Prop 8 and beyond
I didn't say anything about the Appeal Court's decision regarding Prop 8 in California yesterday, not here anyway. I made 2 tweets about it, and left it at that. But I think I want, no, need to say something about it today.
I think many of the folks on my f'list know how I feel about Prop 8, but there may be some who do not.
First of all, I AM a Christian. I first committed my life to Christ back in July of 1993. I admit to have faltered along the path, and I admit that I am certainly not perfect. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," wrote Paul in his letter to the Romans. The difference between a Christian sinner and a non-Christian sinner is that the Christian has accepted that an innocent man died for their sins. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. It does NOT mean, however, that we can go around doing whatever we want. There will be consequences, and repentance is key. We will sin - it is in our nature - but we must not intentionally sin.
As a Christian, I read the Christian holy scripture. These scriptures say that marriage is between a man and a woman. The groom will leave his mother and the bride will leave her father's house, and they will be joined together as one. I left my father's house in a big, big way in 1998.
But I believe in these scriptures, the way a Jew believes in the Torah, and a Muslim believes in the Koran. Therefore, I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, just as I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins on a hillside near Jerusalem. I believe that believing the opposite is a sin. And I refuse to intentionally and consciously sin. If it comes to common culture or God's Law, I will follow God.
But yesterday's decision regarding Prop 8 goes beyond faith. Proposition 8 made it to the November ballot based on its supporters having a required amount of signatures. No matter what the initiative, it needs to have a certain amount of eligible signatures to make it to the ballot. This is to stop extremely outlandish notions from wasting ink. Proposition 8 then had more Californians voting Yes rather than No, which is how it passed. I'm sure both sides of the debate made huge arguments as to why people should vote for their side. Ultimately, a majority of Californians decided the CA Constitution should be amended to include the statement that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.
The decision to uphold Prop 8 means that the majority decided its fate in a vote. That's democracy at work. We see votes not just in politics but in the social arena as well. That includes polls on Live Journal and Dreamwidth. Majority rules in these arenas. Yes, there are losers. Sometimes people win one time but lose the second. It is how you recover from the loss that matters. By the way, this country's Founding Fathers only said we were entitled to the PURSUIT of happiness. They never guaranteed we'd get it.
Secondly, potential citizens of the United States of America have to pass a civics test as part of their application process. Their test often asks them to name the three branches of government. Those branches are: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each has a role to play. Some members of the Judiciary believe they have the right to create law, to 'legislate from the bench.' But look at the second branch I named, the Legislature. If the Judicial branch thinks it has the right to legislate then why do we even have that second branch? I believe last summer that the California court legislated from the bench when it said that the term 'marriage' could be used for same-sex couples wishing to be in a permanent relationship. But the Judiciary is not elected by the people. It is not to look at the people involved. It is to use the Law only. It is to impartial. It's why we say justice is blind. Yesterday was the correct decision; the Court looked at the Law rather than the players.
Don't ask me about States Rights, however. I'm still a little fuzzy on that, and it's not just because of the medical marijuana issue which existed long before the current same-sex marriage debate. I'm still adjusting to having to have a different drivers license for every state I've lived in. I don't know what I'll do if I get a license that actually expires!
Now, I KNOW my opinions aren't popular. In the past I've had people call me names and drop me quicker than a hot fry. That's okay. If I were to change my beliefs because of my social status, I would not be the strong person that some folks say I am. I know many of you see not just my beliefs, but the whole me, and I appreciate that. I try to do the same with many of you. I look at how some of you have come out of bad situations that much stronger and I am happy for you. We may not see eye to eye on certain topics, but it doesn't mean I don't care.
Sadly, however, I fear I am in the process of losing someone I care immensely for. I've noticed her pulling away from me, and her online action yesterday was rather noticeable to me. And I fear it is because of those two tweets I made yesterday afternoon. I hope to goodness it's just coincidence, but the pessimist in me is looking at the timing and our differing opinions. Especially since my other tweets yesterday were either non-controversial or about the hockey. And I don't think she's a Carolina Hurricanes fan ;) And whereas I've had friendships disappear before and had to shrug it off, well, this one hurts. I care so much for this person, and have done for the past 8 years. Where we go from here, I'm not sure. I'm going to try to hold on, because I value this person, but I don't want to appear clingy and I won't change my beliefs because of one person.
