"Sorry 'Bout That"
Tuesday November 11, 2008
To: RamonSubject: Sorry 'Bout That
Dear Ramon,
Although I wished to have the word ‘marriage’ preserved for man and woman, and fought hard for that—the thing which passed [Proposition 8] was not appropriate.
The whole thing was hijacked by the insurance companies and government agencies. Kind of twisted and sick, if you ask me. My argument had nothing what so ever to do with a ‘civil union’ between same-sex couples. It had to do with the use of the word ‘marriage’; which has its roots in religious doctrine—despite the dictionary entry which has been used ad-nauseum. I did not want to see church congregations being sued because they refused to host a same-sex union.
The issue should not have had anything to do with survivor’s benefits, the breaking of a will, insurance coverage, retirement, or any other issue involving privacy or finance.
I voted against it. I have no idea how to correct this error. All I can say is that I am sorry.
Eric
Dear Uninformed Voter,
This is a prime example of what happens when voters let semantics override the real issues. Whether the definition of marriage is most correctly detailed in a religious text, the dictionary or on the ballot of a proposition, I'm sure you realize now that it is your responsibility–as a voter–to understand the complete ramifications of your decisions. They–extremist group Focus on Family and other anti-gay followers that sponsored these Propositions–told you and other voters that these Propositions were about protecting the elusive "institution of marriage" and saving our children, but underneath it was a successful attempt to restrict human rights.
Most heterosexual couples take for granted (or are completely aloof of the fact) that they automatically get 1,138 rights when they get married and those rights include exactly what you cited: survivor’s benefits, the breaking of a will, insurance coverage, retirement, or any other issue involving privacy or finance. When gay and lesbian couples argue for the right to marry, it is not a special right; it's an equal right to the same secure benefits granted to every other citizen. Most people are also unaware that in most cases civil unions (although they may sound less intrusive to conservative mindsets) offer less benefits than marriage.
So, while you are stuck on your distaste for the word 'marriage,' there are thousands upon thousands of same-sex couples that pay taxes, raise healthy and stable children and support each other emotional and financially who have had and can continue to have all of that taken away–as you've seen this past election–by the stroke of uninformed voters... more
Image © Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images.
Comments
WHAT’S WRONG WITH “CIVIL UNION” TO USE
FOR ANY 2 PERSONS -SAME SEX OR DIFFERENT SEXES –WHO WISH TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER AND GET ALL THE RIGHTS,RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITES
THAT GO WITH ACTUAL LEGAL MARRIAGE? WHY DO WE HAVE TO BATTLE OVER THE MEANING OF A WORD:
MARRIAGE?
@JOHN MOE: It’s not about the meaning of the word marriage, it’s the fact that word itself is used in the written law. Who is going to pay to find and rewrite all the laws, replacing marriage with civil union.
The fact of the matter is that it’s completely assinine to want to withhold “marriage” from same-sex couples. It is common sense that the easiest, fairest, and most importantly the correct thing to do is to recognize that a marriage can occur between two people regardless of their gender. All arguments against this can all be distilled down to simple fear mongering and bigotry.
Removal of hatred and discrimination from society is a slow process at best. Yet, no matter what the propaganda was, voters are still responsible to ensure they are properly informed. Many have used excuses and candy coated phrases to justify their “yes” vote, but each person who voted yes needs to take ownership of the fact that they actively participated in the discrimination of a specific group.
Myself, it makes me sick to hear the lies and rhetoric that flow from so-called godly people. I truly think they need to go back and read their scriptures, stop being lambs following false prophets, and start thinking for themselves. It is hard to give up years of false doctrines, but going back to the base tenets of a religion and learning to think for oneself is not impossible.
I know change will come, but the passing of Prop8 has made apparent that we are still a long way off. California made its mark on world history this month, having exposed themselves so the world can see exactly what they are.