...The American Civil Liberties Union: Strategy and Vision The American Civil Liberties Union, otherwise known as the ACLU, has an extensive and influential history in the United States. The ACLU has ambitious legislative goals in the near future. In order to accomplish these goals, this interest group must fight vigorously for the public’s hearts and minds, as well as the democratic power of Congress. The organization started in the year 1920 after years of anti-war protests and the Red Scare that lead to the infamous Palmer Raids. A group of citizens banded together with the purpose of protecting the basic rights of everyday Americans. While initially, most of the ACLU’s support was directed towards socialist and communist rights, the organization eventually expanded to include minority groups oppressed by discrimination, women’s rights groups, and virtually any citizen who felt their civil liberties had been violated. The goal of the ACLU is to make sure that everyone in the United States is equally protected by the Bill of Rights from government abuse. Although the ACLU is a non-partisan organization, its views tend to typically lean towards the left, and many of its supporters tend to be either liberal or libertarian (votesmart.org). The interest group tends to run into controversy often since it is willing to defend the rights of certain infamous groups such as the Neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. It’s important to note that the American Civil Liberties Union is the nation's...
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...Nancy Roebuck College Writing December 8, 2015 Life as a Union Civil War Soldier On June 2010 at Bedford Village, in Bedford Pennsylvania, our company, “The 105th Pennsylvania Company E” was called upon to battle as the confederates were preparing to gather. The men grabbed their rifles and equipment and fell into line. I was thirteen years old and was ordered to carry the flag of our country. As we joined our battalion, we were told that our company would be head of the battalion. Our company was at the center of the line with my flag being the head of the entire battalion. I was about fifteen yards in front of about 400 men and I was the center point for leading our battalion. I was thirteen years old leading an army into battle. More people should go through the experience of the men and women that kept their town together during times of war and today, in times of peace. Hundreds of fires dotted the battlefield that night. It was in the evening of July 1st 1863 in some small town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg. The first days fighting had the Confederates pushing us through the town into the hills beyond. The confederates held the town of Gettysburg. The Union soldiers were setting up breastworks, and making rock walls to prepare to defend the high ground on the next day. The bugle call sounded at five o’clock A.M, no sleep this night, heart racing, and thinking of family. I grabbed my gear and prepared for battle. It was a humid, sticky morning and I was already...
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...In the civil rights movement, the labor unions played an important role. The labor unions and the civil rights movement shared a common goal for better pay and equal rights. They were allies in the African American struggles especially since there were growing amount of African American workers. The unions believed that African American workers and their white coworkers lives intertwine with one another through their concerns for economic security and their anti-discrimination causes. The president of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Walter Reuther was very open in the support of the Civil Rights Movement. Also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had reached out to his allies in the unions for their financial support and through protests to bring people...
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...Most people believe that they deserve the rights they are granted by the government. An upstanding citizen who pays their taxes, serves their community and abides by the law should be afforded the rights of an American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Gay and lesbians are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbians couples are denied the right to marry even if they are upstanding citizens. They are held at an unfair disadvantage solely because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination must stop because gay and lesbian couples are law-abiding citizens too, who should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. One common problem that plagues gay and lesbian couples that are denied the right to marry is their inability to claim their partner’s social security after he or she has died. The Human Rights Campaign, which work to achieve equal rights for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people, is supporting the effort to attain survivor benefits for domesticate partners. They believe, “Any alteration to the Social Security system must include partners of gays and lesbians in its definition of survivor”(Survivor Benefits 1). Currently, there are no programs that give homosexuals survivor benefits like the ones that are provided for heterosexuals who are married or divorced. Gay and lesbian partners are not able to claim benefits of their deceased, regardless...
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...defenders of traditional marriage contend that tradition is not only a legitimate justification, but is in fact sufficiently important to withstand heightened judicial scrutiny.” (Ford-Mazrui, 2011, para. 1) Society divides themselves based on class: income, religion, finances, ethnicity, etc.; the majority holding control over the minority since the beginning of time. There is and always will be some group of minorities that are segregated. Traditionally, most cultures have defined marriage as a unification of one man and one woman, but tradition has a dark history. Tradition includes the ownership of slaves, incongruous treatment of workers, and the denial of rights to women. The abolishment of slavery, the women’s rights movement, and civil rights proved that tradition should not be made into law and that it can and should be broken when a person’s freedom and human rights are denied. In the 1600s, pilgrims fled England. They did not agree with the King’s law that you must believe in what he believed. They wanted to live and worship as they chose not as they were told. Because of this, they took a stand and left England in search of freedom from...
