Change I Want to Believe In
I gasped last night when Virginia turned blue. I knew it was probable that Obama would win, but I just didn't believe. I didn't have the faith that it would turn out. Something always seems to go wrong, but instead, we have President Elect Barack Obama.
I've always been proud of America. I love its ideals. I love its foundations. We have a constitution that countries all over the world have emulated. We strive for a more better union with each turn. We keep the goal of a government for and by the people in the forefront of our mind. It is now though, that my pride seems to have been paid off. I feel that America can finally hold its head up to the world, and that is something we have sorely missed these past 8 years. I can travel out of the country and, for the time being, no longer have to apologize or explain the country that I love. It is truly an exciting time to see cynicism erased, however short lived it may be. People are excited about government, about democracy and that is amazing!
However proud I am of America today though, has been shadowed by California. We had the opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the country what tolerance is. We could have been that beacon on a hill for civil liberties. We had the chance to illustrate that all men and women are created equal, that America stands for tolerance, and all of our citizens will be treated fairly. Instead, we chose bigotry, hatred, intolerance. We are that beacon still, but it's shining on discrimination. As citizens of this nation, we should uphold The Constitution. This was our chance to say, The Constitution demands for separation of church and state, and so we must vote accordingly. Instead, we passed an unconstitutional law that strips away rights of people just because it makes people feel icky. I am embarrassed that such a great state could let this happen. I am embarrassed that people fell for the blatant lies of proposition 8.
How people believed that this was a parental rights issue, is beyond me. And really, even if it was true gay marriage was taught in school, why is that so bad? It's teaching a law. Wanting to pull your child out of class because of that is like wanting to pull your child out of a field trip to San Juan Capistrano because you're afraid it'll turn your child Catholic. I don't want my child being exposed to that, they say. Exposed to tolerance? Exposed to a law? Can I pull my child out of class when they have Red Ribbon Week. I don't want them being exposed to drugs, I would say. What's the difference? If you believe that your child can turn gay because a teacher says that gay marriage is legal, then perhaps you aren't smart enough to be trusted with a child.
I know that this takes time. That people vote with their guts not their understanding of constitutional law. I take heart in the fact that Prop. 8 passed with just 4% of the vote (and that was only because of the lies that prop. 8 said). I know that my generation and the generations after me are changing. Most do not seem to take issue. I know that eventually this will change, but at the time, when America is shining so brightly with hope and change, it is sad that is dampened by the hatred of this proposition.
I've always been proud of America. I love its ideals. I love its foundations. We have a constitution that countries all over the world have emulated. We strive for a more better union with each turn. We keep the goal of a government for and by the people in the forefront of our mind. It is now though, that my pride seems to have been paid off. I feel that America can finally hold its head up to the world, and that is something we have sorely missed these past 8 years. I can travel out of the country and, for the time being, no longer have to apologize or explain the country that I love. It is truly an exciting time to see cynicism erased, however short lived it may be. People are excited about government, about democracy and that is amazing!
However proud I am of America today though, has been shadowed by California. We had the opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the country what tolerance is. We could have been that beacon on a hill for civil liberties. We had the chance to illustrate that all men and women are created equal, that America stands for tolerance, and all of our citizens will be treated fairly. Instead, we chose bigotry, hatred, intolerance. We are that beacon still, but it's shining on discrimination. As citizens of this nation, we should uphold The Constitution. This was our chance to say, The Constitution demands for separation of church and state, and so we must vote accordingly. Instead, we passed an unconstitutional law that strips away rights of people just because it makes people feel icky. I am embarrassed that such a great state could let this happen. I am embarrassed that people fell for the blatant lies of proposition 8.
How people believed that this was a parental rights issue, is beyond me. And really, even if it was true gay marriage was taught in school, why is that so bad? It's teaching a law. Wanting to pull your child out of class because of that is like wanting to pull your child out of a field trip to San Juan Capistrano because you're afraid it'll turn your child Catholic. I don't want my child being exposed to that, they say. Exposed to tolerance? Exposed to a law? Can I pull my child out of class when they have Red Ribbon Week. I don't want them being exposed to drugs, I would say. What's the difference? If you believe that your child can turn gay because a teacher says that gay marriage is legal, then perhaps you aren't smart enough to be trusted with a child.
I know that this takes time. That people vote with their guts not their understanding of constitutional law. I take heart in the fact that Prop. 8 passed with just 4% of the vote (and that was only because of the lies that prop. 8 said). I know that my generation and the generations after me are changing. Most do not seem to take issue. I know that eventually this will change, but at the time, when America is shining so brightly with hope and change, it is sad that is dampened by the hatred of this proposition.