It is nap time. I am taking some time to read up on the propositions. A big one for us is Prop 8 about not discriminating against gays and marriage. The actual ballot title is "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." While reading the proposition I came across this~
"Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Senator Barack Obama said he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law....And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states".[62][63] Barack Obama has stated he is "for civil unions and not for gay marriage" when civil unions confer the same rights and benefits as marriage.[64] In addition, Barack Obama has stated, "I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."[65] (Wikpidea)
I remember him saying something like this in one of his speeches. I am curious why there has not been more said about this from the gay community (maybe there has?) ---a backlash if you will. He is basically saying what I hear a lot of---call it a civil union but do not call it marriage. I would think that if I were gay I would take great offence at this. I believe the rights the gay community are fighting for is to be married like the rest of us---correct me if I am wrong.
In any event, Prop 8 is very interesting. It would bring in new revenue for the State of California because if a population of "gays" can now be married like the rest of us crazy people they would have to pay the marriage tax like the rest of us. California is actually saying that if Prop 8 does not pass it is lost revenue for California.
The only thing I am mad about with regard to this whole issue is that in 2000 we as Californians voted on the this issue (Prop 22) and we voted by 61% as a state to define as marriage is between a man and women. I just think that it is dangerous for lobbyist, legislators & judges to be able to overturn our vote about anything. If we do not like the results of a vote put it back to a vote. It makes me feel very insecure with our voting process. Why vote on something then if the BIG GUYS get to overturn it. I am unsure how I am going to vote on Prop 8 I have to read some more and give it more thought.
I refuse to just vote on this crap at face value. I really want to think about what it is that I am voting on and how it will affect the future. This political year has been very hard for me. I have so much at stake now. I have children. It really scares me. I have always voted. Every year since I was 18. I have felt very strong about voting. It was a right that was hard fought for and I do not want to ever take that for granted. However, I am so jaded by the whole process. I mean, in California Obama has won. It really does not matter who I vote for. It matters more to myself. I personally am voting for Ron Paul. He has been my choice since the beginning. I have been accused of taking the vote away from a candidate. But I do not see it that way. I want to see it as a Revolution as a Rebellion agaist the mainstream. As a f*^%k the system, if you will. Maybe if I were in a swing state it would really matter but I am not. This is a blue state. It is not a multi-colored state (if a state like that exists?)
I wish we would all drop out of these two super parties and be non-partisan with our approach to our country, to our government. We are all Americans! We are not blue Americans or red Americans. I thought that is why we had a civil war?
Maybe, in the end I will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome of all this and some real good will come out of all this s&!t.
5 comments:
I think it should be proof to the fundamentalists that don't believe he's a Christian, lol.
Here's something I found:
Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."
Barack Obama did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.
He said he would support civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, as well as letting individual states determine if marriage between gay and lesbian couples should be legalized.
"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."
I think that he's for balance and for reason. Common sense. It's something we haven't had in Washington in a while.
P.S.: I think this is one issue we disagree on- I don't really care what people call it when you spend the rest of your life with the person you have made a commitment to. I suppose if Marriage is strictly a religious thing, then I can never be married again. Or what about people who didn't get married in a church? My first wedding was in a castle. /shrug. I guess I just think that this another area of personal life that government should leave alone, once everyone has equal rights. Just because someone is religious doesn't mean they have a good marriage- those are hard enough to come by! You're one of the lucky ones, Christy. ^^
BTW- I think it's totally awesome that you're voting for a third party candidate. I LOVE Ron Paul's idea of a flat tax- and I would probably be voting for him if I didn't live in a swing state. I always wrote my candidate in when I was a California resident....it always goes Dem so I felt like I had enough freedom to express who I REALLY wanted in the White House!
I don't think that the two party system has worked in a long time. I would love to see a viable third party come into serious play.
Thanks for the comments & for helping me understand it better. Chris and I were talking about Obama's stance on the whole gay marriage issue. I would have to agree with you I think this is another area where the Federal Government needs to stay out of it. What I have gathered about Obama's stance on this subject is that he is leaving it to the States to decide and not the Federal Government. He has his personal opinion about it because of his religious views so he has conviently said that it is really a State issue to deal with not a Federal issue. I would think that most issues are for the States to decide and not the Federal Government. I am pro State and not really pro Federal Government. I just believe that if a community of people decide that gay marriage is their thing or legalized pot is their thing then let them have it, if for some reason I do not like it I can move to another State that fits my way of living. I think a lot of Americans kinda already do this. Living in California sometimes feels like we are always pushing the limits so there is always something to decide, something to question.
With regard to Marriage. It is hard to be married when it is not working out. It is easy to be married if both people are getting along. I do not take my "good" (I am not sure if I have a good marriage but I know that we love eachother very much and respect eachother) marriage for granted. I think both Chris and I try to be in reality that things could always go wrong, it happens even to "good" marriages. I think we have both realized that we are a team and we have support eachother. I really have no idea how to be married other then to do my best to be true to myself.
As far as the gay marriage issue goes---I have two thoughts about it. One thought---I really do not care--call it whatever you want. The other part of me just wonders what it means to a society? Will it make us a better society? Spain has marriage for gays and they seem fine.
So much to think about, uh?
"The other part of me just wonders what it means to a society? Will it make us a better society? Spain has marriage for gays and they seem fine."
Well something else to remember: Most of Europe have, in my understanding, governments that lean more towards the socialist side of things, yet are more predominantly religious in the classical sense. I think that's really interesting! I also think that they tend to take a more realistic approach on sexual issues, in that it's a biological process and you need to educate your children and citizens because it is going to happen, whether you are ethically opposed to it or not. That sense of acceptance has led to education, and, in my opinion, a more reasonable mind set towards the whole issue in general.
What would happen to society if gay marriage (or unions) were no big deal? Well- I think we'd have fewer protests and resulting violence, we wouldn't have a need for gay pride parades (although they might still want them anyway, lol!!) and I bet in time, we'd have fewer hate crimes against gay people.
If we could just accept people for who they are, then all the drama over someone's sexual orientation, or the other big one, race, would go away. I don't think what someone's skin color is or who they are attracted to should matter. I believe they are both things that they don't have biological control over. Now, certain religious groups (the Catholic church comes to mind) believe that gay people are born that way, and that it is a "defect". I don't know if I can accept that it's a "defect", or something like having blue eyes or brown. Since scientists don't know for sure, then I suppose the jury is still out on that for me.
Also: I LOVE the idea that states have more control, and the federal government has less. That's definitely something I could get behind. If you don't support gay marriage, then go live in a state that doesn't. If you want to be married as part of a gay couple, then move to a state that allows it. I think it would give us the freedom to pick the environment we wanted to live in, while still enjoying the protection and liberties that come with being an American Citizen.
Also: I LOVE the idea that states have more control, and the federal government has less. That's definitely something I could get behind. If you don't support gay marriage, then go live in a state that doesn't. If you want to be married as part of a gay couple, then move to a state that allows it. I think it would give us the freedom to pick the environment we wanted to live in, while still enjoying the protection and liberties that come with being an American Citizen.
LOVE IT! Well said!
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