So, this is where I am with Prop 8. Accespt it, don't accept it, look beyond it, don't look beyond it. We all have our paths, I've chosen mine.
I think many of the folks on my f'list know how I feel about Prop 8, but there may be some who do not.
First of all, I AM a Christian. I first committed my life to Christ back in July of 1993. I admit to have faltered along the path, and I admit that I am certainly not perfect. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," wrote Paul in his letter to the Romans. The difference between a Christian sinner and a non-Christian sinner is that the Christian has accepted that an innocent man died for their sins. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. It does NOT mean, however, that we can go around doing whatever we want. There will be consequences, and repentance is key. We will sin - it is in our nature - but we must not intentionally sin.
As a Christian, I read the Christian holy scripture. These scriptures say that marriage is between a man and a woman. The groom will leave his mother and the bride will leave her father's house, and they will be joined together as one. I left my father's house in a big, big way in 1998.
But I believe in these scriptures, the way a Jew believes in the Torah, and a Muslim believes in the Koran. Therefore, I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, just as I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins on a hillside near Jerusalem. I believe that believing the opposite is a sin. And I refuse to intentionally and consciously sin. If it comes to common culture or God's Law, I will follow God.
But yesterday's decision regarding Prop 8 goes beyond faith. Proposition 8 made it to the November ballot based on its supporters having a required amount of signatures. No matter what the initiative, it needs to have a certain amount of eligible signatures to make it to the ballot. This is to stop extremely outlandish notions from wasting ink. Proposition 8 then had more Californians voting Yes rather than No, which is how it passed. I'm sure both sides of the debate made huge arguments as to why people should vote for their side. Ultimately, a majority of Californians decided the CA Constitution should be amended to include the statement that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.
The decision to uphold Prop 8 means that the majority decided its fate in a vote. That's democracy at work. We see votes not just in politics but in the social arena as well. That includes polls on Live Journal and Dreamwidth. Majority rules in these arenas. Yes, there are losers. Sometimes people win one time but lose the second. It is how you recover from the loss that matters. By the way, this country's Founding Fathers only said we were entitled to the PURSUIT of happiness. They never guaranteed we'd get it.
Secondly, potential citizens of the United States of America have to pass a civics test as part of their application process. Their test often asks them to name the three branches of government. Those branches are: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each has a role to play. Some members of the Judiciary believe they have the right to create law, to 'legislate from the bench.' But look at the second branch I named, the Legislature. If the Judicial branch thinks it has the right to legislate then why do we even have that second branch? I believe last summer that the California court legislated from the bench when it said that the term 'marriage' could be used for same-sex couples wishing to be in a permanent relationship. But the Judiciary is not elected by the people. It is not to look at the people involved. It is to use the Law only. It is to impartial. It's why we say justice is blind. Yesterday was the correct decision; the Court looked at the Law rather than the players.
Don't ask me about States Rights, however. I'm still a little fuzzy on that, and it's not just because of the medical marijuana issue which existed long before the current same-sex marriage debate. I'm still adjusting to having to have a different drivers license for every state I've lived in. I don't know what I'll do if I get a license that actually expires!
Now, I KNOW my opinions aren't popular. In the past I've had people call me names and drop me quicker than a hot fry. That's okay. If I were to change my beliefs because of my social status, I would not be the strong person that some folks say I am. I know many of you see not just my beliefs, but the whole me, and I appreciate that. I try to do the same with many of you. I look at how some of you have come out of bad situations that much stronger and I am happy for you. We may not see eye to eye on certain topics, but it doesn't mean I don't care.
Sadly, however, I fear I am in the process of losing someone I care immensely for. I've noticed her pulling away from me, and her online action yesterday was rather noticeable to me. And I fear it is because of those two tweets I made yesterday afternoon. I hope to goodness it's just coincidence, but the pessimist in me is looking at the timing and our differing opinions. Especially since my other tweets yesterday were either non-controversial or about the hockey. And I don't think she's a Carolina Hurricanes fan ;) And whereas I've had friendships disappear before and had to shrug it off, well, this one hurts. I care so much for this person, and have done for the past 8 years. Where we go from here, I'm not sure. I'm going to try to hold on, because I value this person, but I don't want to appear clingy and I won't change my beliefs because of one person.
So, this is where I am with Prop 8. Accespt it, don't accept it, look beyond it, don't look beyond it. We all have our paths, I've chosen mine.