So, I think it's time to write again. Partly because my dear friend, Salili, reminded me that I haven't written for a while, and partly because I saw that my boyfriend was reading this, without commenting, too. Lame. I wasn't really sure what to write about, but then I read one of my friend's blog, and decided I would like to quote some of the better parts of his most recent blog. It's about Prop 8. So, I knew that it was about gay marriage, but I didn't realize how much the result would really affect me, especially since it's in California.
First: "Not only would it declare gay marriage legal and constitutional, but it would also require organizations such as religions to recognize and accept such marriages." I had no idea. That's huge. Why didn't someone tell me this before? A gay couple could sue a church if it decided to not let them get married in the church on the basis that they don't believe gay marriage is acceptable. I don't think that's fair at all. I keep seeing all these flares on facebook saying things along the lines of "don't decide my marriage". To that I have to say: "don't sue my religion for its beliefs."
Second: "Instead of a church forcing their beliefs on gay people (say, banning gay marriage), gay people would be forcing their beliefs on churches by threatening them with lawsuits if they didn’t accept something against their beliefs. As I’ve mentioned before with similar issues, equality means EQUAL, not equal but one side has special rights." I totally agree with this. While I don't think gay marriage is okay, I'm not out there trying to force someone into a certain way of feeling or believing. I will think the way I will, and you can think the way you will, and if we disagree, we'll just be extra polite around each other. How does that sound?
Anyway, the blog is very good, and if you would like to read the whole thing, you should go to http://www.disposablehero.com/wordpress/.
6 comments:
I think a note from 1986 is a good addition to this post on moral freedoms.
Lino A Graglia wrote, University of Texas Professor of Law, "Purporting merely to enforce the Constitution, the Supreme Court has for some thirty years usurped and exercised legislative powers that its predecessors could not have dreamed of, making itself the most powerful and important institution of government in regard to the nature and quality of life in our society... it has literally decided issues of life and death, removing from the states the power to prevent or significantly restrain the practice of abortion, and, after effectively prohibiting capital punishment for two decades, now imposing such costly and time-consuming restrictions on its use as almost to amount to prohibition. In the area of morality and religion, the Court has removed from both the federal and state government nearly all power to prohibit the distribution and sale or exhibition of pornographic materials.... it has prohibited the states from providing for prayer or Bible-reading in public schools. The Court has created for criminal defendants rights that do not exist under any other system of law-- for example, the possibility of almost endless appeals with all costs paid by the state-and which have made the prosecution and conviction of criminals so complex and difficult as to make the attempt frequently seem not worthwhile. It has severely restricted the power of the states and cities to limit marches and other public demonstrations and otherwise maintain order in the streets and other public places." (The constitution A heavenly Banner, pg 26-7 Ezra Taft Benson)
Our freedoms are being eroded away. Today we in many cases no longer have the choice, but are coerced into doing, or acting, or believing in this case, a certain way. I fear at this rate we’ll no longer have property rights within a decade. Article of faith 11 reads, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” In many ways others would restrict us from such privileges. My ancestors fought for the beloved freedoms we have now, and now our freedoms are being thrown to the way side, which freedoms were bought with a heavy price. What is the price of freedom?
I completely agree
Wow. That's long. It makes me want to home school my kids, but at the same time I really don't want to.
I believe in a short time we wont be able to trust the public education system, and then at that moment, we wont have the right to home school our kids.
California already has in the works to restrict homeschooling:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/07/MNJDVF0F1.DTL
it'll be sad to see that we wont be able to even raise our kids in a few short years too. It makes me sad what people are willing to do to get a little money, and have a little power.
phew, conveniently figured out how to delete posts and not double post. Good points made Kris, any more of your own ideas on the subject? I like seeing good ideas, but on your own blog it's more fun to see more of your own comments. I can't help but say... next time Mr Stufflebeam, a link to your blog will suffice...
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