I posted this as a response to a friends comment on my last post but...
here it is anyway.
Listen, Ill be the first admit that the term "Red States" and "Blue States" is horrifically divisive. And only relevant as to the previous presidential election. The fact of the matter is, if the republican party looked anything like it SHOULD I would be about as right wing as it comes. But as is stands I cant endorse their views on personal liberty (or often the lack thereof).
As for why California approved Prop. 8 and went for Obama its fairly simple. Obama carried some 60%+ of the Latino vote. Latinos also voted overwhelmingly FOR Prop. 8. Add into that the already clearly delineated lines one which most people voted and the answer is pretty clear.
As for Patrick Henry being a Bible thumper; so was King. Even with the rest of the quote it does little to dull the overall thrust of his message and beliefs. Henry wanted to put an end to slavery which cannot help but speak to a belief in equality.
The use of Bush's quote is also highly suspect based on its original use but I mainly thought that it would be amusing.
The bottom line is this: The main force behind the passage of Prop. 8 was religion. I feel that it is inappropriate for an institution which has been given special privilege, in the form of tax exempt status, to deny a privilege which has no bearing on their operations, nor threatens their status (in a governmental sense) to another group.
The religious opposition to gay marriage is born purely from a knee jerk reaction of "God hates fags" or some such, possibly more eloquent, opinion. Rather than from reasoned debate on a secular level. It is a perfect example of church influencing state. Which, although not exactly unheard of is, in this case, particularly abhorrent.
Apparently Mormons, Catholics, Pentecostals, etc. are tolerant enough to vote for a black man. But when Joe Six Pack wants to marry Joe the Plumber they get their panties in a bunch.
Listen, Ill be the first admit that the term "Red States" and "Blue States" is horrifically divisive. And only relevant as to the previous presidential election. The fact of the matter is, if the republican party looked anything like it SHOULD I would be about as right wing as it comes. But as is stands I cant endorse their views on personal liberty (or often the lack thereof).
As for why California approved Prop. 8 and went for Obama its fairly simple. Obama carried some 60%+ of the Latino vote. Latinos also voted overwhelmingly FOR Prop. 8. Add into that the already clearly delineated lines one which most people voted and the answer is pretty clear.
As for Patrick Henry being a Bible thumper; so was King. Even with the rest of the quote it does little to dull the overall thrust of his message and beliefs. Henry wanted to put an end to slavery which cannot help but speak to a belief in equality.
The use of Bush's quote is also highly suspect based on its original use but I mainly thought that it would be amusing.
The bottom line is this: The main force behind the passage of Prop. 8 was religion. I feel that it is inappropriate for an institution which has been given special privilege, in the form of tax exempt status, to deny a privilege which has no bearing on their operations, nor threatens their status (in a governmental sense) to another group.
The religious opposition to gay marriage is born purely from a knee jerk reaction of "God hates fags" or some such, possibly more eloquent, opinion. Rather than from reasoned debate on a secular level. It is a perfect example of church influencing state. Which, although not exactly unheard of is, in this case, particularly abhorrent.
Apparently Mormons, Catholics, Pentecostals, etc. are tolerant enough to vote for a black man. But when Joe Six Pack wants to marry Joe the Plumber they get their panties in a bunch.