Sugary as sweet tea and made right here in Georgia, local musical duo Breaking Rank breaks from many of their WASPy Atlanta neighbors but not their Christian beliefs in a pro-gay marriage equality video for a song that just melts our jaded gay hearts.
You bet John Wilson and his daughter Johna Lesley are sweet. But their country-gospel-alt-tinged pop original “Love Who We Love” hits the spot in a world too often dominated by hate and in a state that tries to use "religious freedom" to mask bigotry, intolerance and just plain ignorance when it comes to gay people. That’s the message behind the song, the duo says on the Breaking Rank YouTube page.
In a time of mounting tension around the issue of "religious freedom" versus social equality, we believe love can overcome the fear, anger, and hatred that is so prevalent in our society and around the world. No one should have to choose between loyalty to their faith and love for their fellow man. We believe you can love your God AND your neighbor. What's more "Christian" than treating everyone with the same dignity and respect that we all want in return?
On their website, they go further. The duo explains how they hope to “be a voice for positive change in our society” and why they broke from their performance-style videos to do this song with imagery about the issue at hand.
Rather than a performance video, we chose to use a series of photos that capture the message of the song. The contrived conflict between religious freedom and the fair treatment of minority groups is not a new issue. In the United States, it's the same tactic that was used to oppose the abolition of slavery and the progress of women's rights, black civil rights, school integration, interracial marriage, and now gay rights. We believe a person should not have to choose between loyalty to their faith and treating others with dignity and respect. Surely, people can love their God AND their neighbor, and treat others as they want to be treated in return.
You can also read along with the lyrics while you listen.
“Love Who We Love”
Growing up believing,
all my sunday school teaching',
and only those agreeing
were good enough for me then;
Using my religion as righteous ammunition,
with justified opinion,
I was ready to condemn you.But then I came to reason
that differences between us,
Don't have to cause division,
And only love can free us,
And build a bridge between us.Why can't we love who we love?
Why can't we be who we are?
Why must we all be the same?
Why is it wrong to love him? or him? or her?Isn't it time to come around,
Take all the anger and lay it down,
Let there be love all around,
Oh, why is it wrong?
Why can't we al get along?You think you're being pious,
But isn't it just bias,
To tell me we're all equal,
Then make our love illegal?
Are you using your religion,
Just to cover your opinion?
Why don't you make a new tradition,
Like God is love, or who are we to judge?Why can't we love who we love?
Why can't we be who we are?
Why must we all be the same?
Why is it wrong to love him? or him? or her?Isn't it time to come around,
Take all the anger and lay it down,
Let there be love all around,
Oh, why is it wrong?
Why can't we al get along?The bible says, God is love,
and loving one another is evidence of God,
Let us love one another, for love comes from God.
So stand on your faith if you choose,
but greater than faith is love.Why can't we love who we love?
Why can't we be who we are?
Why must we all be the same?
Why is it wrong to love him? or him? or her?Isn't it time to come around,
Take all the anger and lay it down,
Let there be love all around,
Oh, why is it wrong?
Why can't we al get along?Get along! Get along! Get along!!
© 2014 John Wilson, Breaking Rank Music
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