I generally try to stay out of discussions involving politics, because I don't consider myself knowledgeable enough to have a conversation about a specific candidate, measure, or proposition. I know what I am voting for, and why I'm voting for that person or issue, and there's very little that anyone can say that would make me even consider changing my mind. (To be honest, I think that if we could all take an unbiased look at the candidates ideas, statements, and contributions, and stopped paying attention to age and/or race, we'd all be voting for the same guy. I'm just sayin'…)
This particular election there has been one issue that I have been very passionate about, and feel educated enough to speak to other people about. For those of you who don't live in California, you may or may not have heard of Proposition 8. The text reads:
Shall the California Constitution be changed to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry providing that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California?
Currently, same-sex couples are allowed to marry in California. There was a proposition a few years ago that banned same-sex marriage, and it passed. However, it was overturned by the California Supreme Court as being unconstitutional. The current proposition would rewrite the state constitution, and eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry or be recognized if married in other states.
The proposition actually states that it would eliminate the rights of a group of people. I don't understand how any person can vote in favor of it, regardless of their view on same-sex couples. I understand that some people have a religious and moral beliefs that are against same-sex marriage. I have no problem with that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But not agreeing with someone's lifestyle should not and DOES NOT give anyone the right to deny them rights afforded to all of us in the constitution. What if you replaced "same-sex couples" with "interracial couples"? What's the difference? It's denying someone the right to marry the person they love because you disagree with their choice. It's discriminating against them, because they don't feel the same way you do. How is that acceptable?
I have been dying to get a call from the phone banks urging me to vote yes, simply because I want to know why they feel this way. The one person I knew that was voting yes actually changed her mind when it was pointed out to her that it's the same as telling a black man he can't marry a white woman, or vice versa. I don't know anyone personally that is voting yes on this, so I can't have the conversation I want to have. I want to understand why they think discrimination is ok.
The commercials say that we have to "protect our children" and "restore traditional marriage." Marriage IS taught in schools, yes. So what? Your child will learn that marriage between two people is valid regardless of race, gender, or age. If you disagree with that, you're more than welcome to talk to your child at home, and explain to them that your family does not believe that same-sex marriage is ok. The schools should not be and are not responsible for 100% of a child's worldly education. Lots of atheist or agnostic children say the Pledge of Allegiance every single day, including the words "Under God." Don't you think the parents of those children have to explain that some people believe in a god, and others don't and that it's ok to be different? What makes your belief more important than theirs? Tradition? If we went by traditional standards, all women would be barefoot and pregnant at home, without a job, a vote, or independence of any kind. We'd have no computers, since we'd "traditionally" use paper. We'd be without cars because "traditionally" we rode horses. Tradition changes. Society changes. We progress, move forward, and open our minds to ideas that might be a little different than what we're used to.
If you live in California, please vote No on Prop 8. If you have a similar discriminatory proposition in your state, I urge you to vote against it. Equality means everyone, not everyone you agree with.
What if you replaced “same-sex couples” with “interracial couples”?
Apt analogy. Did you know that my own marriage (Caucasian/Asian) would have been illegal, and in at least one state, criminal, until the mid-’60s?
[...] and disgusted at this result. I won’t go into a rant on why, since I’ve basically done that already. My excitement for Obama’s election is largely outweighed by my disappointment in [...]