On Tuesday, North Carolina voters will be given a chance to rewrite the state constitution, adding to it a ban on same-sex marriage. The latest polls indicate the amendment to the constitution has a majority of support in the state.
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, the pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, spoke out against the amendment at a recent press conference. If voters in that state listen to him, the amendment doesn't have a chance.
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... This was truly an-AMAZING-speech! & what it means-to-be a REAL American!
Oh my goodness, listening to the reverend gave me goosebumps! This is the best argument I have ever heard in support of fighting discrimination against any group...let alone discriminatory actions against marriage equality. Love this and worth sharing!
Oh my goodness, the reverend's message gave me goosebumps! This is the best argument I have heard in support of stopping discrimination against any group, let alone discriminatory actions against marriage equality. Worth sharing!
Oh my goodness, the reverend's message gave me goosebumps! This is the best argument I have heard in support of stopping discrimination against any group, let alone discriminatory acts against marriage equality. Worth sharing!
good grief, my apologies for the multiple posts...kept getting rerouted to sign up.
once again this guy this guy is associating same sex marriage with interracial marriage a choice vs.race can't change being black nor would i want to but you can darn well be gay or not
Samuel , i am a black gay man who was raised in a very loving home , I have been blessed with a family that from the start have accepted me and all of me from the day of my birth , they have accepted my partner of 43yrs as one of their own . I am black and i am gay nether one can i change or would i... i think that i can call my self an expert in the field don't you ?
If people could change being gay, they would. We don't know God's mind. We can only accept God's direction for us individually. To be the salt of the earth is not to shun people, but to accept them and to show them God's glory.
Being gay is not a choice, people are born this way. Who would chose to be vilified and hated by a stupid bunch of unaware people. Dont show your ignorance on this subject. To deny rights to others is to take this country back to the beginning. Remember slavery and Jim Crow. A long hard dangerous fight among thinking brave americans. A large step backward to deny rights to americans by bad lawmaking, seen this before,,,,,beware
Samuel, I don't choose to be gay any more than you choose to be straight. In fact, I tried to be straight. I married a man and tried to live the straight lifestyle. I was miserable, unhappy and always treating him terribly because it just wasn't who I was. I can't fight my feelings or attractions to women any more than you can. Do you really think I would choose to be discriminated against EVERY SINGLE DAY? Do you think that I would choose to have people who have NO idea what it's like to feel this way to tell me that my life is wrong, I can't have any rights and basically that I'm sub-human to the rest of you? No one would choose that. I am who I am and you are who you are. There's no choice about it.
Samuel, there was a man some years back whose name was Matlovich. He was thrown out of the USAF for geing gay. Larry King asked him why he didn't just change to heterosexual. Matlovich said he didn't choose to be gay, no one would want to go out every day with the fear that he or she will be beaten up just because of their sexual orientation. Think your words through before you shoot off your keyboard my friend; you are totally wrong on this on. I am straight, but sympathize with those who are discriminated against for any reason.
It's appearant that none of these "you can just change" bunch haven't done any research on the subject. Over 10 years ago some medical research was done. It proved that gay people had a section of the brain that differed from non-gay. The research was done over a period of years and published. Maybe the gay "bashers" should read some medical journals on the subject.
To Daniel. No one does not choose to be gay. You need to go brush up on some facts
Samuel: A point the Minister raises is: Do you want the majority to rule for the minority? That's why we are a republic under Constitutional Law, where minorities have a say under our democracy. Darn, I join Hanford and Evelyn, an excellent awakening.
Samuel Denson it is best YOU understand the mentality of the Republicans They will position an amendment or proposition or ordinance to the American public as one thing but the HIDDEN AGENDA has nothing to do with what is being voted on. What Rev. Barber is saying is that this is a Trojan Horse, if you not undersatnd that metphor then may be you and those like you think you are voting against same sex marriages it is best you seek out the documentary on HBO entitled "HOT COFFEE". The Republicans behind Karl Rove and GWB had the people of Texas and several other state to believe they were voting against frivolus lawsuit with Proposition 12. The people vote FOR Propositin 12. Turn Propsoitin 12 was away for multi-million dollar corporation and drugs companies will not have to pay you or any American if they destroy you are a family member's life if they screwed it up. Check out the video HOT COFFEE before you vote, it will give you for insight as to what the hidden agenda is an attck on the BILL OF RIGHTS, not a damn thing to do with same sex marriage. Once you vote, you will be one of the SUCKERS that they are looking for. DON"T BECOME THEIR SUCKER.
Sorry dude, that's just ignorant.
