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

[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