Intolerance

[danitapgh]

I should stop reading the news. It just upsets me. Why can't the Republicans just leave gays alone? Why do they have to ask for amendments to the constitution to cannonize the discrimination?

Sorry. I know I'm ranting, but it just angers me at a visceral level. They try to make all sorts of good sounding reasons for why it's not bigotry, but it is

Comments

[monkey587]

"We should also conduct this difficult debate in a manner worthy of our country, without bitterness or anger. In all that lies ahead, let us match strong convictions with kindness and goodwill and decency."

So, urging the quick passage of a constitutional ammendment == conducting a debate?

[danitapgh]

> So, urging the quick passage of a constitutional ammendment ==
> conducting a debate?

There should *NEVER* be a quick passage of a constitutional ammendment. The last time that happened, we got prohibition. I've heard that Replicans want to pass legislation to make it easier to ammend the constitution too.

We should be clear about what Bush is trying to do here. Not only is he pushing an agenda of bigotry which is set to motivate the religious right of his party. He is also trying to distract the country with a highly polarizing political issue. He is trying to distract the country from the real issue - that his administration is corrupt, manipulative, and dangerous.

[monkey587]

He's doing the country a service... exposing what a massively prejudiced group or rednecks most of our fellow citizens are. Including him.

[danitapgh]

I feel it isn't as simple as that - that would be under-estimating this administration. They are very well organized. They have money. Lots of money. $130 million the last time I checked. They have a great deal of political savvy. During the midterm elections, President Bush hit the campaign trail to campaign for Republicans in swing states. As a result, not only did Bush win a Republican majority in Congress - a very, very powerful position to have as a president. He also had a group of congressman who owed him, personally, for their election. They are not above fighting dirty - really dirty - for their causes. When members of congress opposed/criticized the USA Patriot act for going too far, members of the administration started to question their patriotism. These people have long memories and carry grudges. If you oppose them today, they will figure out how to get you back tommorrow. Carl Rove has been known to use the tactic known as "push-polling" during elections. Basically, this tactic involves calling people up on the phone

[chrismaverick]

nah... feel free to rant. That's what you have a blog for... and really, by my count, you're about 935 words short...

I guess I should have paid attention in history class...

[beststephi]

According to Bush's speech from this morning, California already had a law against gay marriages, which some "activist judges" decided to ignore. If this is true, how will adding this amendment "help"? Don't states have the power to enforce their laws? Is an amendment somehow more powerful than a state law? I'm really confused about this whole thing...

Re: I guess I should have paid attention in history class...

[monkey587]

We also have an ammendment in the state constitution that says:

"The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting."

IIRC, this is the justification Mayor Newsome is using to allow the marriages. Perhaps the letter of this law doesn't support his moves, but the spirit of it sure seems to.

Re: I guess I should have paid attention in history class...

[beststephi]

Thanks; that helps clarify things. Also, it seems that the CA Attorney General has refused to do anything about it. California is so cool :)

Re: I guess I should have paid attention in history class...

[monkey587]

yeah, but our progressive governactor who has (quote from OUI! interview) "no problem with the fag business" is pretty mad about it.

[kochansky]

Hearing about the marrages in S.F. literally warms my heart.

Then I hear shrub's speech about it and I just want to find him and hock a great big sticky loogie in his face.

Wouldn't solve anything but I'd feel better.

[danitapgh]

> Wouldn't solve anything but I'd feel better.

That would certainly make me feel better too. :) I bet there are a lot of other people that would make feel better too. hehehe.. Maybe we should all march down to Washington and cover the Whitehouse lawn with our expectorant.

I urge you to write your Senators and Congressmen to let them know that you support gay marriage. Also, since you live in Massachusetts, you should write to you state legislatures to let them know you support the freedom to marry. I think the Massachusetts legislature still needs to come up with a law that satifies your state's supreme court's decisions that gays must have the right to fully marry. Act now! Positive actions will make you feel better than the loogie (not even counting the beating you'd get from the secret service afterwards). :)

[kochansky]

I went through the aclu and sent a fax to Kerry, Kennedy, and Capuano. I love the aclu; they make action easy. Not sure if that's a good thing in the end but it beats doing nothing.

I'm tempted to send flowers to some of the happy couples.

[danitapgh]

> I'm tempted to send flowers to some of the happy couples.

awww. that would be very sweet. :-) it really does warm my heart to have these marriages happening. a barrier in the path of love has been torn down.