First of all, proposition 8 is not directly about being gay. Proposition 8 attempts to open a door to the selective process of taking away rights. So what if two people want to get married. This is not the point. Proposition 8 changes (oh, pardon me, amends) the constitution. America is based upon common foundations. It has been found through time, money and process that discrimination based upon a "marriage" between two people of various genders from obtaining their basic civil rights. There are a strong few gay couples who have wanted to get married bad enough that have been fighting to be joined in "legal marriage". After failed battles, it was finally found that it is a violation of our basic human rights-to deny marriage to any couple. This sounds okay to me. These couples wanted so badly to become a "married" couple that they took the issue to the courts, and won. So what's so wrong with people wanting to form a bond of marriage? Now, this "controversy" is trying to be taken to the voting booths. In tomorrow's election, proposition 8 will be put to a total vote by its citizens. Starting this process of destroying rights is what proposition 8 intends to do.
Marriage is a funny thing, a personal thing, a significant thing, and it has changed its foundations many times. Marriage is used in many ways throughout the world. Polygamy, polyandry and other ways to unite people and property are used to make legal a bond. Marriage has even played many roles in the development of our American Society. Marriage has been largely used as a function to maintain a "high" social class, and property status. In "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, the main character "Edna" was caught in a loveless marriage. Edna finally started to live on her own, and become her own woman, but she was so socially stigmatized and her freedom so smothered that her final action in an attempt to live free, was to commit suicide.
When women started to become independent and break out of a role of property and status (whether the woman had provided wealth or beauty in the acquisition), there was a new movement called Women's Suffrage. Remember, there was a time when women were not allowed the freedom to vote. It was a time when Women had to fight for their civil rights, to overcome for Freedom. Through time, marches, and effort, women have now been afforded the opportunity to vote.
So then, men and women were finally able to choose who they would marry. This allowed marriage to be for love, and not for wealth or property exchange. Although marriage is meant to be a bond of love, and represent a strong commitment to the other, "marriage" is that significant bond. Still, some do use marriage as something to do on a whim while in Vegas, or a reason to fuck, and maybe a possible solution to an unplanned pregnancy. For whatever the reason, the basic right to marry must not be denied to any California Americans- especially considering all the protection those who can marry have been preaching through their own practice including infidelity, divorce, and separations. To "Protect Marriage" is a lame reason to implement proposition 8, especially considering the foundations and uses of marriage by those who now enjoy the right to marry freely.
Freedom was restored yet again when the slaves were freed. Although "free", a common mantra of "separate but equal" was a poor excuse for civil freedoms. Signs in front of business that informed its patrons "Coloreds in Back" were not uncommon before some time, money, and battles were fought for basic "equal" civil liberties and freedoms to Black American citizens. It wasn't until more money, battles, speeches, assassinations, and many years later, the Black Americans were finally afforded the Freedom to Vote.
In all these processes, these are all situations of basic freedoms that have had to be fought for. These constitutional rights should not be denied...
Back to yesterday...
I saw a group of kids standing on the corner of where I live. I was curious because the prop 8 promoters were everywhere, and two days prior, 3 of the corners where I live were filled with prop 8 promoters. I checked to see what side was being honked for and I saw groups of signs for "No on 8", and a scattered few of the prop 8 promoters. I took an initial picture, and then decided to do video. Watch this little clip so you may see what I saw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp-Mk6JMd8A
The sounding horn is from the white truck with kids yelling "Yes on Eight". It wasn't the obnoxious kids yelling "YES on 8", but the fact that on the side window was painted in blue, "No Fags" with two stick men x'ed out. There was a "yes on 8" sign taped to another rear side window, and someone was holding a yellow "yes" sign through the open front side window. I couldn't believe that anyone would let that be written on the car, and then have the balls to drive around with it painted "NO FAGS"?!?What the f...? Orange County?
Proposition 8 is about taking Civil Freedoms. No Freedom must be taken away. No more hate. What is moral and right is to vote "NO" to not pass a proposition that has to change the constitution to take honest and legal civil rights. Proposition 8 is not great.
November 11, 2008-Since 8 has now passed, it is now time to work together to get back our civil rights with more time, and more money... maybe a unified boycott...?
*This article referenced "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin*
No comments:
Post a Comment