I saw this yesterday too. When Olbermann's not being pompous he's awesome. Actually I guess he's awesome most of the time he's being pompous too.
Since the election I have twice written ill-advised e-mails to a couple of my Mormon family members in California in response first to their jubilation at a Prop 8 win and then in response to their confusion about the backlash.
I myself am a bit confused about why I feel so bad about it. I knew the vote was probably going to go the way it did, and I should be used to it by now, but this one sticks with me in a way that others haven't.
All I really can say is, "here here Kieth." And to those who read the blog who undoubtably disagree, let's still be friends.
In retrospect, it might have been naive to think of California as the last bulwark of liberalism. Even through most people think of California as San Francisco or L.A. (which, incidentally, voted in favor of Prop 8 as a county), let's not forget this is the same state that brought us Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan: two politicians who excelled at framing and exploiting civil rights advancements as a zero-sum game between minority and majority constituents.
Fair housing under the Civil Rights Act? But that takes away our freedom to sell and rent our private property to whomever we choose!
Fair marriage laws for all couples? But that take takes away our freedom to tell our kids that homosexuality is wrong!
They have been peddling the same arguments for 40 years.
The Mormon Church did itself no favors in heavily funding the Yes Prop 8 campaign, but I also think they have become a far too easy scapegoat. Placing the blame solely on Heavenly Father doesn't explain away why so many people voted in favor of the proposition.
A silver lining, if any, in the passing of Prop 8:
Since the Mormon Church said it was not against legal protection for gay rights, a few legislators in Utah are taking the Church at its word and drafting bills to promote civil unions in the Beehive State.
And while people seem to be focusing on minorities when it comes to Prop 8, let's not forget the most important demographic breakdown in exit polling: the great divide between 18-29 year olds and the rest of registered voters.
These constitutional amendments will be overturned. It is just a matter of time.
I am just disappointed that the next administration is not going to be doing anything to to help accelerate the process.
Even if you only take out the oldest generation of voters prop 8 fails in CA.
I'm fine with people demonstrating in front of temples, but vandalism, death threats, and envelopes with white powder only delegitimize the movement. I think we need more of Equality Utah and less dehumanization on both sides. Including all the calls to boycott Utah, wtf? That's like if the pro 8 people were calling for a boycott of flower shops, interior decorators and hair salons. Let's fight bigotry with bigotry! This isn't fire with fire assholes, cut it out.
5 Comments:
I saw this yesterday too. When Olbermann's not being pompous he's awesome. Actually I guess he's awesome most of the time he's being pompous too.
Since the election I have twice written ill-advised e-mails to a couple of my Mormon family members in California in response first to their jubilation at a Prop 8 win and then in response to their confusion about the backlash.
I myself am a bit confused about why I feel so bad about it. I knew the vote was probably going to go the way it did, and I should be used to it by now, but this one sticks with me in a way that others haven't.
All I really can say is, "here here Kieth." And to those who read the blog who undoubtably disagree, let's still be friends.
Yes, I agree, except with your last line.
I don't want to be friends with anyone who disagrees. They are wrong. They are bad people.
In retrospect, it might have been naive to think of California as the last bulwark of liberalism. Even through most people think of California as San Francisco or L.A. (which, incidentally, voted in favor of Prop 8 as a county), let's not forget this is the same state that brought us Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan: two politicians who excelled at framing and exploiting civil rights advancements as a zero-sum game between minority and majority constituents.
Fair housing under the Civil Rights Act? But that takes away our freedom to sell and rent our private property to whomever we choose!
Fair marriage laws for all couples? But that take takes away our freedom to tell our kids that homosexuality is wrong!
They have been peddling the same arguments for 40 years.
The Mormon Church did itself no favors in heavily funding the Yes Prop 8 campaign, but I also think they have become a far too easy scapegoat. Placing the blame solely on Heavenly Father doesn't explain away why so many people voted in favor of the proposition.
A silver lining, if any, in the passing of Prop 8:
Since the Mormon Church said it was not against legal protection for gay rights, a few legislators in Utah are taking the Church at its word and drafting bills to promote civil unions in the Beehive State.
And while people seem to be focusing on minorities when it comes to Prop 8, let's not forget the most important demographic breakdown in exit polling: the great divide between 18-29 year olds and the rest of registered voters.
These constitutional amendments will be overturned. It is just a matter of time.
I am just disappointed that the next administration is not going to be doing anything to to help accelerate the process.
Even if you only take out the oldest generation of voters prop 8 fails in CA.
I'm fine with people demonstrating in front of temples, but vandalism, death threats, and envelopes with white powder only delegitimize the movement. I think we need more of Equality Utah and less dehumanization on both sides. Including all the calls to boycott Utah, wtf? That's like if the pro 8 people were calling for a boycott of flower shops, interior decorators and hair salons. Let's fight bigotry with bigotry! This isn't fire with fire assholes, cut it out.
American Family Association video: lock up your sons. . . .
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