Across the country, people with a variety of sexual proclivities are facing Wednesday December 10th in a multitude of ways. For me, a human only heterosexual, this is just another beautiful Wednesday in Southern California. My work week is half way over and the weekend is on the horizon. The rapidly fading possible days for Christmas shopping for my wife and daughter seem to be the only thing weighing on my mind. On second thought, I am also mildly concerned of the fact that I work in the construction industry in Southern California and it currently seems like the world hates construction. Really the only industry worse off is the Big 3 domestic car manufacturers, which need to be complained about by us soon, and they are in some seriously deep s.
Homosexuals in particular are calling December 10th “A Day without a Gay”. A day where homosexuals are encouraged to not show up for work, essentially “calling in gay”, in an attempt to recreate the effects of the film “A Day without a Mexican”.
One of the driving factors for the aforementioned day is Proposition 8, recently passed in California, which prohibits same sex marriages. Personally I believe Prop 8 is unconstitutional as it blatantly restricts the rights of American citizens in their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Moreover, it mettles in the divisional relationship between church and state (which I think should be kept at the very least plutonic, if not separate).
Now a little history to show where I am coming from.
Currently I am in my first year of an MBA graduate program. By all accounts it has been a challenging and rewarding process that I have truly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone considering it. While this program offers numerous opportunities to expand the knowledge and business acumen of each of its students, it would appear that it comes at somewhat of a price. I chose this particular program specifically for its accreditation and flexibility, all while knowing in full that the University held religious affiliations. While I consider myself a person of faith, unless I am studying theology or attending seminary, I do not think literal biblical based religion belongs in classes like Business Law and Statistical Business Modeling, yet the instructors have found a way to do it.
Back to complaining.
Recently I had lunch with some of my graduate school classmates, who by the way hold a wide spectrum of beliefs none of which seem to align with mine (which if this blog shows any signs of tenured life will inevitably be the source for many topics in the future). After the obligatory “I can’t believe our instructor said this” or “the lady who sits next to me is a whack job”, the conversation eventually worked it way to how each of us voted for Prop 8. Their consensus argument was that the ban on gay marriage was necessary because the state had no right to tell them and/or their churches how or whom they could chose to marry.
Naturally, in an attempt to mildly antagonize and hopefully inspire them to think more about their decision, I attempted to repeat their point to them.
“What you are saying is that the state has no right to step in and tell you or your church what you can and cannot do when it comes to marriage?”
“Yes”, was their reply.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes”, again.
“Then how can you expect the state to step in and tell how someone else can and cannot do with marriage?”
If I could somehow measure the speed in which the subject was changed I think we may have a new land speed record.
The right of free speech is not your right to say whatever you want. The right of free speech is the right for someone else to say whatever it is they want, regardless whether or not you agree. The same rule applies to each of our fundamental rights.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!? A day without a gay but with traffic delay? Poor you, the bike lanes in Seattle were wide open.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was just the folks of California who subscribed to this feeble attempt at grabbing people's attention, but it garnered no apparent response in the ultra-liberal city where I reside. Just another example of the volumes of people who don't give two shits about someone else's "fundamental right."
I don't want to step on any toes but...
The status of marriage today can hardly be described as lively, liberating, or happy. It doesn't matter how long you pursue it. Marriages are failing faster these days than automakers and are without the hope of a bailout. Again, we will discuss that later.
When I first thought about where Prop 8 originated, I am reminded of a School House Rock video titled, "How a bill becomes a law" I remember seeing when I was younger. In the three minute video, the viewer is educated on the origins of the legislation that is voted on. As a reminder to all, legislation is originated by residents who communicate with their local representatives. It is not the government who is banning same sex marriage: it's the residents of California.
No matter how much money the Mormon Church spent on pro-8 ad campaigns, no matter the importance of a separate church and state, no matter how ticked off all the gays and lesbians are, 52.3 percent of the 13,412,761 people who voted in California felt that a marriage should be reserved for one man and one woman.
The very goverment (read: people) that allowed people of the same sex to marry is the same one that is taking the right away. That is the beauty of American goverment. How long will Prop 8 last? When is your next election? We may see some major recalls in elected officials in California (remember Gray Davis?), or we might not. Only time will tell.
For now, it's not just a day without gay (marriage), it's a couple years.
