Protect Marriage

On a past post I received a detailed "comment" form "anonymous"- in opposition to prop 8. I went to a town hall meeting last night, and learned a lot. If I were a better blogger- I would have had my camera there, and taken some good pictures of the "opposition." It was clear which side of prop 8 they were on because, as Isiah prophesied, in Isaiah 3:9: The shew of their countenance doth witness against them.

I would now like to respond to "anonymous' comment.

Anonymous:

If Proposition 8 passes, the law will change to designate an entire class of
people as unequal to, as less than, every other class of people. In the eyes of
the law, gay people will be seen as inferior to everyone else. And when
opponents of gay rights see the idea that gays are inferior validated by the
government, it will allow them to continue on their path of dehumanizing gays
and lesbians. That's what denying a class of people an equal right does. It
dehumanizes them, and it is dangerous. It is the dehumanization of a group that
creates a culture in which people feel that it is okay to yell epithets at
others in public; that it is okay for kids to be bullied and beaten at school;
that it is okay for a jeering mob to incite a gay 17-year-old to commit suicide
by jumping off a building. (Read the news.) These things happen because gays are
demonized. And gays are demonized when they're made out to be an inferior class
of people. And they are made out to be an inferior class of people when they are
not allowed the same rights as everyone else.

My response:

Proposition 8 is very simple. There are not pages and pages of confusing information, but it is rather, just one phrase, that would be added to our state's Constitution, as it is already a part of 45 other states. It says this:

"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

The state of California is already one of the most liberal in the union, giving the gay and lesbian community the legal rights, privileges, and protections that are saying that prop 8 will give them. This is not true. They already have those rights and protections. Prop 8 is about defining marriage. Opposition to prop 8 is about taking the word "marriage" and changing it's definition.

IN ADDITION, PROPONENTS OF PROP 8 CONTINUE TO LIE IN THEIR TELEVISION
ADS:Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless
we pass Prop 8. Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education, and no child
can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about
health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it, and the Yes on
8 campaign knows they are lying. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley
has already ruled that this claim by Prop 8 proponents is "false and
misleading.

My response:

I really think that anonymous believed that when he or she wrote it. However, last night a the town hall meeting, it was read to me, directly from the state's education code, in two different places that "marriage" shall (not may- but shall) be taught in schools. Without the passing of proposition 8, that would include gay marriage, being taught to our children. What a horrible abuse of power, are those in authority, that know this is the case, and yet, lie to the public, saying that it is not so. The "opt out" thing also does exist, yes, but it has a "clause" that eliminates same sex issues.

Yes- prop 8 does not mention education- as I mentioned before- it is 14 words long- but the reproductions of it's not passing will be much longer.

"Fiction: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status. Fact: Nothing in Prop
8 would force churches to do anything. In fact, the court decision regarding
marriage specifically says "no religion will be required to change its religious
policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious
officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or
her religious beliefs."

Again- untrue- any church that "rents" it's halls for marriages, and does not rent to a gay or lesbian couple would open themselves up to law suits, and the loss of their tax exempt status.

Fiction: A Massachusetts case about a parent’s objection to the school
curriculum will happen here. Fact: Unlike Massachusetts, California gives
parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health
and family instruction they don't agree with. The opponents know that California
law already covers this and Prop 8 won't affect it, so they bring up an
irrelevant case in Massachusetts.

Again- oh how I wish this were true, as I have four young children- but the clause on the opt- out section was read to me last night, and clearly does not include same sex issues.

Fiction: Four Activist Judges in San Francisco…Fact: Prop 8 is not about courts
and judges, it's about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn't grant the
right--the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an
outdated and stale argument that judges aren't supposed to protect rights and
freedoms. This campaign is about whether Californians, right now, in 2008 are
willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a
fundamental right for one group of citizens.

My response: The constitution says no such thing- go read it.

Fiction: Unless Prop 8 passes, CA parents won't have the right to object to what
their children are taught in school. Fact: California law clearly gives parents
and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health
instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Again- I wish so badly this were the case- but it is not. You should read the education code- the clause was right in there. health reasons yes- but it specifically said that same sex issues were not included in the opt out.

AND, ADDITIONALLY:Fiction: Civil unions and domestic partnerships give gay
couples the same rights as married couples. Fact: In the few states in which
civil unions or similar domestic partnerships exist, same-sex couples are
granted the same rights as married couples but only on the state level. There
are hundreds upon hundreds of federal benefits that do not apply to those
couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships.PLEASE VOTE NO ON PROP 8.
Please do not allow blatant discrimination to be written into the law.
California is better, smarter, and more humane than that.

Dude- Mr/ Mrs anonymous- I think you do believe what you wrote- but you were misinformed.

Protect marriage- vote yes on 8!!