I want to begin this post by stating that I am no historian, theologian or expert in any related field. This is my blog and simply my opinion. I wanted to probe the term “Civil Rights” because as of late I have been hearing how the gay community has “hijacked” the term. I began this process by first going right to the dictionary and copying the very first definition of each word. Civil, “of, pertaining to, or consisting of citizens” and the word, Right, “in accordance with what is good, proper, or just:” I then researched the term “Civil Rights and nowhere in my research did I find this term owned or patented by any particular group, it applies to the many that were denied equal rights in our nations stained past. Let’s take a look at a few;
Woman’s Civil Rights – Woman were denied the equal right to vote (suffrage); to hold public office; to work; to fair wages or equal pay; to own property; to education; to serve in the military or be conscripted; to enter into legal contracts; and to have marital, parental and religious freedom. Sadly, some of this fight continues today.
African American Civil Rights: African Americans were denied racial dignity,economic and political self-sufficiency, freedom, and the equal right to marry who they fell in love with regardless of cultural/ethnic background. Sadly, some of this fight continues today.
Native American Civil Rights: Native Americans were denied the equal right to free expression of their culture, to travel, and land ownership Sadly, some of this fight continues today.
I could go on and on listing other communities/groups/cultures (Asian American Civil Rights etc.), but I am quite sure you get the point. Bottom line: Civil Rights are just that, equal rights and protections under the civil law granted to ALL American citizens – No exceptions. If one group of American citizens claim that another hijacked the term Civil Rights than we must conclude that the term was also hijacked from the Civil Right movement that preceded theirs.
JasonjDOTbiz 