It is time Americans took a stand against those in Washington who are leading the nation into disaster.

The recent controversy over same-sex marriages has caused President George Bush to consider proposing a Constitutional amendment that would ban such nuptial agreements in America on the basis of religious morality.

Regardless of what people might believe about same-sex marriages, the fact that the Bush administration wants to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex unions should cause everyone to think twice before supporting this proposition.

The problem is that a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages would be taking a step in the wrong direction and jeopardizing every American’s civil rights.

Thirteen of our 27 Constitutional amendments directly protect the rights of every American as a citizen.

The 14th Amendment specifically says, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

So if a Constitutional amendment is passed, and homosexual Americans across the nation can’t get married, does that mean that heterosexual Americans are risk of losing their rights, too?

If we, as a nation, let the Bush administration get away with taking away a basic civil right such as marriage on the basis of sexuality, then what other rights will be eliminated and on what grounds?

Will I be denied the right to vote because I’m overweight? Or will voting be restricted to only those who earn a six-figure income? Or maybe I’ll be arrested for speaking out this way against the president of the United States and his administration.

Does that mean that I should find a new career because the freedom of press is at risk? Hey, guess what? If you’ve been listening to the radio lately, the freedom of press is at risk and if you don’t believe me look at what the Federal Communications Commission is doing to Howard Stern.

To allow Bush and his henchmen to amend the Constitution to prevent same-sex marriages will put our future liberties at risk. Such an amendment will only empower the kind of administration that was feared by our founding fathers as they attempted to protect the nation’s citizens against tyrannical leaders.

Next time the issue of same-sex marriages comes up in a conversation, remember that there is a separation of church and state in this country. It is covered in the First Amendment, “no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

So don’t let Bush tell you that anything is wrong based on morality. What’s wrong is that he’s trying to change our Constitution to sway potential voters. Our Constitution is the oldest most effective document on the face of this earth.

Remember that the Constitution protects all American citizens regardless of sexual orientation. Remember that marriage by definition is “a contract between two people who love each other.”

But most importantly, remember that if we allow Bush and his right wing, conservative, religious cavemen to start taking away the civil rights of one group of people, then your group of people might be next.