Today is perhaps the biggest day of the year for the US with the voting and subsequent election of the next American President. After almost twoyears of really smart banter and analysis, bad campaigning and nasty attacks, all that matters now is what the people want. The already seminal date of November 4th is finally here & while it is obvious that either Barack Obama or John McCain will be our Big Man in Charge, there are other very important issues on the table that haven't been so black and white (no pun intended).
When deciding on Prop 8, the decision that will decide if gay couples will gain the right to marry in California, I personally looked at the choices as 2 possibilities: discrimination or the natural freedoms allowed to usunder the Constitution written by our forefathers. True- no where in there will you ever find a single world about "let gays marry", but in not-so-fine-print we have the catchy line that all are created equal and have the right to the pursuit of happiness. Black, white, asian, male,female, young, old you name it, its your right. So, keeping with that pattern, why would it be any different for people who also happen to be gay?Yes- exactly that; people who just happen to be gay. They are truly no different from the rest of us people who just happen to be straight; we all work, love, break laws, drive cars, eat at McDonalds. All the same. Yet now,because of what they do behind closed doors, they are literally being persecuted and segregated and not being allowed these fundamental rights.Are we proud to be in a country where the rules work for some but not all?Where we were once segregated by races and now by sexual preference? A lot of people think the worst part of Prop 8 is that our children will learn about gay marriage in school. While I do believe that this, and many other subjects, should remain untaught until the appropriate age (sexual education, violent wars, experimental science and genetics), what is wrong if, maturity willing, they learn about gay marriage and rights? It hasn't been too long since I was in school and having them learn about gay marriage is the least of your concerns. Children are constantly seeing our so-called "traditional" idea of marriage deteriorating: celebrities marrying for the fun of it, divorce up 50% & Vegas quickie marriages under the influence. For a time a "traditional" marriage didn't include different races, stepparents or stepchildren .Yet we try to stop any type of display of love, battling to be united forever. Teaching about gay rights and the progress we have made in our country's history wont suddenly turn our children gay, just like teaching about slavery or the Japanese internment camps of California will suddenly turn them into other races. What it will do, however is teach them that we, a country grown from freedom and perseverance, will always continue to correct ourselves and do what is right for our people. We did it with the Civil War, with Civil Rights and now with Prop 8.
Prop 4 has also caused some ruckus with its intent on allowing female minors to seek pre-natal health, and/or an abortion if wanted, without the consent of their parents. I see this proposition like a lot of people: I have never been in a situation where I haven't been able to go to my mother,or respected adult, for help, guidance or advice. Nothing that I would haveto experience completely by myself that would undoubtedly change the course of my life. And most certainly not while still having to go to school, and keep up my grades, and have friends, and do chores and all the normal things young teenagers do. Then again a lot of people have had to do this. You hear all the time of young girls hiding their unintended pregnancy for months, failing school in the meantime, because they are so afraid of what their parents will do. If they will accept them, still love them, or shun them away to fend on their own. It's the stories in the news that we hearabout a baby in the dumpster, or found crying on the verge of death in an alley, left abandoned. While I don't see any excuse for leaving life to die,especially under such carelessness, I do believe that perhaps if these young women had choices that they could have made better ones. Never underestimate a person with choices, for they might surprise you when they make the right one. I would think most people come from the type of family that I am from, however, so many girls don't and need to have society look after them when their own families wont. Prop 4 will simply allow young women who have found themselves unexpectantly pregnant to seek health care from clincs,healthcare providers, or even their own physician without the consent of their parents. They will have the guidance of healthcare professionals who will provide the services that is best for the woman without judgment or criticism. See, theres nothing wrong with that.
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