Despite the majority of Americans being against it due to their own bigotry, the 15th Amendment was added to the constitution in 1870, granting the right to vote to all citizens regardless of race. Once again, America moved forward- became MORE free, stronger, closer to the truth at the center of our Declaration of Independance and Constitution.
Today, some Californians are trying to amend our state Constitution in a different way. This time, they want to make our citizens LESS free. They want to take away rights. They want to write intolerance INTO the state constitution.
Don't be fooled. Prop 8 does NOT "protect marriage". It's not commited homosexual couples ruining "the sanctity of marriage"- it's all the people who currently CAN get married ruining it when almost half get divorced, many more commit adultery and so many enter into marriage without any true commitment. Keeping gay people from marrying will not stop any of that.
If we want to make a statement that marriage in California is sacred and should not be taken lightly, we should outlaw "no fault divorce". Until I have to PROVE that something is fundamentally wrong with my marriage in order to get out of the lifelong commitment I made, don't tell me the law is protecting marriage in any way.
Keeping same gender marriage legal does not infringe on your religious views. Your church will NOT lose tax exempt status because your pastor preaches that homosexuality is a sin. The court's decision specifically states "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."
Keeping same gender marriage legal does not mean your kids will be taught in school that gay marriage is equal to straight marriage. Seriously, when was your child taught ANYTHING about marriage? In a society where many kids are from unmarried, single and divorced homes, do you honestly think public schools are teaching the sanctity of ANY marriage? Of course not.
Keeping same gender marriage legal DOES mean that California will provide equal protection under the law for all it's citizens. Period. Senator Barack Obama and Govenor Arnold Schwarzenneger don't agree on much, but they BOTH oppose Prop 8. They've both come to the conculsion that regardless of how they feel personally, it's just plain wrong to single one group of people and exclude them from enjoying the same rights as other citizens.
We have something called the separation of Church and State in this wonderful country. If you think homosexuality is a sin- fine... but think about just the law. In this country we offer all our citizens the same freedoms, regardless of who they are. People will tell you that Civil Unions are the answer- but we've had that and there's still confusion. We've heard the term "separate but equal" before- and you know how that turned out. Don't help take away rights of US citizens! Keep California free- help us fulfill the American dream of life, liberty and the persuit of happiness!
VOTE NO on Prop 8 this November!
