Another Special Session Is History

We’ve come a long way politically. In the past two weeks, our government has paraded all of our strong and weak points. Before you know it, the political campaigning will begin again. It is truly amazing how quickly our legislators can respond to public concern when the topic is in their best interest.

It won’t be long now before the winning side in the same-sex marriage debate will be telling us how the new law will be an economic boon to Hawaii, generating new revenue for our retail businesses and enticing more tourists to flock here.

As time changes, so do attitudes. It is a little surprising that religious leaders in Hawaii didn’t make stronger protests against the Marriage Equality Act. This could mean that eventually gambling legislation also will make its way to the governor’s office and become law following the same strategy and similar logic.

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared 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 …” and all of those rights were mentioned in testimonies during the past month. The U.S. Constitution also was called on to remind everyone that it is a contract calling for a limited government and a “Republic: Government by laws, and not of men.”

What happened was a section of the Constitution that warns against denial of any rights not otherwise mentioned: “All powers not mentioned are reserved for the States.”

Many are predicting that the bill will be challenged in several courts, but the evidence is clear that our legislative and community leaders favor same-sex marriage, and maybe it’s time to just wrap our arms around the new law and get on with making it work for everyone.

At least they kept their promise: The Senate’s special session was special and quick.