My Brother, a resident of Arizona, Texas, and Washington State, oddly though (heavy sarcasm), never a resident of the great blue state of California. Though it sounds as though he is an overwhelming source of California and gay trivia. Except he has left out a few integral points, each of which I will point out.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all the origination of Prop 8 was called Prop 22, which was on the California State ballot 8 years ago, essentially in its same form (hating people that are categorically different). Prop 22 was passed by a 61.4% majority, and like all controversial Props, its opponents filed a lawsuit the next day. In 2005 the California State Supreme Court heard the case and found Prop 22 was unconstitutional as it violated citizens rights and was revoked.
Immediately Prop 22 proponents authored and financed (Mormon Church-polygamists and Catholic Church-pedophiles) Prop 8 for the 2008 California ballot. Then in their infinite religious divinity, Prop 8 proponents ran adds showing sad children in black and white stating that unless Prop 8 passes the children of California will be forced to learn how gay marriages are consummated. Really??? That is just plain classy. Although, to some extent it is tough to get to mad at the ads when 52% of Californians were dumb enough to believe this propaganda of ignorance.
Notice though the 9% shift in voting results, or just over 1.2 million people changed their minds about Prop 22 and 8 from 2000 to 2008.
Maybe the Mormon and Catholic churches should be more concerned about keeping the 51% of their married flock that is divorcing and not worry about people who are doing everything they can to just earn the right to chose to marry.
Brother, I expected a little better from you: namecalling? Seriously? Let's keep it clean.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in the very red and now a very blue state and seen elections in each. You sir, however, have lived most of your adult life in California: the "great blue state." Not sure what is so great about it. Maybe it's people's open mindedness and free thinking that make it so "great." Keep that in mind.
Online resources provide plenty of California and gay knowledge, sometimes on the same webpage. These integral points that you speak about only support my claim: people are responsible for originating legislature, not the government. 8 years is a short time to have so many people change their minds about such a controversial subject. How many people again?
Hating people that are different? Strong language. The millions of open minded Californians (who banned same sex marriage) sure are contradictory.
As far as the ads go: isn't that the point? Ethos, Pathos, Logos. Nice work churches! Not bad for "polygamists and pedophiles!" Very creative!
When totaling the amount spent on Prop 8, it was found that more money was spent on the against side: an amazing $37.6 million! For side? $35.8 million, still an amazing amount of money. If only those who were against Prop 8 could have come up with more creative ads: allow your mind to wander. I won't allow myself to digress further in this matter.
Check your facts though: It's not quite 9% of Californians that changed their minds. Voter turnout was not the same between the two years in question. It was actually only 600,000 who changed their minds, not the 1.2 million as suggested earlier.
"To some extent it is tough to get mad..." Truly a literary gem. If everyone who felt as strongly as you do was truly upset, don't you think that they would organize some huge attention getter to let everyone know that they're mad and they're not going to take it anymore? Oh wait, it was today: No gay day. Must have been a whopping success, too bad traffic was still shitty.
I think the Mormon and Catholic churches are concerned about keeping their flocks ($35.8 million), but not as much as gays and lesbians are about marrying theirs.
I don't want to step on any toes though...
I sincerely apologize if you think I was calling you or anyone names. I assure you that The Bray Dichotomy will not allow petty name calling on this site. So I am sorry if you took anything I said that way.
ReplyDeleteBefore I get into my comments, I need to stress one thing. I look forward to reading what is posted on this blog because I am inspired by intellectual conversation. But the reason for this format is not for the two of us to make incensed points and counterpoints. Instead, it is to be used as a microphone for voicing concerns or observations you and I may have about our lives. Please feel free to post comments about original postings, but instead of writing a diatribe about why you disagree, instead put together a thoughtful or intriguing post of your own.
Back to Prop 8.
The approximate $70 million raised was by far the most money raised in any state proposition campaign in 2008. The only race that beat the fundraising for Prop 8 was the Presidential Election. But what you need to ask yourself is would you want to be on the side raising money that restricts the rights of Americans, or on the side that offers equality?
You are right about one thing though. Voter turnout between 2000 and 2008 was not the same. In fact over 4.5 million more people voted on Prop 8 than on Prop 22. So I was in fact incorrect stating that the 9% shift accounted for 1.2 million people. In reality, 2.92 million people more people voted to shoot down Prop 8 in 2008.
http://www.smartvoter.org/2000/03/07/ca/state/prop/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_state_elections,_November_2008
However anyone may feel about homosexuality is irrelevant. If this were a proposition limiting the rights of white males, short people, the elderly, or Italians people would be irate. Think about it this way……….who cares who someone else marries? How does it affect you? Does it change the way you live your life?