Today is a great day...and not so great!
November 5th, 2008 Day after Election
Thoughts about Proposition 8 Passing in California
Taking back the right for Gays and Lesbians to Legally Marry
You said a mouthful, Andrea.
Ironically, from what I have seen in the literature I have gotten in the mail, a
big push was made from the "religious" black community to support this
proposition.
If only people of color and other minorities would have only stopped to think
about the message that this sends to the state, the country, the world.
By discriminating against one minority group because of their difference, the
state of California has weakened the mandate for equality in every minority
sector. It has given every bigot more affirmation that their hate, fear and/or
intolerance is okay and, in fact, justified.
The proponents of this proposition used the most effective strategy known - play
on joe-general public's -"fear". "Teachers in the classroom would teach about
gay marriage."
As if knowledge about a certain sector of people would somehow spoil their
child's world view.
How did any of us learn about the black struggle, about asian miscegenation laws
that would have not allowed my parents to have gotten married only 10 years before they did. (This prohibited asians
from marrying caucasians up until the forties.)
We call ourselves the greatest nation (and state) in the world, yet just about
every other western nation in the world recognizes homosexual equality under the
law. They are not caught up in this religious doctrine that says "we are better
than them". Ironically, this is called Christian. I doubt that Christ would have
ever put up with such hypocrisy and elitism.
When the No on 8 campaign says it is just wrong, unfair and
unconscionable...under the law, it is!
Forget about your religious beliefs...remember we have a nifty bill of rights
that separates church and state.
And a declaration of independence that states "all men (and women) are created
equal.
Yet, in this day and age, we are not equal under the law. We are still keeping a
sector of the population from exercising their inalienable right to equality and
recognition under the law. We still have two america's. One that says we are all equal, and another one that perpetuates that we are not.
Why does this bother me so much? I do not have a significant other, a husband, a
life-partner.
Because for every tax-paying homosexual couple out there that is committed to
each other, there are rights and legitimacy that are being violated and spat
upon by a majority that clearly does not understand that when you deny the
rights of a few...you denigrate the rights of everyone. You give an excuse for
the intolerant to commit these violations on anyone. This is, and always will
be, a legal issue not a religious one. Everyone has a right to their beliefs. No
one has the right to dictate some one else's beliefs. But everyone needs to
legally respect equality if we are going to claim all men are created (and
treated) equally. If we truly believe there is a separation of church and state.
The Yes on 8 campaign may claim a victory in the name of "traditional" marriage.
But for all Californians, and all Americans, this is a step backwards in the fight for equality, the fight for dignity and the fight for
what is fair.
The struggle continues.
Saddened and disappointed in California.
Rick
:-(
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Andrea Rogozinski"
> Last night I listened to Obama's speech with tears in my eyes-what a breath
> of fresh air!!!! I am proud of my country! Although I am overjoyed by the
> decision last night, it has been a little clouded for me here in Cali. I
> find it upsetting and counterintuitive that in an age where we as a nation
> are able to triumph over our long lived history of separation and
> discrimination and elect the first black president; we, in the same breath,
> passed Prop 8 which perpetuates a system of discrimination. I am really
> disappointed about that today.
>
>
>
> Andrea Rogozinski
> Executive Assistant
Thoughts about Proposition 8 Passing in California
Taking back the right for Gays and Lesbians to Legally Marry
You said a mouthful, Andrea.
Ironically, from what I have seen in the literature I have gotten in the mail, a
big push was made from the "religious" black community to support this
proposition.
If only people of color and other minorities would have only stopped to think
about the message that this sends to the state, the country, the world.
By discriminating against one minority group because of their difference, the
state of California has weakened the mandate for equality in every minority
sector. It has given every bigot more affirmation that their hate, fear and/or
intolerance is okay and, in fact, justified.
The proponents of this proposition used the most effective strategy known - play
on joe-general public's -"fear". "Teachers in the classroom would teach about
gay marriage."
As if knowledge about a certain sector of people would somehow spoil their
child's world view.
How did any of us learn about the black struggle, about asian miscegenation laws
that would have not allowed my parents to have gotten married only 10 years before they did. (This prohibited asians
from marrying caucasians up until the forties.)
We call ourselves the greatest nation (and state) in the world, yet just about
every other western nation in the world recognizes homosexual equality under the
law. They are not caught up in this religious doctrine that says "we are better
than them". Ironically, this is called Christian. I doubt that Christ would have
ever put up with such hypocrisy and elitism.
When the No on 8 campaign says it is just wrong, unfair and
unconscionable...under the law, it is!
Forget about your religious beliefs...remember we have a nifty bill of rights
that separates church and state.
And a declaration of independence that states "all men (and women) are created
equal.
Yet, in this day and age, we are not equal under the law. We are still keeping a
sector of the population from exercising their inalienable right to equality and
recognition under the law. We still have two america's. One that says we are all equal, and another one that perpetuates that we are not.
Why does this bother me so much? I do not have a significant other, a husband, a
life-partner.
Because for every tax-paying homosexual couple out there that is committed to
each other, there are rights and legitimacy that are being violated and spat
upon by a majority that clearly does not understand that when you deny the
rights of a few...you denigrate the rights of everyone. You give an excuse for
the intolerant to commit these violations on anyone. This is, and always will
be, a legal issue not a religious one. Everyone has a right to their beliefs. No
one has the right to dictate some one else's beliefs. But everyone needs to
legally respect equality if we are going to claim all men are created (and
treated) equally. If we truly believe there is a separation of church and state.
The Yes on 8 campaign may claim a victory in the name of "traditional" marriage.
But for all Californians, and all Americans, this is a step backwards in the fight for equality, the fight for dignity and the fight for
what is fair.
The struggle continues.
Saddened and disappointed in California.
Rick
:-(
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Andrea Rogozinski"
> Last night I listened to Obama's speech with tears in my eyes-what a breath
> of fresh air!!!! I am proud of my country! Although I am overjoyed by the
> decision last night, it has been a little clouded for me here in Cali. I
> find it upsetting and counterintuitive that in an age where we as a nation
> are able to triumph over our long lived history of separation and
> discrimination and elect the first black president; we, in the same breath,
> passed Prop 8 which perpetuates a system of discrimination. I am really
> disappointed about that today.
>
>
>
> Andrea Rogozinski
> Executive Assistant
posted by Rick at 12:30 PM
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