I am getting DAMN SICK of being treated like a bigot, intolerant, discriminative, prejudice, person who is trying to take peoples rights away. I have people getting fired in my community for donating to YES on 8, I have people protesting at my temple telling me I am prejudice and hateful, I have my favorite talk shows having people like Ellen DeGeneres on voicing why the YES on 8 people lied to get votes, and I have a freaking news story on every night about how the Mormons promote HATE, not LOVE, since they came together on YES on 8. I have a few points I would like to make:
1. Everyone SHOULD have the same rights. I personally believe that gay couples SHOULD have the same rights as a married couple. Just don't call it marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman. You are husband and wife. A gay couple is different. They ARE NOT husband and wife. I'm not sure how they identify each other... partners maybe... But it is DIFFERENT. Just like a gay individual is not called a heterosexual. They are called a homosexual individual. There is no "second class citizen" about it. IT IS DIFFERENT!!!! If domestic partnership does not offer the same rights as a marriage, then go fight that! I don't have a problem with that. (I have no idea what the church supports). Visitation rights, inheritance rights, taxes, health care, etc... I think they should all be available for gay couples as well. But I do have a problem with changing the definition of the word marriage.
2. It's all the MORMONS! Why is the Mormon church the only group that is being held responsible for Prop 8 passing? Although it is nice to think that perhaps our time and energy could make that big of an impact. Credit should be made to all other sects and religious groups of people that donated lots of time, energy, and money, as well. Did you know that LDS people make up about 2.5% - 3% of California voters? That means even if all the LDS people decided not to vote, Prop 8 STILL WOULD HAVE PASSED!
3. The upper hand. I also love how "the Mormon church" donated "absurd" amounts of money. First of all, "the Mormon church" didn't donate ANY money. The members of the church made personal donations. And hello? And forgive me if these numbers are a little off, but I am pretty sure it was something like YES on 8 donated 29 million, NO on 8 had 40 million. Not only did No on 8 have 11 million more in donations, they had Hollywood all over the place, doing celebrity ads and endorsements. I think YOU had the upper hand, not us.
4. A double standard. Since when did having different moral beliefs become such a crime? Don't No on 8 supporters believe in ALL tolerance? Why then do I feel like I am being attacked for believing marriage should be between a man and a woman, to pro-create, which is a fundamental belief of my religion? I LOVE my gay friends. I have many. I do not want to hurt them, and I certainly don't think of them as "second class citizens", (which I am being accused of doing). I believe most YES on 8 supporters were very respectful. No one was yelling out words such as "sin" or "abomination". Supporters respectfully passed out fliers, donated money, made phone calls, held signs on the sides of streets. We did not picket outside a church where gay marriages are performed. We did not hold signs up and yell outside predominately gay neighborhoods or hangouts. But NO on 8 supporters have no problem calling ME names on signs and yelling and protesting outside MY temple. Can you imagine what the headlines would be if it were the other way around? Aaron has had people at work approach him about his views, (since they know he is LDS). They strike up a spirited discussion against his beliefs. Aaron would be FIRED in a second if he EVER brought up anything like that in the work place. I am not the one who is persecuting people for their beliefs. I AM the one being persecuted.
5. City Hall? Why are NO on 8 supporters protesting outside MY temple? There is nothing the LDS church can do now. Do they want the church to come out and say "Okay, your right, lets re-define the word marriage. All LDS people change their votes". Shouldn't you be protesting at the Capitol Building or City Hall Buildings? Just a thought.
Lastly, I just want to say I have no animosity for anyone individually. But can you understand my frustration? While NO on 8 supporters are trying to protect their supposed rights, they are stomping ALL OVER mine. Please don't hate me or call me names because I think marriage is ordained of God and that its purpose is to procreate and raise God's children. I do not hate you or call you names for your beliefs. We just disagree on this moral issue.
I have to think there is a better way to go about all this. And the way it is going right now... isn't working for ANYONE.
*Here is a link to the article regarding the Sacramento theater artistic director who had "resigned" a.k.a (pushed to resign before being fired)
17 comments:
I just discovered your blog the other day and I want to say amen to this post. I think you've summed up the frustration I've been feeling lately, but especially since I saw that on the news last night. I'm sure that it is partly because he is a friend but it has just pushed me over the edge to what I feel like I've been able to remain fairly calm about until this point. Anyway, I'm enjoying reading your blog (and "leaping" at dance class too!)
I am so sorry things are so bad in California right now. It is so frustrating that, once again, it is just fine to target the LDS community for something that many other communities/organizations/religionsvoted for, but let's face it, Mormons are always an easy target. Many of the news shows I have watched say that the Black and Latino voters who showed up to vote for Obama also, in vast numbers, voted Yes on 8 and had a major impact on its passage, but no one is out protesting in front of their houses because it would be incredibly WRONG to do so, but it is apparently OK to do to Mormons. As great as it would be if 50% plus of California was LDS, that is not the case, like you said, it is only around 3%. People are just looking for someone to blame, so why not blame the Mormons? They get blamed for so many other things, let's tack this one on! In addition, I know many Californian Mormons who voted "No." Again I am sorry. I really think you should write a letter to the editor of your local paper. I can't honestly say how I would have voted, it is a tough issue, but I am really pissed about all this aftermath. It seems so irrational, hypocritical and misplaced. The whole business has all just been so frustrating and heartbreaking, even witnessing it from here!
