Does America need a short history lesson?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Why is that so hard to understand? Obviously this is from the Declaration of Independence. The writing is not complex and I’m just baffled as to why so many people don’t seem to understand what this means.

And why is this so hard to understand?

From Wikipedia;

The concept of separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state. The term is an offshoot of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state," as written in Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists Association in 1802. The original text reads: "...I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." The phrase was quoted by the United States Supreme Court first in 1878, and then in a series of cases starting in 1947. Like many other governing principles, the phrase "separation of church and state" itself does not appear verbatim in the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

I just don’t get it?  Why aren’t the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Rastafaris, Wiccans, Druids, Atheists, and on and on, lobbying for what their religion teaches about marriage? Why is it only certain Christian groups seem to want to force their religion down everyone’s throat when it comes to gay marriage?

Every day I Google “same sex marriage” and I read about what’s going on in other states.

Some states are facing the exact same thing that just happened in Wyoming,

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/03/new-hampshire-lawmakers-delay-anti-gay-marriage-bills-until-2012/

 Some states are getting closer to civil unions,

 http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/08/colorado-republican-casts-key-vote-in-favor-of-civil-unions/ 

Some states are close to getting same sex marriage, http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/03/gay_maryland_delegates_make_ap.html

One thing I find in common with all these states is the for/against arguments are almost identical to what was being said in Wyoming throughout our legislative session.  And it is Christian groups (or supposed Christian groups,) that say “Don’t give the LGTB community anything!” And the only argument they seem to have is, “This is what the bible says!”

I remember telling the House Judiciary Committee to please keep in mind that they were legislators not clergy; and to please set aside personal religious beliefs when it came to passing laws.  WyWatch would like them to legislate based on their view of the bible.

Can anyone please give me a reason as to why gay people should not be allowed to get married, that in some way, shape, or form doesn’t involve a religious argument???

Jeran