Standing for Something
I have debated over posting on this topic for some time now. If you haven’t noticed, I tend to stay away from controversial issues and keep most of my strongly-held opinions to myself. But at this time, I feel compelled to stand up for something that I passionately believe in–that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. In fact, one of my religious beliefs is that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to his plan for us.
This is why for a moment, but only for a moment, I wish I lived in California so tomorrow I could vote YES on Proposition 8. I don’t know what kind of impact this one small blog post will make, but I want to do what I can to urge anyone reading this blog that has the power to make such a vote to do so.
From ProtectMarriage.org:
About Proposition 8
Proposition 8 is simple and straightforward. It contains the same 14 words that were previously approved in 2000 by over 61% of California voters: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
Because four activist judges in San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote, we need to pass this measure as a constitutional amendment to restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.
Voting YES on Proposition 8 does 3 simple things:
It restores the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and what Californians agree should be supported, not undermined.
It overturns the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.
It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs.
My religious beliefs aside, I am really worried about the ability of judges to overturn the will of the people. I am worried about how the failure of proposition 8 will affect what is taught in schools and what it will mean for churches unwilling to perform same-sex marriages. And I am especially worried about effects across the rest of the country if proposition 8 fails. I do not believe that this issue will end with tomorrow’s election. I think we’re only seeing the beginning of this fight and that’s why I feel I need to add my voice now.
Other countries that have opened the door to same-sex marriages have seen a decline in all types of marriages. This will ultimately hurt society. We as a people should stand up for what will benefit society as a whole, regardless of our personal circumstances. For millennia, the traditional family has been the basic unit of society. There is no reason why now, in the 21st-century, that should change. I feel an obligation to help make sure it doesn’t.
Passing proposition 8 will have no ill effects on same-sex couples in California, due to domestic partnership laws, none of their rights will be taken away. I am appalled at the intolerance and hate I’ve heard and read on this issue. For a group that is continually asking the rest of us for love, tolerance, and acceptance of their lifestyle, they have precious little to give back to those that disagree with them.
For my part, I will be praying tomorrow for Prop 8 to pass. I would urge those who can to vote YES on 8. At least educate yourselves on this issue. It won’t end with California.
For further reading:
ProtectMarriage.org
Stand for Marriage
A Rose by Any Other Name–fabulous blog post about this issue
***I’m leaving comments open on this post, but please be courteous.
La Scuola d'Argento 
AMEN, K!
I’m in AZ, and we also have a Proposition in defense of marriage here, as well. (Proposition 102) My husband and I will be voting “YES!” and will be praying for California and Florida, as well.
IT’S SO IMPORTANT!!!
Hugs,
Rachel K.
I like your post. You did a really good job on it.
I love the way you said this. I agree.
We had a big issue similar to Prop 8 on our ballots in 2000 here in Nevada. Thankfully it passed but I remembered being so worried and appalled by what the opposition said and did.
Praying right along with you for Proposition 8 to pass.
Well said!
Thanks for standing up and speaking out on this very important issue!
I will start by saying that I love that we live in America. I completely disagree with you on this subject to a passionate level, but agree you have every right to believe it and express it.
I am straight, married with two kids. But I have many gay couple friends, and their relationships are every bit as much a marriage as mine is. I love some of these men and women dearly, and wish they could have the same privilege as the rest of us to truly and completely commit to each other.
As much as I believe in your right to expression, I also believe in my right to not listen to/read that expression. So I will no longer read your blog.
Cheers!
Your blog is definitely a place where you should feel free to express your opinions. Kudos to you for doing so. 🙂
Grief Carolyn! A blog IS the place to voice one’s opinion. Every one can disagree and still find things in common and learn from each other.
I love this blog and think we could all learn from her as a mother and homeschooler.
Wow. Beautifully said. I have loved ones who are living that alternative lifestyle…but, if I lived in CA. I would vote according to my moral standards… no matter how much I love my family members.
I also can’t believe the hate and intolerance that have been shown towards the Church and others who want to keep to their moral standards.
Our church is only one church in a coalition of churches who are involved in preserving traditional marriage. Why do we get so picked on?
There was a commercial made and put on youtube showing LDS missionaries (who were WAY too old and didn’t have name tags) rummaging through a lesbian couple’s house and ripping up their marriage certificate. It was such a deplorable and underhanded commercial and they were proud that they found enough money to put it on t.v. today. sigh.
I know that a friend of mine in CA is really happy that election day is finally here. They kept getting their yard signs stolen and a neighbor down the street from her got tagged.
Good for you for speaking your mind. I think that conservative people are well, conservative and have a hard time talking about their political views. I think it’s great when people with differing views can say what they think and we can allow each other to have differing opinions and perhaps just agree to disagree.
So, thank you for speaking up.
I spoke up a bit in my blog too, but, not as well as you did.
