Guest Opinion: Thank You Andy Hill, a True Leader

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

These words from the preamble to our Declaration on Independence are the philosophical backbone of our nation. No debate about race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or heritage is necessary. Doesn’t matter, ALL Americans have the God given right to at least life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It is fortunate that those who oppose marriage equality are candid enough to base their opposition on their personal religious doctrine. While the Constitution and the terms of the Marriage Equality act specifically forbid imposing limits on freedom of religious practice, the First Amendment equally forbids using government and law to establish religion. Limiting personal liberties based on a specific religious doctrine is establishing religion through law and is unconstitutional.

I wish we could claim that we have consistently applied the words of our founding fathers about equality and inalienable rights. There are too many occasions where those words were not honored, and there have had to be corrections through court challenges and passage of specific laws. 

As long as there is legally defined civil marriage, it is ludicrous to claim marriage is not a civil right. I have lived long enough to see raw examples of our basic inalienable rights denied to individuals and groups based on race, color, gender, national origin and religion. The language is always the same, including reference to religious texts or tradition. It doesn’t matter who we are, we all have equal and inalienable rights.

State Sen. Andy Hill (R-Redmond) took a courageous and principled vote and represents the historic Republican values of individual rights, personal responsibility, and protection of our Constitution. Abraham Lincoln would be proud. Thank you, Andy.

—Hank Myers, Republican PCO and State Convention Delegate

---

Editor's note: Hank Myers also serves on the Redmond City Council.