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November 05, 2008
Why I'm proud of America, and disappointed in California...
... after last night's elections.
Despite where you stand politically, or who you backed, I think it's safe to say that last night was full of adrenaline. Any time a polarizing president, such as George W Bush proved to be in his time, leaves office, a change takes place. In many ways, despite last night's turn out there would have been significant change, some say for better, others for worse.
I'm really proud not to hear reports of people being killed in the streets over party affiliation. That seems like something basic and a given, but as I've been traveling out of the country quite a bit this year, it is one of the things that defines America as a stable and reliable nation.
In Jamaica, you have to go so far as to watch what color of clothing you are wearing as you may inadvertently wear party colors in the wrong part of town and end up a statistic.
I'm also proud that non-traditional voters got out there and took part in the democratic process. The only thing more annoying than those who wine about not getting their way in an election are those who wine and then note that this is why they don't vote. It's like complaining about outsourcing and how hard it is for Americans to make a living with decent benefits, and then shoring up to Wal*Mart in your Japanese car.
For a long, long time I lived in an America that had beliefs for show, and beliefs in practice. Tonight a record number of Americans got out there and put their vote where their mouth is.
The same was true in California, where it appears voters have supported Proposition 8. Prop 8 is basically a state ban on gay marriage. It's great to see voters exercise their beliefs. What this shows is that the majority of voting californians don't want gay marriage.
The thing that really disappoints me about this is not that it happened. That's a personal disappointment but it's all part of the democratic process. Being less a person is something my people are used to. It's that the state will soon begin evaluating whether or not to resolve the marriages already granted during a period of legal gay marriage in California. What the hell is that? I never thought I'd find myself telling a state "No takesy backsies".
Can you imagine if other legally granted rights were handled this way? Well, I'm sorry grandma that your doctor prescribed you cannabis for pain, but the proposition just passed so we are considering that stash there as criminal holding.
I'm sorry about the tickets folks but we installed this here traffic light and everybody who's driven on this highway and not obeyed it prior to it's installation has been fined.
I thought ex post facto law was a violation of the groundwork of a democratic society of common law, such is the US (with the exception of Louisiana). But hey, I guess when you don't matter enough to get married you don't matter enough to be covered under other civil liberties. I'm sure something will be done for the gay couples that have tied the not during a time when it was deemed legal. If nothing else they could always transfer it to a civil union I suppose.
Other states that played the same card include Florida and Arizona. But hey, the state I live in is supposed to be as liberal and progressive as they come and we've never even entertained gay marriage as legal, so kudos to Cali for at least trying.
Posted by Decemberice at November 5, 2008 10:11 AM