Samuel - Let's assume you're right and sexual orientation is a choice. Prohibiting someone from marrying someone of the same sex is the same as prohibiting a black person from marrying a white person as many states did before 1967. In that case, the black person was making a CHOICE to marry a white person. They could have chosen to marry a black person and they would have been able to without a problem. Why is it ok to allow that choice and not this choice? And I know what you're going to say: "because the Bible says so.." Well...some Christian churches say homosexuality is a sin; some others like Lutheran, Unitarians, etc. say it is not. Orthodox Jews say it is but reformed Jews say its not. So.. who's view of religion do we take?
This is why our Founding Fathers explicitly stated that laws should not be created based on a particular religion's view. Government should not be in the business of arbitrating or interpreting religious issues. Government must treat all citizens equally and religion to the churches.
As most of my friends know, I am not big on religion, I'm big on people... I believe in people first and foremost, and Rev. Barber has lifted my faith in my fellow man. And that was the point of his message. This whole mess that has been created to scar our state's constitution should have no basis on anyone's religious standings or experimentation. The law of the land is based on the common good and justice for all. I just listened to the calm and wise delivery of Rev. Barber once again as they were replayed on MSNBC. I plan to share them over and over on my Facebook page during election day today. No matter the outcome of this vote, with people like Rev. Barber on our side... we've already won and the battle starts anew May 9.
It takes enormous clarity of mind to be able to keep your 'eyes on the prize' while at the same time sifting through all the political and ideological hysteria of 'the right'.
The Rev. Barber has done this and more. His words should...must...be passed to everyone throughout the country.
WE MUST NEVER GO BACKWARDS!
It's great to see/hear a Reverend preaching the Constitution(s) and confirming that Freedom of Religion entails Freedom from Religion. Rev. Barber's confirmation that the Politics of Inclusion trumps the Politics of Exclusion and rather poignant assertion that Majority Rules is quite often an invalid way of Governing were very well said. That he also happens to be President of the North Carolina Chapter of the NAACP is only important under the circumstances due to the fact that that allows for a significantly larger audience.
Yes, you MUST ask the right question because only then do you get to the real truth.
This video needs to go viral across America and fast. Great words of compassion and doing the right thing.
This man hit the nail on the head!
Brilliant.
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
The people of North Carolina need to watch this video before casting your ballot TODAY!!! Amendment 1 is NOT about same sex marriage people!!!
We must turn the same sex marriage issue into a human rights issue. We should ask those on the other side: If gays and lesbians pay their taxes and abide by the law, why can’t they have the same rights as everyone else when it comes to their pursuit of happiness? We need to remind people that arguments being used by folks on the right, are the same arguments that bigots used against interracial marriage.
We need to tell people that we cannot allow our fellow Americans to be discriminated against. We must approach this fight the same way good people of every race, every gender and every religion approached the Civil Rights fight in the 60's.
I voted against it!!!!!!!!! Please people don't legalize HATE!!!!!!!
Inspiring that the issue is clearly stated in the South by this clear thinking Reverand. Today with fear rampant in the United States, the rights of all Americans to be treated equally under the Constitution (Federal Law) and a prohibition of treating any American with less rights for any reason is on the line in this Century. Time to get it right.
This is a great message! However, being a native North Carolinian, I know this amendment will pass because of religious reasons. I'm deeply saddened by this event! My rights are being taken away by the majority and I can do nothing to stop this other than vote. (Voting won't be enough.) I can't believe that because I'm a lesbian, I'm being overtly discriminated against and my State's Constitution is being amended to discriminate against my rights. This will be a sad day in North Carolina history. I hang my head in shame of the bigotry. I have so much respect and admiration for Rev. Dr. William J. Barber!!! He has done great work in many other areas as well. Fight ignorance.
It appears this amendment will be declared unconstitutional when brought before the courts. If it should happen to go as far as the USSC, let's wait until our great and good President Obama is re-elected. It's possible our Prez Obama will appoint the next 2 justices, which is why it's most important we get the vote out in Nov. On a cautionary note: after the clown of presidential candidates brought forth by the repub/tparty, ending in Romney as their main clown, the thought that the repub/tparty Big Money funders have a few tricks up their sleeve come election time. Be ever wary of anything said / being done by the repub/tparty. Love that Rev. Dr. Barber!
Pastor Barber seems like a pretty interesting guy. I would love to ask him many questions. His concern for civil rights are well intentioned. Are we talking Rights or are we talking behavior with same sex marriage...? I think that is the first question. Then after figuring that out lets move forward if we can. Because this a sensitive topic that a lot of "hate" is thrown from both sides of the isle. Or is their a sensible answer...and from who...?
To borrow from another; if it were up to me, if I were God (far from it ;>/) anyone and everyone who has the civil, kind and spiritually encouraging courtesy to say "Hello, How are you today", and prayfully has the hygienics or the will to brush their teeth at least once a day (I'll buyem a tooth brush if need be) they would enter Heaven if I were God...those might be my requirements if I were in charge, and probably I might give to less then that...