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...Most people believe that they deserve the rights they are granted by the government. An upstanding citizen who pays their taxes, serves their community and abides by the law should be afforded the rights of an American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Gay and lesbians are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbians couples are denied the right to marry even if they are upstanding citizens. They are held at an unfair disadvantage solely because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination must stop because gay and lesbian couples are law-abiding citizens too, who should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. One common problem that plagues gay and lesbian couples that are denied the right to marry is their inability to claim their partner’s social security after he or she has died. The Human Rights Campaign, which work to achieve equal rights for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people, is supporting the effort to attain survivor benefits for domesticate partners. They believe, “Any alteration to the Social Security system must include partners of gays and lesbians in its definition of survivor”(Survivor Benefits 1). Currently, there are no programs that give homosexuals survivor benefits like the ones that are provided for heterosexuals who are married or divorced. Gay and lesbian partners are not able to claim benefits of their deceased, regardless...
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...Name Instructor Houston English 205 September 2, 2013 Gay in America In today’s society Gay men and women have to fight for everything, including the right to marry and have a baby. Gays face many challenges which include a job, a loved one, a family; the right to life, liberty and justice, all these rights are given to all but Gay people. I ask you; is this fair; are Gays not people to? Sometimes even before a gay person comes out they get teased, ridiculed, punished, assaulted and you wonder why some people try to hide it. For a Gay person it can be a constant struggle, just to live and be happy. Everything in a gay person life is a challenge, they must fight for everything. A person that is born has no choice on who they are or what sex they find attractive. Being gay is no different then being attracted to the opposite sex. ABC News reports, “Northwestern University psychology professor Michael Bailey has spent years studying human sexuality. He says sexual orientation is something people are born with, and this orientation makes some gay men more feminine” (1). Yet we blame and punish the families of these gay people. We even try to limit Gay people’s rights. Society believes that being gay is wrong and disgusting. Dr. Berggren claims that “It has long been asserted, primarily by various religious and politically conservative groups, that homosexuality is detrimental to the well-being of any society in which it occurs” (1). Being gay cannot...
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...are undecided on this issue. 36 states have passed legislation banning gay marriages, yet the state of Vermont recently passed a law that allows homosexual couples the right to participate in civil unions. Some other states are also debating whether or not to allow these couples to marry. Unfortunately, the dispute has left the United States homosexual community in an awkward position. There are some people who think that gay people have no rights and should never be allowed to marry. Other people believe that gay people are just like anyone else and should enjoy the same rights and privileges as heterosexuals do. I think that the United States should allow these couples to marry just like any other couple. There are many opponents of gay people as it is, and they all have their reasons to dislike the idea of letting them get married. One of the main reasons is that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation. Because gay couples are unable to have children, they should not be allowed to marry (Schiffen 495). Another main argument is that the word marriage means the union of one man and one woman. This is a long-standing theme of most major Western religions. Under a proposed bill known as the Defense of Marriage act, marriage is defined as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Furthermore, it defines a spouse as “ a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife” (What 1). Under these guidelines, it is quite obvious...
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...Same-sex marriage, also commonly referred to as Gay marriage, is a very hotly contested issue that divides a great number of people throughout the world. In this argumentative essay, the topic is explored by three of its main arguments. The first exploration of this topic will involve the ability of same-sex couples to parent as effectively as their heterosexual counterparts. Next, the legal issues surrounding same-sex marriage are explored. Lastly, the religious arguments are evaluated. Both sides of the argument for and against same-sex marriage are discussed while the reader is given a respect for the position of supporting marriage equality. Same-Sex Marriage Traditionally, marriage has been defined as both a religious and civil institution that has been afforded to one man and one woman in the promise of love. Modern, more liberal ideologies have challenged this view. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people have been at the forefront of championing the cause for the right to expand the definition of marriage to allow everyone to enjoy the same rights and privileges, without discrimination, as their heterosexual counterparts. Amongst the privileges that they seek are to love, honor and cherish their spouses in equal recognition to their heterosexual counterparts. This paper argues that LGBT people should be allowed to marry because homosexual couples are citizens with fundamental rights, moral standing, and parental abilities equal to their heterosexual...
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...Table of Contents Title Page.................................................................................................................................i Table of Contents....................................................................................................................1 A. Inroduction.........................................................................................................................2 B. Definition...........................................................................................................................3 - 4 C. Issues..................................................................................................................................4 - 8 i. LGBT parenting..........................................................................4 ii. Adoption.....................................................................................4 - 5 iii. Surrogacy and fertility treatment................................................5 iv. Organizations..............................................................................5 - 8 v. Health..........................................................................................8 - 9 D. History..............................................................................................................................9 - 11 i. Ancient......................................................................................
