the PI, "Sadie Fields and others may disagree, but given the random nature of homosexuality, it's hard to throw a rock in the gay marriage fight and not hit someone you know, even love."

Should this news give those opposing the constitutional amendment cause for rejoicing and dancing in the streets. I would hope not, and it should not.

But it should give all Christians pause to remember and consider the words of the Master and Greatest Teacher of all times who tells us in Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye not be judged."

I'm with the Vice President on this one.

(Also see our 9-08-04 post entitled "A kinder, gentler challenge to a duel -- Sid vs. the Dean on Endorsing Nov. 2 same-sex marriage amendment," a post that could be updated by noting that Louisana has become the second state to vote overwhelming against same-sex marriage.)