In a few weeks, the Voters of California will have the opportunity of a lifetime. They will get to decide if their State is truly one that believes in Democracy, or if they are mainly Self Serving Bigots. See, Proposition 8, the move to deny civil rights to Gays in the state, will determine just whether or not people truly believe in the Order of Law, in Freedom really.
As much as the Supporters of this Racist Proposition want people to believe this is about protecting religious freedoms, it is in fact the exact opposite. It denies Gays the right to Civil Marriages, to be treated as an equal. The recent Supreme Court Ruling affirmed that but that isn’t good enough for a select religious elitists, who believe that ONLY THEIR VIEW SHOULD COUNT.
If Californians believe in a separation between Church & State, Prop 8 will be rejected, but unfortunately, it does have a chance of passing. Which makes one wonder, what is it about racism that can get so many people to blindly follow the mouthing of such hate mongers?
Bumgarner distributed handouts listing “Six Consequences if Proposition 8 Fails” that volunteers were encouraged to use as talking points. They included warnings that ministers who preach against same-sex marriage could be sued for hate speech, churches would be sued for refusing to host wedding ceremonies for gays, and that “children in schools will be taught that same-sex marriage is OK.” (source – Politico dot Com)
Truth is, the ruling does not prohibit preachers from preaching, even if it is utter bullshit. Such as that homosexuals are an abomination unto God. The right of ALL PEOPLE to enjoy the Civil Rights is essential in any Democracy, whether you agree with their lifestyle or not. That is what Freedom is all about. To support anything else, is to support Dictatorship.
People forget that America was originally colonized by people leaving Europe due to religious persecution. They left, because a sect of Religion deemed it essential that ALL BELIEVED AS THEY DID. Hence many left, to establish a Country where one could believe as they wished, live as they wished, free from the harsh dictates of ANY RELIGIOUS ORDER/DOCTRINE.
Yet here we are, in 2008, where a group of Religious Leaders want to ignore that bit of history, and FORCE THEIR WILL ON EVERYONE. That is what Proposition 8 really is about, not about protecting Marriage, but about them having Power, having THEIR WAY FORCED ON EVERYONE.
Californians – Vote For Freedom – Defeat Proposition 8
And just to point out that this proposition is Anti Religion, consider this simple truth. All segments of the Jewish Faith have accepted that Gays have a place in the Jewish Religion, and that marriage ceremonies within synagogues is not only allowed, but should be welcomed. Just as Gay Rabbis are acceptable within all segments of the Jewish Faith.
Proposition 8, if it passes, would infringe on the rights of Jews to practice their own religious beliefs.
So much for Religious Freedom.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Just a heads up: Mike Huckabee recently gave an interview in which he holds Mitt Romney responsible for implementing gay marriage in Massachusetts.
Video here:
http://chinoblanco.blogspot.com/2008/08/huckabee-romney-responsible-for.html
Welcome to the ProtectMarriage.com coalition.
I wish that more rank and file members of the LDS (Mormon) church would realize: the anti-gay coalition they’ve joined in California is one that includes folks who – given the chance – would vote their church out of existence.
Folks like Mike Huckabee and his Evangelical buddies.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
An interesting point, and some interesting comments too. One commenter asked about ‘what is second class for gays’ and the answer is simple. Can a gay serve in the Military like any other citizen? Even during the segregation period, blacks could openly serve, just not with whites, yet Gays cannot openly serve in any capacity. Domestic Partnership does not have the same legal standing in Courts of Law, versus those who are Married. Religious groups can meet and use school property without hinderance, under freedom of religion, but gay’s can’t. The US Census will recognize all forms of marriage, except domestic partnerships, which effect federal funding to various locations, so are gays treated as everyone else? don’t think so.
The Jewish faith accepts same sex marriage, but it would be invalidated if Proposition 8 is passed. How is that protecting religious freedoms?
August 26th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Marriage was defined long ago by God, then upheld for thousands of years by most civilizations. What has changed?
California citizens decided this issue many years ago. It does not matter if you do not agree with the religious basis for a person’s vote. Would you have someone denied the opportunity to vote because of his/her religious beliefs? That would be truly scary.
Vote yes on proposition 8.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
See Larry that is YOUR belief, which you are entitled to believe, and YOUR church can believe it and follow that belief, but what Proposition 8 does, is FORCE THAT VIEW on those who DO NOT BELIEF THAT.
That is the basic difference, that is not religious freedom, because you are saying that only YOUR definition is acceptable.
Proposition 8 denies any OTHER religion from sanctifying marriage outside YOUR BELIEF, and that isn’t Religious Freedom either.
All the Courts did was grant CIVIL RIGHTS to a minority. No different than when they tore down the laws the said Blacks couldn’t live with Whites, or attend schools with Whites. A lot of Churches held the position that segregation was God’s Will, and I think history has clearly proven that they were wrong then, just as it will show they are wrong now.
And for the record, Same Sex Marriage has been a staple in Ancient Civilization, such as the Greeks, 1500 years PRIOR TO CHRIST, so I think that predates YOUR DEFINITION.
And that is why Proposition 8 MUST BE DEFEATED. To protect the very religious freedoms you claim are being infringed upon.