Interracial marriage

beatlesgirl25

After posting in kkchisholm's gay marriage thread, I happened upon this story, which made me happy: http://tinyurl.com/yj4535fBasically, that JOP who refused to marry the interracial couple a few weeks ago is resigning, due to popular demand. So that's one less idiot in power.

squirrly

Thank goodness.  I'd prefer a lynch mob, but I don't think that's going to happen.

squirrly

Clarification:  lynch mob for the JOP.  Wow.  I realized after I hit "post now" that might read strangely.

beatlesgirl25

I gotcha. Though I think even for the JOP, a lynch mob would be hypocritical. Or sweet, sweet justice, whichever you prefer.

janedoe1113a

I think what he did was wrong, but I think it was ridiculous that the couple took it to such extreme measures.

ring_pop

My hubby gives this a thumbs up.[img]http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs280.snc1/10718_799664638772_28134860_50823102_2086868_n.jpg[/img]

rhodesign

ah squirrly--that was kinda funny! =)Due justice, though. People talk about the first amendment and how this idiot has the right to express their opinion. While true, the rest of us have the right to call them out for being such an idiot. In this case, he realized there was no hope in his idiocy continuing. A good day for America.

beatlesgirl25

Navy, do you mean by taking it to the media? I didn't follow this story too closely, only when it came out and then the update I just posted. Did they threaten to sue him or something?

janedoe1113a

I haven't followed it too closely, but my FI has been.  They were pretty much trying to get him fired.  I think that's taking it a little far.

squirrly

As a 14 year old, I had to try to translate a painting of a KKK lynch mob to a group of Japanese exchange students.  My Japanese was VERY rough then.  It's still one of my most embarrassing conversations to date.  And not because of the language barrier.Seriously.  There are plenty of BLACK and WHITE children with intact families who have crappy home lives.  Being interracial doesn't seem to be a special ticket to misery.  He's an asss and I truly hope he gets what karma has waiting for him one day.I get it that he has the right to refuse to marry whomever it suits him, but that doesn't make it right. 

beatlesgirl25

Ringpop - Very cute! Thanks for the thumbs up. :)Navy, I respectfully disagree. I don't know if there was a specific regulation within his duties as a JOP that he was violating, but on a human rights level I don't think he should be allowed to explicitly abuse his power like that. It would be like if someone who worked at the DMV refused to give a woman her driver's license because he/she didn't believe women should drive. I think the fact that he was unapologetic about his stance and made it clear that he had done this before and would continue to do it makes him unfit to do his job of serving the people in this way. It's harmful, in my eyes.

beatlesgirl25

Squirrly, thanks for sharing your story... I have the funniest mental image of you trying to translate this painting via Kabuki theatre or something.

NuggetBrain

I think trying to get him fired was just fine. In my opinion, when you take an oath to join people together in marriage, you don't get the right to say "Sorry, I'm not going to marry you because of your skin color." If this guy denied them a job based on this, or a house, or a bank loan he WOULD have been fired. Because it's against the law. Marriage isn't a private business, it is a legal right. Anybody who feels they cannot marry anybody who is legally able to be married shouldn't be allowed to marry anybody at all.

beatlesgirl25

Marriage isn't a private business, it is a legal right.Nugget, if only this were true for everyone. But it was true for that couple, so ITA.

squirrly

Anybody who feels they cannot marry anybody who is legally able to be married shouldn't be allowed to marry anybody at all. Nugget, I totally agree.  Unfortunately, it seems the law that defines his duties is worded differently.  That's the real problem that needs to be fixed, IMO.  I *assume* it's worded the way it is so that a Catholic priest can have the legal right to marry Catholics without the legal obligation to marry others.  I don't know how we get past this legally.  But - it's the suck for sure.

rhodesign

Agreed. He can't just refuse people a license under his own opinion. He's entitled to his opinions, but he can't make them law.They passed a bill in IL a few years ago (one good thing Blago did) where pharmacists couldn't deny filling BC or emergency BC pills for women due to their stances on family planning. If you have such religious or personal convictions, then you're in the wrong line of work. I don't agree with crackheads giving birth, but I can't refuse to take care of them or their children because of it. (an odd comparison, but same point)

rhodesign

Churches get away with it because they're private institutions that operate under their own rules. They have rights to marry people legally, but they get more leeway as to whom they marry. Someone in the public sector (JOPs) don't get that leeway. If it's not illegal (marrying siblings, etc.), they have to issue licenses to whomever applies.

Sunshine9463

Yea, I don't understand why he wasn't fired...like that day. What year is this? Not marrying people because of race?Not allowing people to get married because of gender?Yet we are the most 'civilized' country in the world. right.

tenofcups4me

I'm glad he's gone, but it's too bad he wasn't fired outright. What he did *should* be against the law.

squirrly

rho, is that the way it's worded in Arkansas?  I agree it's the way it SHOULD be.  I just suspect that should and IS are different.  It's the south.  On the whole - not the most inclusive part of the world. 

rhodesign

I have no idea. I'm going off what I *think* so I could be wrong. It just makes sense to me, but a lot of things that make sense aren't in action, so...

beatlesgirl25

What he did *should* be against the law.tenofcups, maybe it will be illegal someday. Cases like this that get media attention certainly raise awareness so that new legislation can go through. Fingers crossed.

kinsey0628

I haven't followed it too closely, but my FI has been. They were pretty much trying to get him fired. I think that's taking it a little far. wow, gotta disagree with that one.  he was completely out of line and they were absolutely right to try to get him fired.

Simply Fated

"Anybody who feels they cannot marry anybody who is legally able to be married shouldn't be allowed to marry anybody at all."AgreedThey shouldn't have tried to get him fired. He should have been fired. Case closed.

IrishBrideND

He claimed that he's not racist because he lets Black people use his bathroom in his house.So its ok guys! He's not racist!::eye roll::

vgmartinez

I think the couple acted very appropriately in getting him fired. It's very hurtful when things like that happen. Come on...we're in 2009, not 1909. Interracial marriages were once illegal. If that were true today, FI and I wouuld not be getting married.

vgmartinez

Actually, I believe he resigned.