What I don't believe is the idiocy of this issue - I'm sorry but to me it's the equivalent of having laws banning inter racial or inter religion marriages.
The problems (as many problems stem from in this country in my opinion) is that religion has way too much influence and say in this country in things that it shouldn't have any influence or say in and too many people are too feeble to think for themselves so they just go with whatever herd mentality they happen to be a member of.
I'm curious about your position on the issue. We are both members of religions that frown on the practice of homosexuality and abortion (at least as far as I understand Judaism; I may be wrong). From the tenor of your posts it seems you disagree or perhaps ignore that part of your religion's doctrine. I myself struggle with the issue. I was taught and now believe that the act (not the state of being) of homosexuality is a sin. I also believe the family is the fundamental unit of society, and that marriage is a sacred ordinance. I also know that in most places, marriage doesn't mean half of what it used to. More and more people do it on a whim knowing they can back out any time. Does a fully committed gay marriage really deserve less respect than a Britney Spears marriage?
As I told Mike, I was asked to participate in the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, to place phone calls, to donate. I declined, and I don't really know why I declined. I just didn't want to do it. I believed in the prop, but I figured the initiative would fail in California, and I didn't buy the messages on each side.
No on Prop 8 said that rights were being taken away. As far as I could tell, the only right in question was the right to use a certain word. Why is the word such a big deal? (Both sides can answer the question.)
Yes on Prop 8 trotted out all of these scenarios from Massachusetts or Connecticut, and I'll admit, they were a concern. I also heard the story of a coworker's friend who was arrested because he refused to leave his child's school until they told him what they were going to teach concerning sex-ed and same-sex marriage. The school refused to tell, and eventually won the decision in court.
That kind of stuff scares me a little. I go to church because I believe in it. But I don't like forcing my beliefs on others, and that's what it felt like in California. But I also know that if I want to call myself a Latter-day Saint (or any other religion I may espouse) and I believe in what that religion teaches, then I'd better stand up for it when it's threatened or get out of it. And I'm not getting out of it.