But I am not God--and best as I can tell...not confident Lawrence O'donnell is either (I get the feeling his requirements might be stricter--probably include Flossing for those Heaven bound) Nor is the Pastor, nor anyone else on this board....so who is....Well Pastor Barbers knows it Jesus, he says so everyday--so what does Jesus say is a question we need to ask? Where do we go to find that out...?
Well you all know where I am going--The Bible. The Bible is for us, not against us, The Bible wants to helps us navigate through confusion not add to it. Jesus's only clear directives are that we trust Him with everything we have. He says that he upholds the Laws of Moses--the Ten commandments among other things. If you can do that without Him--you are indeed better then most--I can't. I need His forgiveness.
Get to know Him, and this question among so many others will be answered ...but wait that's not all...if you are wrestling with anything, anything at all in life He promises to Help and Solve your dilemma...it may not be the answer you expect though--but it will be the best one.
Please I ask, if you have a different view--I am ok with that, but do yourself a favor, don't wind up and throw down a bunch hooey angry words that take away from the dialogue that we ..YES WE..all need. I think Mr. O'donnell tends to fall into that trap, I sometimes do, we both need to get better.
Have a thoughtful and great day
The bible is a book written by men for men. Much of the new testment written hundreds of years after the death of Christ. The use of handpicked chapters to justify almost anything remains a mainstay in the religious discourse of much of the Catholic and Baptist teachings. Mormons and Catholics writing there own books.So many preachers uneducated and telling you what you must do to get along as they fill their pockets with money. A passage here or there to make your argument as you believe. Christians have so much hate and the mistaken idea that they have all the answers to save your soul, without working too hard on their own salvation Gandhi said...I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. It has only gotten worse. The denying of human rights and dignity is hateful and a total lack of comprehension. A sad, ugly day for North Carolina, I had been happy to live here, not so much happy with the people.
The Bible bans more things than just homosexuality, Mr. Leonardo.
I believe in God, and I am a good person, and I eat shellfish and have touched the skin of a dead animal, and I may one day get a tattoo. And you who say "we have to take our cues form the Bible" do NOT get to pick and choose. You either use the Bible as your defense and follow it whole-hog (unclean animal though that may be) or you don't.
What you cannot do is use one passage as a defense for discrimination, but then say of the other "laws" that those are just cultural things of their time that we can ignore. Nope, sorry. You want it to be the law we all live by, then I hope for the sake of your eternal soul that you haven't had any shrimp recently.
And please note: The fact that I disagree with you doesn't take away from the needed conversation- it is the conversation. You cannot just state your thoughts and say "If you disagree with me, you take away from the conversation."
I do believe the Creator is trying to teach us if we but look. We were given flowers of every hue and colour, with and without scent, with and without thorns. Some grow very tall, others stay short; some attract bees and butterflies, others feed insects and birds. Some blossom only in moonlight, while others bloom at different times of the year. That's the lesson - accept what is given to us. Learn to respect what is in the world. Each has a mission for which they were created. The Bible - words written by humans. Creation is life, given by a Creator.
Thank you, Dr. Barber. Voting on civil rights is an oxymoron.
Lawrence ,thank you for showing this on your show. The amendment is hateful. I am worried that most people of N.C. do not know what is involved with this thing. Love your show
Is MSNBC allowed to just take a video shot by someone else and post it as their own? Not crediting the camera man and producer of the video at all? Is it legal for them to place their logo all over another man's work, add/sell ads to a video they didn't do a thing to produce? This is stealing as far as I am concerned.
I am sure they asked for permission.
And then we have those who..... assume! It's good to question.
I am sorry you misunderstand. Think!!
Brilliant speech! If you loved this see his 38 min. sermon on YouTube.
Paste into search:
Dr. William Barber, NC NAACP President, Speaks Against Amendment One
What a brilliant speech - The good reverend spoke not only to the marriage equality issue, but to an entire campaign of Constitutional subversion by the Republican Party. Absolutely awesome.
First, this is Greensboro, where the lunch counter protests happened. Goldsboro is still KKK country. Second, I love my home state. Only there can you find left-wing politics and spirituality marching hand in hand.
The "Good Reverend" gave a good speech however he should not be preaching politics in church !! The Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina should be investigated and the tax exempt status should be revoked !!! and Tom Simmons you are correct this is theft ! all in all it's just pathetic!!!
The Rev. Dr. William Barber was not delivering a sermon in a Church. He was in a press conference with Clergy from around the state addressing an audience in opposition to NC's Constitutional Amendment One.