You link to some really good articles. The one about needing to make homosexuality moral is especially disurbing.
I know what it is like to grow up an outsider. I know what it is like to have most of the people you associate with think you are going to hell. I grew up in a small town in the south that was dominated by Southern Baptists. In fact, the one thing the evangelical Protestants, atheists, and politically left students could agree on was that Mormons are intolerant and immoral.
Its hard to be an outsider. But I never felt any need to MAKE kids admit I was moral and not going to hell. I never felt the need to go over their heads and have them forced to approve of me. That would be rather pathetic, I think. No one hurt me physically, and I wasn’t kicked off the basketball team, although I do think it affected my position on the school newspaper.
The thing is, you don’t convert people by forcing them, going over their heads, using radical court rulings and smear campaigns, applying political pressure, and indoctrinating their defenseless children in public schools. You do it by living your ideals and being who you are and talking about it to anyone who is willing to listen. That is what LDS missionaries do. That is not what the radical opponents of prop 8 do, and that is why the commercial of missionaries was so offensive.
That is why the LDS church urged members to call registered voters and talk to them about it and carry signs in public that would encourage conversation. It is our right to live our beliefs and talk to people about them and to vote on them. It is NOT our right to be accepted by them. No one has the RIGHT to be accepted by another person.
Thanks for your post and the links. I’ve been just as worried about this election. The article about the devastating effects of separating marriage from having children was very hard to read. I remember hearing about simliar ideas in an anthropology class in college and it chilled me to the bone. I’m getting very worried. There is going to be much more polarization and many more attempts to make people accept what they find immoral. There will be more persecution than what we saw in California with prop 8.
Again, I just wanted to say thank you for posting your views for all of us to read. It took courage, and we can all learn something from your courage.
I’m waiting to hear if Proposition 8 passed. I think it did……….but not positive. I need to do some searching to find out.
thanks for posting on this issue, k. it does take some courage, and i am certain that i’ve lost some readers on my blog because i have been so outspoken on the issue.
prop 8 did pass, but i do believe that this is a turning point for us as members of the church. as the world turns farther away from the morals that we hold dear, we will be called upon again and again to stand up for truth, no matter how unpopular it may be.
there are some very ugly things being said about the church out there. it helps me to remember that the church has always had those who wished to hurt us. this may have stirred up strong feelings, but the opposition was always there. what is frustrating is that many seek to make this an issue about the church, ignoring the fact that catholics and evangelicals were also instrumental in passing prop 8.
check out this link. it brought tears to my eyes.
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/842518567.html
Wow! I missed this discussion and am coming late to the table. I think you are incredibly brave to have posted – your thoughts were very well expressed- and I appreciated the link shared to the christiannewswire. Very cool.
Great job.
K- thank you for sharing with the rest of us! your post was wonderful. I am sad for the lady that has chosen not to follow your blog any longer. you can not post this comment if you would like- but i need to state that i think it shows a bit of small-mindedness on her part. you were in no way attacking or belittling her or any other person, their beliefs or rights, by posting this. i agree with the other lady who said that your blog is a place for you to be able to express your opinions. so i say good for you!
here is a link to another blog. she also posted her opinion. i think it is also a very well stated post. you might enjoy looking at it….
http://laughingatlifeslittlewedgies.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-beliefs.html
also, i have a gay cousin. i believe that my voting yes on prop 102 (az) does not mean i don’t love my cousin. he is a wonderful person. we have a good relationship. i wish him happiness in this life. however he is entitled to his opinion just as much as i am to mine. i was not voting against a person(s) so much as an issue.
i am in arizona and i for one am grateful that these props did not pass.
I have wanted to post about this for awhile but haven’t found the time to do it justice. Thank you for writing about it.
Way to voice- I think it takes a village to get these things passed. It has been an all out battle in our state for years. I too, wish I could have been there to participate, but it will just be a matter of time before we fighting it again in our state. Hey I missed your birthday- I hope it was a good one!
I had to come back and read your post and find out about the person who disagreed. Does that make me shallow? ;o)
I also posted about this on my site, but didn’t get any post in disagreement, but I sure did when I posted my thoughts about Obama! ;o) I believe its important for all of us to voice our opinions and the reasons behind them. Maybe someone will come across something that they never thought of before! For example, my SIL had never read Ezra Taft Benson’s, The Proper Role of Government. I think it opened some new ways of thinking for her…but it still didn’t change her mind about Obama…unfortunately!
I, too, had to come back and read…I don’t think we’re shallow. Just a little slow and very curious.
I’m VERY glad I did come back and read. I love all of the comments that have been made. Not because I agree with all of them (I do, but that is beside the point) but because that is one of the blessings of living in the US. I have many Dem friends and I love that we can discuss, agree to disagree, and still be friends in the end.
Again, thanks for your posts.