@ninozara Said
Ragghhhhhhh, I just wrote a lovely reply...then accidently hit the back button
Take 2
Freedon of speech is considered a Human Right, so all countries that sit on the UN has it in law (I think that is the case anyway, I know we do, and most other European countries - though there are cases where it doesn't apply - inciting racial hatred/violence for example.)
As for same sex marriage...it's a tough one. I think it is probably both, the law wouldn't work unless most people were accepting. The change in view has happened pretty quickly, like when my grandparents were my age it was utterly illegal. Being caught kissing someone of the same sex could land you in jail, more likely an insane asylum. We don't yet have 'marriage' just 'civil unions', but most people don't see the difference and just call it marriage, refer to each other as husband or wife.
Leading from that, we have Equality/Discrimination Bills, so you can't (legally) sack or refuse to serve someone based on gender, sexuality, race or religion...From some of the stories I've heard, you don't seem to have that?
As for a 'constitution' we don't have one written document, like you, I think it's just a mix of all our laws. I'm not sure though, I don't study Law or Politics.
Also, we have bishops holding seats in the House of Lords (part of parliament), who will have votes of laws. The Church of England can also submit legistration to be voted on in parliament. It's all getting a little bit political I think, but it's just to show the difference in how laws can be passed. I mean, going back to equality and gay marriage, you'd think a country where the church has so much influence it wouldn't happen, but it has
As I said in my Op , I am familiar with the fact that you don't have a written constitution, like I said it's not the politics of other countries I'm asking about, there are dozens of threads debating and discussing , disagreeing and bashing the difference in politics.
It's regular working ,tax paying citizens understanding of their 'law of he land ' I am interested in. Simply because that's pretty much where I am when it comes to our country. I have never studied law . You bring up a good question when you mentioned the freedom of speech and the UN.
Obviously it hasn't always been considered a human right , not here anyways ,if it had , it wouldn't be mentioned in the first amendment .
Do you by chance know when it changed for your country from not allowed to to being a human right ? Now just because it was written down and made a law here does not mean it was 'changed' the day it was written , it's taken more than 3 centuries .
Now take same sex marriage, your laws are progressive on the topic where ours are restrictive . ( hope those are a good choice of words describing our differences) . Here we hear all about how the state and religion should be separate , but it's the 'religions' holding us back on several changes same sex marriages being one of the top issues, while there you have bishops holding seats and The Church of England submitting legistration to be voted on .
That's something I want to ask about also, the bishops aren't voted in like the politic ans, I am guessing, . Will you explain how your government is selected or elected ? The way I understand it , it is a whole different process then how it's done here.
We have the 14th amendment that reads much like your "Equality/Discrimination Bills"
In the 1960's the 14th amendment was a long and bloody hard won step forward for this country . again , it took centuries for "The Bill of Rights" to become an accepted part of the 'way of life' for anyone not a White male citizen . Even then ,just because it was written down and the laws were changed , the mind set of many held the country back from change. IMo it's the religion's that should be separate from the state that kept the 'mind set' of the nation back in the dark ages when changes in the laws came about.