Gay Marriage

I have spent a lot of time over the past few months contemplating the pros and cons of gay marriage. As a *Conservative*, it seems I am expected to automatically be against it. But it’s simply not that cut and dry for me. As a Christian, it is also expected that I would sign any petition passed my way against it. Again, not that cut and dry … and mostly it is because I am a Christian that I find it difficult to stand so opposed.

Here’s the thing … love is a really good thing. In fact, I would guess it is one of the greatest gifts God created within us … the ability to love another person so much that we would want to tie ourselves together permanently. I can not believe that God would create within people love for someone, and then be cruel enough to force them to live without that love. I could never condemn a homosexual person to a life without love and intimacy simply because the person they have fallen in love with is of the same sex.

Sexual immorality is performing intimate acts with someone you have not built a relationship with which is worthy of intimacy. There should be no physical intimacy where there is not emotional and spiritual intimacy. I do believe that acts of intimacy should be shared between people who have a permanent, monogamous relationship. Falling into bed with every person you date is sexual immorality, whether it is hetero or homosexual.

Marriage as a concept was around long before it became a religious act. In fact, it was originally conceived as a contract between adults, primarily for the sharing and combining of property. Father’s would promise their daughters in marriage to certain men in exchange for land or livestock … love was not often a consideration. The contracts were binding, whether they were blessed by a religious official or not. Modern times have changed the focus of marriage from contract to romance, and somewhere along the line, it became popular to invite God into the mix by having a priest or other religious person officiate the ceremony.

To take this contract agreement and deny same-sex couples the right to share and combine their property simply because a popularly held religious belief holds their relationships as sinful, is unfair. Our country strives, most often to its detriment, to separate church and state. In the area of same-sex marriage, consistency demands that religion have no place in the argument of combined property rights.

That having been said, I do not believe that any religious organization should be forced to recognize, nor give blessing to, a union it believes is sinful. In other words, if you are in a same-sex relationship and wish to be married, but your church does not allow it … go find a church that does. More and more open their doors and hearts daily to couples of every sexual orientation … there is no reason to stay within an organization which can not accept your sexuality.

It is my personal opinion that all judging should be done by God and God alone and not one of us still left on earth knows what His ultimate judgment will be. We are called to love one another, to treat each other as we would hope to be treated. Be the best, most loving person that you can be with the gifts God bestowed upon you, and leave judgment to the One who created us. Let those who love, LOVE.

Military Wife

The following was written about 4 years ago when my husband was retiring from the USMC. The words I wrote then are even more true today and I felt it should be shared here.

It is not often that I find the desire to wax poetic about the honor of being a military wife, but maybe the impending retirement of my husband has found me nostalgic. Not that there certainly isn’t every reason to be unbelievably proud of my unique position. It is more that I am simply not the sentimental type. This year, however, I find my heart aching with pride each time I hear the National Anthem sung. I surreptitiously wiped tears from my eyes during the Colors Ceremony at the most recent Marine Corps Ball. My husband is retiring from the US Marine Corps after 27 years of active duty service.

I have tried to tell him a few times how incredibly proud I am of his many years of selfless service to his country … my country. I have tried to relay to him my thankfulness for the work he has done that allows me to speak freely, walk without fear and worship in any way I choose. But as I have already mentioned … sentimentality is not my strong suit. So today, spurred by the intense feelings the last few months have inspired, I write those feelings left so often unsaid.

Most of my life, I have given thanks for “freedom” in an almost nonchalant manner. As Americans, this is something we simply take for granted. In another country, my tendency towards brash statements would see me jailed, or worse. In another country my son might not be given the opportunity to learn the theories of evolution and creationism. In another country, I would not be allowed to vote for the politician I think best represents my personal interests. And if I happen to not agree with the politician who IS elected, I would not be able to voice my dissatisfaction.

