DECEMBER FEATURES
THREE WHO DARED
Senator Jarrett Barrios supports gay marriage
Free Speech is a luxury ill-afforded by Yang Jian-li
Father Drinan speaks about religious freedom at Newton Free Library
Senator Jarrett Barrios supports gay marriage
by V. G. and A. R.
Jarrett Barrios is a gay Senator, who supports gay marriage. Barrios is one of the 20 Massachusetts state senators and one of the youngest. Since Massachusetts is the only state that declares gay marriage legal, Barrios is working on persuading other states to allow gay marriage, one step at a time.
When interviewed, Barrios reflected on his childhood and how he was very smart, but rebellious. Barrios often skipped school because he would become bored by the easy classes. In 11th grade no one would say the Pledge of Allegiance, so eventually the teacher gave up and didn’t make anyone say the Pledge. Eventually no one said it at all, except for Barrios who would say the last words: liberty and justice for all. The teacher was angry that Barrios was the only one who said the last part and administered consequences, even though everyone was originally supposed to say the Pledge.
“We were born into a world from day one that guarantees full rights for everyone.” Barrios says that marriage is a right, therefore everyone should be able to marry who they want. Barrios says that people are denying human rights by not allowing gay marriage.
Father Drinan speaks about religious freedom at Newton Free Library
by J. R.
Father Robert Drinan spoke at the Newton Free Public Library on Tuesday, November the 30th about religious freedom and international law. Before his speech he sat outside the auditorium signing his new book titled CAN GOD AND CAESAR CO-EXIST: BALANCING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND INTERNATIONAL LAW. During the book signing it was evident that the former Congressman and former Dean of Boston College Law School still has a large group of friends in the Newton area.
Drinan has done a lot for international human rights during his life. He has been on many a delegation and mission for human rights in different countries and has won awards for his services such as the 2003 Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute’s Freedom of worship medal and The American Bar Association’s Highest Honor.
His newest book highlights his latest beliefs in what we have done wrong and what we can do to help. He himself has helped many as both a Congressman and a priest, but when asked what his greatest achievement was he responded, “Other people will have to judge what my greatest achievement was.”
During his speech he talked about the recent prejudices against Muslims and how bad religious freedom problems have become. “We have six operating U. N. committees that supervise what...countries are doing about the rights of women and children, political rights, and economic rights. It’s an extraordinary, too-little-known apparatus. Why don’t we have one for religious freedom?”, asked Drinan.
He also spoke about how more people need to be talking to one another in order to solve the problems of today. Near the end of the speech he talked about how the governments of the world are getting too involved with religion.
One example he used was the use of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, promptly followed by the statement that, “Maybe God doesn’t want us under him.”
As he wrapped up his speech he said that, “We as sinners have to try everyday to respect each other.”
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