More on Prop 8 and Less Government

Continuing from yesterday’s post, I’m very divided on this issue of Prop 8 (gay marriage ban), or more accurately the outcome of the vote that passed Prop 8.  To reiterate, I’m all for ANYone partnering with ANYone, as long as they’re not my kids (for now).  Whether it’s a union called ‘marriage’ or whatever, it’s fine by me among consenting adults.

That said, the people voted to pass Prop 8 and ban gay marriage.  Now the Libertarian in me says, ‘that’s OK’, because it was put to a vote and the people want to ban gay marriage.  So now I’m in a bind; I’m very much AGAINST Prop 8, but I have to concede that since the voters of that stupid state of California have spoken, I really can’t say much else.

Sure I disagree with the outcome, but I also disagreed with BOTH Bush elections, but I had to accept the outcome and move on until the next election.  This is what voting is all about and, if I choose to participate in this democratic system, I have to accept the choice of the people.

Many arguments come out of this, like “What if people voted to prevent Jews from eating in restaurants?”, or “What if voters decided to teach only WHITE children in school?”….blah, blah, blah and these are good points.  However, if the majority feel this way, then things MUST be that way, however right or wrong you may think it is, right?  What about Megan’s Law?  Isn’t that some form of discrimination?  Sure as hell, I wanna know if some child molester is living near my kid and, yeah, his/her rights have been compromised, but for some reason no one’s protesting for them.  I mean, can’t one make the argument that even criminals should have privacy rights?  Same as when terrorists are caught based on some surveillance now allowed under Nixon…I mean Bush, but there, too, rights have been removed, but apparently it’s OK.

Our country’s flawed in many ways, but it’s still the greatest country on the planet.  I do think that the people of CA have spoken and if that isn’t acceptable, then what is acceptable?  Let the Government decide?  Someone has to decide what becomes a law and if it’s put to the people, then that’s democracy in action.  Blame your ill-informed neighbors or blame yourself for not supporting your cause before the election.  As much as I whine about the stupidity of the people of this country, I also think that 

Protesting the voice of the people is the silliest thing to do right now.  I can’t speak for anyone else, but my feeling on protests is that no one, repeat NO ONE who doesn’t already agree with you is going to listen.  People believe what they want and all a protest is doing is getting a bunch of like-minded people to attract other like-minded people.  Things generally change for financial or political reasons; rarely, if ever, do things change when the opposition stops in their tracks and suddenly realizes they’ve been misinformed and then change their view.  It’s not gonna happen.

I’m not saying to throw down your gauntlet and give up all hope for freedom.  I am saying to get involved and get others involved in creating a better world.  Voting is your chance to speak, to elect like-minded representatives and to help pass laws that preserve freedom, protect our lives and homes and protect our right to privacy and protect our right to spend our lives how we want and with whom we choose.  

So, all Californian voters take note: when Prop 8 comes up on the next ballot, please vote NO.  This is a compassionate vote to allow others (who may be different from you) the same rights and freedoms you share in this country.  And everyone should remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984):

…They came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up.

I have NO idea whatsoever what my original point was, but isn’t it pretty damn impressive that I can include some famous quotes here?

Prop 8 (Gay Marriage Ban) Passes…

Prop 8, for those of you living under rocks, was a recent ballot proposition in California to amend the state Constitution to ban same-sex (I’ll call it “gay”, cuz it’s just clearer) marriage.  Basically, if you’re FOR gay marriage, you’d vote NO.  Understood?  Fine, but it goes much deeper.

Apparently for the California State Constitution, a simple majority of votes is enough to pass the amendment.  The people voted and by a slim margin, Prop 8 passed.  That is, NO gay marriage in California.  Way to go, guys, now the Constitution is a vehicle for discrimination AND the religious nuts had their say…. so much for Church and State being separate.

I’m not really sure how to interpret this whole issue or the outcome.  Simply stated, I’m all for any two, three or however many people that find love and security or whatever in one other’s lives to have the right to be together, live together or whatever.  If two women want to be together as a couple, fine by me (please send me video!!), and same for two men (I’ll pass on this video).  Really, I believe that two adults of whatever persuasion should have the same hospital visitation rights, tax breaks, health benefits, etc… as you or me or your neighbor and our respective spouses.  Jeez, what’s the problem?

Leave out sheep and/or children and definitely MY kids and I think that ‘consenting adults’ are big enough to make their own decisions about who they want to partner with, and they should reap the same ‘rewards’ the totally failed and ridiculous institution of marriage offers.  Sure, I AM a married person, but it’s a pathetically arcane institution and, in its present state, is a complete failure and it’s only going to get worse and worse, but that’s another entry.

So, Prop 8′s passing created a lot of heated debates and angry protests, as well it ought.  I mean, this whole idea of gay marriage is throwing a HUGE wrench inside the institution of marriage and, well, the dinosaurs aren’t just stepping aside.  The religious right are coming out in full force against gay marriage and, for now, have a small victory.

HOWEVER, the world is changing.  We have a black (or black-African or Black-American or American-African or whatever it’s called today) President, we’ll probably end up with a female Secretary of State (the lovely (ugh) Hillary Clinton) and it’s only a matter of time before there’s even more “allowable” diversity in America, so it’s just a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way (no pun intended).  Life is too short to fight for something that’s bound to happen very soon, anyway, simply because the world IS changing.

So pack up your protest signs and spread love everywhere you can.  Let the religious freaks do their campaigning and let them develop ulcers; after all, they’re MUCH more worried than you about the outcome.  Just sit back and wait patiently and before you know it, some day soon we’ll all wake up in the proper century.