The Tempest

Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: mctcampus.com

Thousands gathered in California to protest after Election Day. Marches, vigils, and lawsuits followed the election after Proposition 8 passed and failed to give equality to all. Prop. 8 was the most controversial issue on our ballot. On a positive note, Prop. 8 passed with a 52% vote, which means that more people are starting to accept gay marriage.

The fight will go on until equal rights are given to everyone. Isn't marriage about love? For those of you who voted for this proposition, I hope you took the time to really think about it. We can't and shouldn't deny anyone their rights to be with who they are in love with.

If we pick apart the argument of the supporters of Prop. 8, we can see that their arguments were mostly not valid and were unfair. Using children as a way to persuade people to vote against gays and lesbians is just wrong. This had nothing to do with children or with teaching children about gays and lesbians, it had to do with their right to marry. Your pastors and priests would not be imprisoned for not marrying gays and lesbians. If that were true, then the Catholic priests would be imprisoned for not marrying divorced people. If you want to restore "traditional," marriage then people can no longer get divorced, and if you want a "traditional" home, then every single parent should get their child taken away from them.

Let's take a look at the religion argument: many supporters claimed that it would be against their religion to vote no on Prop. 8. Well if you are a devout Christian or Catholic or you follow the Holy Bible, then you should know that God spreads love and wants everyone treated equally. God may say that homosexuality is a sin, but there are a lot of other sins that are committed daily, and if we are going to start nitpicking, everyone will be in trouble.

Remember, our country has a separation of church and state for these very reasons. Also, take into consideration that not everyone follows your specific religion, and therefore should not be punished for your specific belief. I went to Christian school for nine years and was taught that Jesus says, "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you." Would you want your rights taken away because some people thought it was wrong?

For the women who voted yes on Prop. 8, have you forgotten that some years ago you couldn't even vote? What did the women do to give us the right to vote? They stood together, fought for equality, and marched up and down the streets until they got what was fair.

Every oppressed group went through struggles. Gays are currently an oppressed group in California and they are going to keep fighting until they get what they deserve. The bigger the protests, the more supporters, the louder your voice will be heard. This will not be over until all humans are treated alike. We in California voted for a black president, we voted to treat animals better, but we voted against our own people.

In any other situation, I might say, look you lost fair and square, the people voted and that is what our government is all about. This vote diminishes equality, and is in no way fair. I say keep on marching, keep on fighting, and keep on believing that one day America will treat all its citizens as equal.

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