Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Prop 8
On Tuesday, the State of California will not only vote for the next President of the United States, but also on the issue of gay marriage. Proposition 8, if passed, will over-ride the recent California Supreme Court decision making gay marriage legal. I believe strongly in the freedom to think and feel whatever you want; however, I strongly disagree with infringing those ideas and beliefs on others. By passing Prop 8, Californians will be doing exactly that: imposing their own beliefs on others. If you want to believe that gay marriage is wrong, I have no problem with that. However, I do have a HUGE problem with forcing those ideas on others who have no problem with gay marriage...people like me. I wholeheartedly believe in equality for all people. Of course discrimination exists, but we can work to overcome it as best as possible. Once upon a time it was illegal for interracial couples to marry. Imagine the lack of beautiful biracial children on this planet. (It is my personal belief that biracial kids are generally the cutest. Thankfully my future children will fall into that category.)
Over the last few days while driving to work in the morning, there have been crowds of people standing on busy street corners standing with signs reading "Yes on Prop 8." Again, these people are entitled to believe whatever they want. However, I don't have to be forced to see their opinion shoved in my face with a sea of signs that try to flood the intersection. You want to put a sign in your yard or a sticker on your car? Be my guest. But parading these signs in mass on a public street corner? Tacky.
There have been many television ads proclaiming that with the acceptance of gay marriage, teachers will be forced to teach that same sex couples can marry. The problem with these ads is that they are totally and completely false. The Department of Education does NOT have any type of policy dictating that teachers must teach about marriage, straight or gay. No new education code would be created if the CA Supreme Court ruling still stands. I'm sickened that people would stoop low enough to bring children's education into the mix.
We have an unfortunate history in the United States of separation. Every ethnic group in this country has been isolated from the main population. We separated one another based on gender, and we did the same thing based on religion. And now we're carrying on that tradition by separating gay people from the mainstream. When are we going to realize that we're all the same, we just do things a little differently?
The theme for the "yes" side is "protect marriage." I ask, "Protect it from what?" They're not protecting marriage, they're protecting bigotry. Besides, if people are so afraid that marriage needs protection, then maybe the unity of marriage isn't as strong as previously thought? Maybe it's not the concept of marriage that needs protection by your own marriage because it is failing?
I guess the main thing I don't understand about homophobia is why people think it affects them. How does another couple's love affect your life? A straight couple's marriage has no bearing on my life, so why should a gay couple's? You don't want to see the public displays of affection between gay couples? Well, I don't want to see it done by straight couples either. Let's just all keep our hands off each other until we're in private. Deal?
Over the last few days while driving to work in the morning, there have been crowds of people standing on busy street corners standing with signs reading "Yes on Prop 8." Again, these people are entitled to believe whatever they want. However, I don't have to be forced to see their opinion shoved in my face with a sea of signs that try to flood the intersection. You want to put a sign in your yard or a sticker on your car? Be my guest. But parading these signs in mass on a public street corner? Tacky.
There have been many television ads proclaiming that with the acceptance of gay marriage, teachers will be forced to teach that same sex couples can marry. The problem with these ads is that they are totally and completely false. The Department of Education does NOT have any type of policy dictating that teachers must teach about marriage, straight or gay. No new education code would be created if the CA Supreme Court ruling still stands. I'm sickened that people would stoop low enough to bring children's education into the mix.
We have an unfortunate history in the United States of separation. Every ethnic group in this country has been isolated from the main population. We separated one another based on gender, and we did the same thing based on religion. And now we're carrying on that tradition by separating gay people from the mainstream. When are we going to realize that we're all the same, we just do things a little differently?
The theme for the "yes" side is "protect marriage." I ask, "Protect it from what?" They're not protecting marriage, they're protecting bigotry. Besides, if people are so afraid that marriage needs protection, then maybe the unity of marriage isn't as strong as previously thought? Maybe it's not the concept of marriage that needs protection by your own marriage because it is failing?
I guess the main thing I don't understand about homophobia is why people think it affects them. How does another couple's love affect your life? A straight couple's marriage has no bearing on my life, so why should a gay couple's? You don't want to see the public displays of affection between gay couples? Well, I don't want to see it done by straight couples either. Let's just all keep our hands off each other until we're in private. Deal?
Protect marriage? Last I heard the divorce rate was hovering around 50%. So, that pretty much makes marriage a coin-toss. Maybe the protectorate of marriage should combat their bigger enemy- divorce.
But, I really wouldn't want to see that either. There's this old adage that goes something like...clean up your own back yard before you complain about your neighbors.