The United States of America is still operating with a volunteer military. That means that every man and woman who enlists in the armed forces is making a conscious choice that they are willing to lay down their life for MY freedom if it becomes necessary. Whether they enlist in the Guard, Reserves or an Active Duty service, they are saying that they believe freedom is worth any cost, even their very lives. What an incredible sacrifice to make in order to ensure that I, Christina Gagliano, can stay here and brashly state my opinion whenever I feel so moved. What unbelievable selflessness to ensure that I, Christina Gagliano, can worship any God I want, even if they don’t happen to agree with my personal choice. How fortunate am I to live in a place where men and women are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to peaceful assembly, the right to trial by jury, the right to defend my personal property, the right to choose my elected officials, the assurance that I will not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. Years ago I studied the Constitution and its amendments, but only recently has its power affected my life so profoundly.

I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to see a hero in action. I am thankful that I have watched as my Marine shipped off to a foreign country to defend the rights I take for granted. I am thankful that I will always have this incredible testimony to give my son as he grows up in a land which is increasingly more unaware of how special and unique its freedoms are. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to know the hearts and souls of so many of our nation’s unsung heroes during my years as Marine Corps wife. I am thankful that I have been able to witness not only the sacrifice of the service members, but also that of their families. Not one is untouched by the honor and pride of being a part of this incredible family of heroes. I am thankful that I can count among my friends these brave, selfless, sacrificial people. I am staggeringly proud to be the wife of Sgt. Major Christopher Gagliano, who has faithfully and selflessly served his country for 27 years.

My hope is that you will reflect on the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of this great United States of America. That you will remember with pride and thankfulness the men and women who are serving overseas and at home to ensure that, if you so choose, you may say grace at your dinner table. I pray that your heart will swell with pride each and every time you hear the National Anthem and that you will never forget the sacrifices still being made to ensure that you live in a land of freedom.

Introductory Paragraphs

I tend to be a very opinionated person. I make no claim to be 100% right 100% of the time. I heartily acknowledge that what might be right to me is extremely wrong for someone else. However, one of my favorite things about this fantastic country I live in is my ability to state my thoughts without fear for my life.

As a citizen of these great and United States of America, I am allowed to agree or disagree with politicians, neighbors, fellow congregants, friends, family, strangers and foes. And I do. Frequently.

In fact, I am quite well known for putting my foot in my mouth (or my pen up my nose, as the case may be), saying the wrong things at exactly the wrong time. And if I am wrong, and someone points it out to me, well backed up with facts ... I have no problem admitting defeat and/or error in judgement. I enjoy learning from everyone and anyone. I believe that we all are owners of a certain amount of *truth* and look forward to any opportunity to glean some from a willing source.

I write a couple of other blogs about very specific subjects. Often times, I will be sweating away on the stair master watching CNN or ESPN and something will jump out at me that just begs for me to offer up an opinion on. I silently mouth my arguments to the screen (well, as my headphones are on, I HOPE the arguments are silent. Otherwise, I guess it would explain why people run away when they see me approaching at the gym ...) and think to myself "I must go home and write about that". However, I have not had a place to do so.

Hence, the paragraphs you see before you know. I am not intending to advertise this anywhere. If someone happens to see it, mores the merriment. This one is for me. A place to clear my head of all the little jumbled thoughts and arguments I have about pretty much everything I see and hear in our world today.

Let me finish with this little synopsis of ME:

I am Conservative, but not always Republican. I am straight, but I am not anti-gay. I am pro-life, but I am not anti-choice. I am Christian, but am fairly anti-organized religion. I hate violence, but would not hesitate to kill you if you laid a hand on my child. I believe that EVERYONE should have to work for what they have and that the church or volunteer organizations should take care of those who simply can not. The government should stay out of it. No more welfare or free rides and if you don't like it, you should move somewhere else. I believe our great country was built on the backs of immigrants possessing incredible work ethics. I have no problem with people from other countries moving here to contribute. As long as they do. Contribute, that is, work ... and follow the rules. And, oh yeah. Speak THIS countries language, don't expect the people already here to speak yours.

But I am sure those subjects and more will come up in later blogs ...