Who is willing to admit that they have no confidence in the government right now? I am sure we can all agree. If there was one thing I learned in Professor Field's Political Science class, it was that we are in a structure of government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
I have heard some say that they are not voting because they do not have time. It has been my opinion then that if you do not have time for your country, then you really have been wasting your time all along. Another reason is that they do not feel adequate enough to strike a personal decision on behalf of the millions of Americans. That is not to say that you must be an expert on what is going on, however, one should at least fulfill the duty of maintaining the definition of a citizen.
Take a relationship for hypothetical purposes. You must take in opinions, examples, and risks to finally reach a decision; decisions that happen more often on a daily basis. Would you avoid confronting the problem or fail in providing a solution and expect to stabilize that satisfaction? You eventually would lose trust in that person. The feeling is even worse when you are in the shoes of the other person.
I, too, once thought about the negligence of my vote in the election. The Electoral College seemed like a really complicated system. Candidates are only campaigning in swing states because of other decided states like, California, which is already full of liberals. It is like the swing states are paying for the meal, while CA covers the tip. There is one important thing about every general election...
When it comes to State Propositions, the popular vote wins. A unique thing about CA is that we have a direct democracy as well as an indirect one. Anyone can bring up new legislation in the state without having to be a politician. The only con about this is that there has to be a black and white decision about it. It does not go through Senate and House committees to be refined.
I initially decided to write a reason for each proposition I was voting for, but I realized that is a lot of work and by now everyone has pretty much decided on their issues. An explanation of why I am voting for Obama would strike a controversy online. I have seen the pros and cons of both candidates and I can say I am very confident in my final decision and that is what matters.
There is much motivation to oppose Prop 8 however. There are different grounds for values and the whole initiative is based off religious morals versus civil rights. As for me, I am tied between the two. While I still respect others' belief, the proposition does not make logical sense to me. There should be a separation of church and state and this proposed amendment would contradict that. If passed, proponents announced that it would not change or remove any rights that homosexuals already have. Partners can still be happily together through domestic partnerships or civil unions and live their lives the same way. In fact, it would do nothing more than just constitute a marriage between a man and a woman. BUT, that is the whole point of marriage. To some, a title can be just a title and mean nothing more than what it states, but to be in a lifelong relationship labeled as a civil union is levels below the feeling of being legally bound in the contract of marriage. The institution of marriage is about emotional, physical, mental, and financial stability, something a domestic partnership cannot equally fulfill. It's about being recognized. Aside from the insurance claim argument that gays should just fight for insurance policy rights than marriage rights and just upgrade the benefits of civil unions, it is still inferior not to be recognized equally. There is no justice in separate, but equal, yet it seemed like the Civil Rights Movement had no point in our history.
If it does not pass, I believe it will be better for families. As I learned in class, traditional marriage has no real history. If you want to talk traditional, then let's arrange a marriage between you and your brother or sister. Denying this right will only create more factions and a growing ignorance of others. By supporting same-sex marriages, we are on the way for tolerating one's lifestyle. Families will eventually tolerate the fact that homosexuality has existed and will always exist. No longer will there be divisions between parents and children, but peace and understanding and love. I cannot comprehend a parent telling his or her child that he or she cannot marry, yet still love, understand, and expect the best for that child. That would be oppression. Families were made to raise children and while it isn't physically possible to procreate with same-sex couples, who is to judge that a homosexual cannot be a great parent? Why should another couple's marriage affect yours? There are far more flaws in relationships that occur on a daily basis that would make any other marriage inferior.
The foundation of this country is based on the Constitution, the legal document guaranteeing a citizen of his or her rights, whether or not he or she is from the majority or minority. Alexander Hamilton stated this necessity for such a document was for the better good of any democracy so that despite a majority rule, minorities would not be left out.
Kathryn Lybarger of The SocialistWorker.org stated,
"Yes on 8 forces are playing on homophobic ideas that still hold some sway for some people--that learning in school that gay relationships are valid will make their kids gay; that if gays can get married, anything goes, and you'll soon be able to marry your cat; that legislating gay rights will deny the right to hold homophobic beliefs; that allowing gays to get married will further erode the American family.
There is much motivation to oppose Prop 8 however. There are different grounds for values and the whole initiative is based off religious morals versus civil rights. As for me, I am tied between the two. While I still respect others' belief, the proposition does not make logical sense to me. There should be a separation of church and state and this proposed amendment would contradict that. If passed, proponents announced that it would not change or remove any rights that homosexuals already have. Partners can still be happily together through domestic partnerships or civil unions and live their lives the same way. In fact, it would do nothing more than just constitute a marriage between a man and a woman. BUT, that is the whole point of marriage. To some, a title can be just a title and mean nothing more than what it states, but to be in a lifelong relationship labeled as a civil union is levels below the feeling of being legally bound in the contract of marriage. The institution of marriage is about emotional, physical, mental, and financial stability, something a domestic partnership cannot equally fulfill. It's about being recognized. Aside from the insurance claim argument that gays should just fight for insurance policy rights than marriage rights and just upgrade the benefits of civil unions, it is still inferior not to be recognized equally. There is no justice in separate, but equal, yet it seemed like the Civil Rights Movement had no point in our history.
If it does not pass, I believe it will be better for families. As I learned in class, traditional marriage has no real history. If you want to talk traditional, then let's arrange a marriage between you and your brother or sister. Denying this right will only create more factions and a growing ignorance of others. By supporting same-sex marriages, we are on the way for tolerating one's lifestyle. Families will eventually tolerate the fact that homosexuality has existed and will always exist. No longer will there be divisions between parents and children, but peace and understanding and love. I cannot comprehend a parent telling his or her child that he or she cannot marry, yet still love, understand, and expect the best for that child. That would be oppression. Families were made to raise children and while it isn't physically possible to procreate with same-sex couples, who is to judge that a homosexual cannot be a great parent? Why should another couple's marriage affect yours? There are far more flaws in relationships that occur on a daily basis that would make any other marriage inferior.
The foundation of this country is based on the Constitution, the legal document guaranteeing a citizen of his or her rights, whether or not he or she is from the majority or minority. Alexander Hamilton stated this necessity for such a document was for the better good of any democracy so that despite a majority rule, minorities would not be left out.
Kathryn Lybarger of The SocialistWorker.org stated,
"Yes on 8 forces are playing on homophobic ideas that still hold some sway for some people--that learning in school that gay relationships are valid will make their kids gay; that if gays can get married, anything goes, and you'll soon be able to marry your cat; that legislating gay rights will deny the right to hold homophobic beliefs; that allowing gays to get married will further erode the American family.
In reality, of course, the biggest threat to the American family is the global economic meltdown, not gay marriage. Working families have been suffering the stress of lower wages and longer work hours for years. Worsening unemployment, higher gas and food prices, and the epidemic of home foreclosures have drastically worsened these problems."
I am sorry, but just like any other homosexual, you would have to be in my shoes to understand.
2 comments:
my doo-doo you are quite the articulate one. i miss you & i'm excited to have found your blog :)
Hahahaha, good comic.
But according to protectmarriage.com, people can't help their race, but can help their sexual orientation.
The most invalid argument I've ever heard.
NO ON 8!
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