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...Marriage and Same-Sex Couples One of the leading political debates in our country today is the legalization of same-sex marriages. The very image of marriage is evolving on an on-going basis due to society and the major changes between society defined unions. In 2003 Webster’s Dictionary changed the definition of marriage to include same-sex marriage. Marriage, as per society, is a special event in almost everyone’s life. Marriage should be about getting married to someone you love. Marriage should be a natural event no matter what sex that person is. It is not just a piece of paper that binds you together; it also involves legal aspects, economic and social issues as well. The focus of this paper will be on these issues and how they are intertwined. When society first started discussing this issue they were set on the fact that it would destroy heterosexual marriage and that it would bring harm to everyone. It has been discussed on every major television program and/or channel. Almost everyone has an opinion on the subject but most will not support it with hard facts. According to revised estimates from the 2010 Census, there were 131,729 same-sex married couple households and 514,735 same-sex unmarried partner households in the United States. In the 2000 Census there were 594,391 households headed by same-sex partners and in 2011. Maggie Gallagher, co-author of “The Case for Marriage,” testified in front of the Senate that gay marriage activists are misrepresenting...
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...Traditional Marriage vs. Modern Day Marriage Communications 215 Traditional Marriage vs. Modern Day Marriage Traditional Marriage is the social institution under which a man and a woman establish their decision to live as husbands and wife by legal commitments and religious ceremonies. Also defined as the state, condition or relationship of being married; wedlock. Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on culture or subculture in which it is found. (Merriam, 1967) Such a union, often formalized by way of a wedding ceremony, may also be called matrimony. I will build a foundation of my personal principals and moral values on traditional marriage opposed to modern (same sex) marriage, and their contributions to the American Family. In society today modern same sex marriage (also called gay marriage) is legally and or socially recognized marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. The synonym marriage equality is used especially by supporters of legal recognition of same sex marriage. These two definitions are on very opposite ends of the spectrums in society today. These two very different views have caused a lot of adversity and resistance to the American Family Dream. In closing, my personal viewpoint, religious and political standpoint on the issue may be liberating...
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...All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, but are we allowing gays in New Zealand this? Hi I’m Ashlee and I believe gay marriages should be legal in New Zealand as everyone is entitled to choice. Only Ten countries recognise same sex marriage. New Zealand recognises Civil Unions; however I understand that Same Sex couples who enter into a civil union are denied equal access to all the benefits, rights, and privileges provided by law to married couples. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, but are we allowing gays in New Zealand this? Hi I’m Ashlee and I believe gay marriages should be legal in New Zealand as everyone is entitled to choice. Only Ten countries recognise same sex marriage. New Zealand recognises Civil Unions; however I understand that Same Sex couples who enter into a civil union are denied equal access to all the benefits, rights, and privileges provided by law to married couples. Because of this, it stands to reason that legalized gay marriage will ultimately prove beneficial for gay individuals. This, in turn, will be better for gay couples, the families of them, and communities where same sex couples live. It is basic a human right for non-discriminable marriage and New Zealand needs to set an example for other countries that also deny same sex Couples this right. Because of this, it stands to reason that legalized gay marriage will ultimately prove beneficial for gay individuals. This, in turn, will...
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...Same-Sex Marriage Chip Dodds COM/172 May 21, 2013 Dr. Rosalind Williams Same-Sex Marriage Same-sex couples should be able to enjoy all of the same spousal rights along with benefits that are concurrent with applicable federal and state statutes that traditional couples enjoy. With more states legalizing same-sex marriages, it is becoming clearer that this is an issue that cannot and will not go away quietly. The politicians that seek to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman are stating that it is perfectly all right legally to discriminate against American citizens solely on the basis of his or her sexual preference. According to the United States Constitution, it is stated that “all men are equal under the law.” For same-sex couples, it is their right to love who they choose to love and provide for their families and loved ones. Under the current laws and statutes, same-sex couples are not allowed to do so. Marriage equality is rapidly becoming a hot topic on the American political landscape. Some of the rights that same-sex couples face include that same-sex couples are not eligible to file jointly as a married couple and thus cannot take the advantages of lower tax rates when the individual income of the partners differs significantly. Another right that same-sex couples cannot enjoy is that they cannot protect a jointly-owned home from loss because...
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...Homosexuals should be allowed to marry because the disallowance of it violates their constitutional rights. Marriage is an institution long recognized by our government under the right to pursue happiness, and denying that right to any couple, regardless of gender, is unconstitutional. This argument, though, is not disputed. In fact, none of the arguments raised in opposition to the allowance of homosexual marriages takes into account the constitutional rights afforded to all humans. The arguments are only in relation to the possible repercussions (real or imagined) of granting these rights. Our nation was built and has always been based on the fundamental principles of freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence and through our Constitution. The opponents of homosexual marriage need to remember what freedom means to America, and understand the significance of setting a precedent that denies that freedom. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the institution of marriage is one of the rights guaranteed to all Americans by our Constitution. Banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. Marriage is a basic human right and should not be denied to any individual. At various times in U.S. history, other minorities have been prevented from marrying: African-Americans, for example. Interracial marriage was also legally prohibited in various states, until the Supreme Court ruled such bans unconstitutional in 1967 ("Should Gay" 31). At this time, however, marriage is only...
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