My politcal background renewed my thinking...

[jen_bunny]

So, for those of you who didn't know up until Nov. 4th I was going to vote yes on Proposition 8. Now, while I stood in the voting booth I reflected at my 3 years as a political science major and debated with myself and the many years I was raised as a catholic, taught what is good by God and what not but my vote flipped when I remembered what Dr.

Comments

[unrulygirl]

Ignorance is not stupidity, and it's not an insult to say someone is ignorant. It just means that they are unaware... and unfortunately, too many people are ignorant of the fact that such a thing as "separation of church and state" exists. It absolutely is a matter of semantics, and to discriminate against certain groups because of the definition of a word is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous would be to change your whole view point because you share it with someone that insulted you. The argument that gay marriage "infringes on religious freedom" is the most pathetic justification for hatred I have ever heard. Would the voting turnout have been different if the state changed the word from "marriage" to "civil union"? I hope not. I hope the fate of these couples' wasn't determined by something as trivial as a word. I understand bigotry and hatred counted for a lot of those Yes votes, but for those that claim to accept and love all people, it would be heart breaking to think they denied human rights to others because of the definition of a word.

[unkyrich]

Would the voting turnout have been different if the state changed the word from "marriage" to "civil union"?

Over the past four years, I've spoken to a lot of people who probably voted on Prop 8, and when they brought up the biblical side of marriage, I asked if these people (who I do believe are good people, in all other circumstances) thought it was right, ethical, or even Christian-like to deny the basic legal rights to gay couples, each of them said no.

So sadly, if it weren't for the word "marriage," Prop 8 would have probably failed.

I'm not defending it's passage - not by a long shot (if you go back and look at my LJ you can see my opinion on Prop 8 from the start:

http://unkyrich.livejournal.com/795332.html

http://unkyrich.livejournal.com/795647.html

http://unkyrich.livejournal.com/796921.html

http://unkyrich.livejournal.com/796271.html

http://unkyrich.livejournal.com/796112.html

(Just to establish history that we're on the same side about this one) )

There's the tired old adage about flies and honey and vinegar, but it's still kind of true - I found it easier to make people think about how and why they are voting by talking to them and trying to appeal to their rationality, rather than shouting at them or using words that can be taken as insults.

It's slow, but it's more permanent.

Rich