The Moral Arc of the Universe Bends Toward Justice

Sadly, the North Carolina legislature just voted for a Constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. That issue will now be decided by the voters of North Carolina. Joyfully, our family participated in a candle light vigil on Monday night to send a message to our legislators that we are for equality in all forms. The vigil was one of those nights that makes me proud that Paul and I are raising our children in such a justice-loving community of friends, co-workers, church-goers, and neighbors, and that Greta and Wyatt will know from our traditions and from this community's lead that justice is of primary importance. Our pastor was among those members of the clergy - - Unitarian, Methodist, Buddhist, Jewish, and Muslim - - who spoke at the vigil. He quoted Dr. Martin Luther King saying, "The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Wyatt was strapped onto me in his little sling and Greta sang and clapped and danced in the church aisle since it was a packed crowd and we had no place to sit down. I fed Wyatt little cheerios to tide him over since we were basically skipping dinner to be there. My daughter held hands with a man to her right and Wyatt put his little palm in a woman's hand as the entire community shouted out toward Raleigh that we will not allow the religious right to co-opt religion for the purposes of exclusion. We no longer will allow religion to be used to segregate and deny rights to others. As I walked out of the Methodist church that evening with my family, above the back of the church was a sign which said: Loving, Not Judging. Can I get an amen? As a parent I think that I can do no better for my children than to teach them the true meaning of the golden rule: treat others the way you wish to be treated. Period. Not just "others" who are like you - - but everyone. We did that as a family on Monday night, and I felt honored to be a part of this very important movement. I hope Greta and Wyatt will look back on these and other social justice efforts one day and think of Paul and me as a part of the solution rather than at best, passive - - and at worst, part of the problem. The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.