03 November 2008

Don't forget to VOTE!!!

Until now, I have refrained from posting my political affiliations on this blog, but as a voter who VOTES and a mother, woman, friend, wife, and blogger.. I feel I should be free to share my views and my concerns on my blog. I know that not everyone will agree with me but I am so worried about those voting that just do not know the facts. The other day in H's class her teacher was going off on Proposition 8 for reasons that just are not true. I just feel I need to get this out, whether its late or not. Tomorrow, no matter what a hassle it may be, or no matter how long you have to wait in line, remember this right and privilege we have and VOTE!!

Proposition 8 would eliminate fundamental rights for a group of Californians. It’s unfair and it’s wrong.

Fiction: Prop 8 doesn’t discriminate against gay people.

  • Fact: Prop 8 is simple: it eliminates the rights for same-sex couples to marry. Prop 8 would deny equal protections and write discrimination against one group of people—lesbian and gay people—into our state constitution.

Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless we pass Prop 8.

  • Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education. And no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it.

    California’s top educators including Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell and California Teachers all agree: Prop 8 has nothing to do with education.

Fiction: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.

  • Fact: The court decision regarding marriage specifically says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.”

Fiction: A Massachusetts case about a parent’s objection to the school curriculum will happen here.

  • Fact: California gives parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health and family instruction they don’t agree with. The opponents know that California law already covers this and Prop 8 won’t affect it, so they bring up an irrelevant case in Massachusetts.

Fiction: Four Activist Judges in San Francisco…

  • Fact: Prop 8 is about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn’t grant the right, the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an outdated and stale argument that judges aren’t supposed to protect rights and freedoms. Prop 8 is about whether Californians are willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a fundamental right for one group of citizens.

Fiction: If Prop 8 isn’t passed, people can be sued over personal beliefs.

  • Fact: California’s laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage.

Fiction: Pepperdine University supports the Yes on 8 campaign.

  • Fact: The University has publicly disassociated itself from Professor Richard Peterson of Pepperdine University, who is featured in the ad, and has asked to not be identified in the Yes on 8 advertisements.

Fiction: Unless Prop 8 passes, California parents won’t have the right to object to what their children are taught in school.

  • Fact: California law clearly gives parents and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions.
Time for change...

7 comments:

  1. No on 8!!!! I voted!!!!

    OK-funny thing, the word verification for blogger comment on this one says "Mated". LOL!!!!


    :) Thanks Heather for speaking out!!!!!!!

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  2. Excellente! Love the post. Keep up the good word.

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  3. I'm really glad to be seeing a levelheaded analysis of fact vs. fiction. There have been a lot of lies and misleading scare tactics.

    You know that protectmarriage.com has responded to these with simple contradiction? "Opponents say that you will be able to opt out. That's not true." That's all they've got -- a baseless refutation.

    I hope this actually changes minds. I'm always worried that I'm preaching to the converted. Maybe just because I'm getting nowhere with my mom.

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  4. I feel kind of hopeless with converting people. Its just so frustrating that people do not educate themselves and then go on preaching about it. I am so tempted to print your post and mine and stick them on the teacher's mailbox but it'd probably be useless....

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  5. Wow. Lots to vote on in CA. Great post.
    Karla

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  6. Thank you for the post! I am so sad at what happened in CA, but I'm hearing it will/should be overturned.

    For me its almost better to not have the right, then to have it and get it taken away. Interesting odd tidbit- I'm orig. from Mass. where my partner and I could get married- and shes from CA where you could....

    Its coming around- takes time- great post

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