Prop 8, Muse, A History Lesson, and Nelson Mandela

[coolbeans56]

“They will not force us,
They will stop degrading us,
They will not control us,
We will be victorious.”
- Muse, from the song “Uprising”

“There is no such thing as part freedom.”

“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”
- Nelson Mandela

These statements sum up my thoughts on Prop 8.

Comments

[sfroamer]

EXCELLENT post, my friend. Your knowledge of the entire Prop 8 issue is prolific. And I agree with you that the act of coming out is not a sufficient statement these days. This is hand-to-hand combat, and if we're to keep our eyes on the prize (and I PURPOSELY use civil right language here because I deeply believe this is part of the same fight), we must engage our friends, neightbors and foes and open their eyes to what our community has to put up with on a daily basis as second class citizens.

While I consider myself VERY lucky to HAVE health insurance through my husband's employer (we were married in October 2008 in San Francisco), my father was shocked to learn that Mike carried an extra tax burden as my benefits are considered imputed income for him. Straight couples do not face this penalty. When I told my 87-year old stepfather about this, he was outraged. This from a church-going, African American Baptist in North Carolina. To this day, he never fails to point this and other facts out about how our community is discriminated against every single day. Because of one simple conversation, my stepdad has become an accidental activist. I'm sure a lot of his peers are shocked that he would even bring up such an issue when the barbershop talk turns to gay marriage (which I'm sure is infrequently), but I am so proud of him that he's taking a stand. And he did it because he loves me and Mike and he knows what's fundamentally fair and unfair. So never again will I under-estimate the power of a single conversation, even with relatives.

As a man younger than myself, all I can say to you is keep up the good fight. As brother M.L. King said, "And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!" We WILL win this fight. History IS on our side.

[coolbeans56]

Knowledge is power. And pulling back the curtain on things is vital. I fully believe that most people, when given the truth, will choose reason.

I intend to keep pulling back the curtain, and talking to anyone about the subject.