Brandi...I'm right there with you!!!!
Well put Brandy, I completely agree with everything you said. I have been so upset lately with all the persecution and negativity. I can't believe the hypocrisy! -Ben
Yup, yup, I agree. I think you've said it the best I've heard so far!
I don't even live in California, but was in SLC when there was a HUGE protest at the temple. Your points are right now and I think you should submit this to your local paper like Colleen said. I think the things that bugs me the most, which you have listed, is that the no to 8 people claim they want tolerance for all people, yet they are the ones committing the hate crimes. It is SICK that in an effort to protect freedom of choice they are trying to restrict freedom of religion.
Brandi, that was written SO WELL!! Mrs. MacDonald would be so proud!! I'm proud of you, you are so right, your points are well made. Good job girl!!!
By the way, Shaelie sang the Star Spangled Banner tonight at the NCS Volleyball game, she was incredible!! All the administrators were blown away and the people all around me were talking about how she did such an excellent job, best I have EVER heard by a high schooler and in fact better than alot of pros!!!
Brandi--You do not know me, but I am friends with Andrea P. and she had a link to this post from her blog. Bottom line--you are SO RIGHT!!!! I do not live in Cali, but I couldn't hardly believe it when a friend of a friend texted the other day saying, "it is interesting times we live in when the Priesthood brethern have to take shifts on security protecting the chapel on Sundays." Nuts!!! Anyway, we have definitely reached the times mentioned in the BOM when what is good will be called wicked and what is wicked will be called good. Keep standing up for what is right and if you are brave enough for the backlash--you should submit it to your local paper.
Hi Brandi and Aaron,
Well spoken Brandi, I feel exactly the same way. Your thoughts are organized and thought out so well that I agree, you should submit this to someone, somewhere. Not that they would print it, right?! Even though you don't know me I just had to say a big amen to it all! Sariah told me about your blog and to check out your cute little family. Way to go Aaron, your kids and genius wife are adorable! Take care!
Took the words right out of my mouth. Standing ovation!!! Ben printed this post out and together we spent last night at the dinner table talking over it. You have so brilliantly summed up the frustration of every Yes on 8 voter. Reverse discrimination at its finest. What proof of the last days…good is seen as evil and evil as good. I hope it is ok, I have cut and pasted your entire post onto our blog for all of those we know who are still fighting us on this heated topic. Thank you for your astuteness and courage.
I completely agree with you- it makes me just want to leave the TV off so I do not half to hear the rediculous things that are going on. Did you know that in south san jose that the houses that had yes on 8 signs out were vandalized? Things have gotten pretty bad, it's irritating and sad.
So on another note, your family is really cute ;) I hadn't seen Mikko. Both your boys are getting so big...can you believe how fast they grow? This second pregnancy has been interesting...after I got passed being sick I had really bad headaches for a week, then I got a cold, and then my cold turned into a sinus infection! Not cool. I hope I can enjoy feeling normal for a little while :)
SORRY THIS WAS SO LONG!
Did you hear about the two letters in the mail to the temples? It looked like white powder? I mean, COME ON!! Stop calling us the haters. We aren't doing anything like this at all. All we are doing is voting for what we believe in. I read the artical you linked to on your blog and it was funny to read the responses. Most of the people that responded were annoyed with the absolute cry-baby-ing that is going on by the ant-8 people. This is just getting rediculous!
(p.s. sorry to comment again, but I can't stop thinking about it)
AMEN SISTA!! I totally agree with someone that commented that you should submit this to your local paper - or larger paper - many times if necessary. We who are peacefully voting what we believe may not be proactive enough in defending what we do believe. While apparantely they are not below doing extremely reprehensible things to get their point across, we can at least be getting our point across in "letters to the editor" and things of this nature. Voting a certain way does not make you a hater or a prejudiced person - especially to protect religious reasons. If this were against Jews, or Muslims it would be splashed across newstands everywhere. But because it from those quirky weird Mormons, its "OK." Give me a break!
Amen! I am ready to move out of this state!
Well said Brandi! Ryan and I have been keeping up to date and informed with all the Prop 8 stuff by our families who are in California. My mom had told me about the director in Sac and I couldn't believe it. Actually I can in some ways. I don't understand how it is okay for pro prop 8 people to be discriminated against. If it was the other way around... well it just wouldn't happen the other way. On our way out to Cali last month I was listening to a conservative talk radio show. A caller had shared that a Catholic family she new had hung a "For Prop 8" banner on their home after many of their signs had been ripped up numerous times. The next day a car load of women pulled up in front of their house, jumped out spray painted on their own car "Bigots live here" with an arrow pointing to the house then abandoned their own car. If that isn't a hate crime I don't know what is. The family called the police and the police told them there was nothing they could do. If that would have been the other way around someone would have been arressted! You know what I mean! I totally agree that you should send this to your local paper.
p.s. what's your email? I want to send you an invite to our blog. go to ryanandkelsey.blogspot and leave your address. It's so fun to catch up with all these fellow Wyviewers!
I agree with everything you just said. All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not in Cali right now. People were definitely talking about it here in Chicago, but nothing extreme has happened like what has happened to you guys.
You sure know how to get posts :)
Well, I know it must be so stressful to be so close to the situation. I hope that you find peace very soon.
I try to look at things like this as signs of the times.
I wish your family well.
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