This Whole "Hate/Prop 8" Thing
I have been noticing more on more (on blog's, etc) that people keep saying that the result of prop 8 is because of hate. There's a lot of "Do you love or hate?" propoganda, and a lot of "I am hated" from the gay community, etc.
I just disagree. While I will acknowledge that there are those who hate gays and lesbians and chose to vote for prop 8 as a result of their hatred, I would argue that the majority did not (base their decision on hatred). Feeling that marriage should be between a man and a woman is an opinion of some people. It does not mean they are against gay and lesbian relationships, they just have a different definition of what marriage means. This could be because of the "do you want your children to learn about gay marriage in schools" advertisements or it could be for religious reasons, or maybe even because of procreation, who knows. My point is that people are entitled to their thoughts and opinions on the subject and voted based on that, not hatred. I actually know many people who voted for prop 8 that live in SF, have gay friends, etc but for whatever reasons strongly believed marriage should be between man and wife only.
The bigger question of course then is civil rights. In the deep south the majority of people once believed in the KKK but that did not mean they were right, and their beliefs were founded from hate. Their actions were a violation of civil and human rights against african americans. In this situation, no amount of public vote should determine what is law.
So, is the same thing happening here with Prop 8? No, not on the human rights level. I do not feel that gay people fear for their lives, or are denied drinking water, etc. On the civil rights level, possibly but it is difficult to take as seriously as other civil rights violations in history like certain groups not being permitted to vote, segregation, etc, and thank goodness we are now in a time where gay couples can be together, live together, etc without that act being illegal.
What's my point? That it is damaging to the credibility of the gay marriage movement for them to keep claiming that a) they are hated, and b) that when someone makes a decision regarding gay marriage, if they vote against it they are choosing hate. It just sounds too much like George Bush saying if other countries are not with us they are our enemy, etc. Life is not so black and white, and using tactics like that do nothing but enflame.
Nancy Pelosi said it best in her commercial in regards to prop 8. She said, (paraphrased) "You may believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but this issue is not about that, it is about civil rights, and whether you should be able to tell someone what they can and cannot do". This is way to go about change. Achknowledge people's uncertainties and fears and then talk about the bigger issue of rights, which should be the same for all.
I just disagree. While I will acknowledge that there are those who hate gays and lesbians and chose to vote for prop 8 as a result of their hatred, I would argue that the majority did not (base their decision on hatred). Feeling that marriage should be between a man and a woman is an opinion of some people. It does not mean they are against gay and lesbian relationships, they just have a different definition of what marriage means. This could be because of the "do you want your children to learn about gay marriage in schools" advertisements or it could be for religious reasons, or maybe even because of procreation, who knows. My point is that people are entitled to their thoughts and opinions on the subject and voted based on that, not hatred. I actually know many people who voted for prop 8 that live in SF, have gay friends, etc but for whatever reasons strongly believed marriage should be between man and wife only.
The bigger question of course then is civil rights. In the deep south the majority of people once believed in the KKK but that did not mean they were right, and their beliefs were founded from hate. Their actions were a violation of civil and human rights against african americans. In this situation, no amount of public vote should determine what is law.
So, is the same thing happening here with Prop 8? No, not on the human rights level. I do not feel that gay people fear for their lives, or are denied drinking water, etc. On the civil rights level, possibly but it is difficult to take as seriously as other civil rights violations in history like certain groups not being permitted to vote, segregation, etc, and thank goodness we are now in a time where gay couples can be together, live together, etc without that act being illegal.
What's my point? That it is damaging to the credibility of the gay marriage movement for them to keep claiming that a) they are hated, and b) that when someone makes a decision regarding gay marriage, if they vote against it they are choosing hate. It just sounds too much like George Bush saying if other countries are not with us they are our enemy, etc. Life is not so black and white, and using tactics like that do nothing but enflame.
Nancy Pelosi said it best in her commercial in regards to prop 8. She said, (paraphrased) "You may believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but this issue is not about that, it is about civil rights, and whether you should be able to tell someone what they can and cannot do". This is way to go about change. Achknowledge people's uncertainties and fears and then talk about the bigger issue of rights, which should be the same for all.
posted by Chanta Rose: Bondage Expert at 1:58 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home