We work with a person who obviously leans toward the right when it comes to politics. I have nothing wrong with people who are proud of their political party and feel the need to display bumper stickers on their cars or posters in their front yard. It's their house or their car and they should be allowed to 'decorate' it however they want.
What I do have a problem with is when that devotion or passion trickles into the workplace. I don't think that our desks should be covered in McCain stickers or Barack buttons. There's a person who we work with who is sporting a 'yes on 8' sign. It's sitting there for all to see. For those of you who don't know this phrase....well, in California, if you vote yes on 8, that means you are voting to ban same sex marriages. A few months ago our state passed a bill allowing same sex marriage to be recognized by the law.
So, this guy has his poster up, and it's offending me. What if there's a gay man who has been planning his union with his partner working in the next office? Don't you think he would be a little upset? How would their work relationship suffer? We all deserve to work in an environment that is free of prejudices. I'm sure that if I were to bedazzle my desk with 'vote no on 8' I would be asked to take it down.
I have many people in my life whom I dearly love that will be impacted by this vote come November. I will be voting no on 8 simply because I feel these people should be able to live their lives just like anyone else. Nobody should tell them who they can or cannot marry. I try to put myself in their shoes. How would I feel if I were told I wasn't able to marry Jeff? It would break my heart. As most married folks know, once those vows are said and those papers are signed, it gives your relationship a whole new meaning. Shouldn't gay people have that same opportunity?
Now, I'm sure many bible thumpers will argue that it's against God's law. There again, I don't think our government should be run according to the bible. The beauty of our country is that we are a melting pot of different cultures and religions. If we start ruling our government according to the bible, who's bible do we follow? I say, try to give people as much freedom to live their lives as we possibly can. Let everyone have the same opportunities so that they can experience life to the fullest, just like the every day hetero couple walking down the street.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Politics...yet again
Posted by Annie at 2:23 PM
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2 comments:
Of course, as you know I recently wrote a small blog on the Prop 8 issue, and it's something I am very passionate about. The sad part is, that a lot of people are misinformed about what the vote means. They think it would automatically mean pre-schoolers are taught (gasp) gay people are the same as straight people. I wish it did, but unfortunately it doesn't. In fact, it's against the law to discuss those matters in pre-school, kindergarten, first grade etc. They think that savage bands of homosexuals will roam the streets in hoards, breaking down the doors of upstanding heteros having dinner, and start making love on the kitchen table. It's just ignorance, plain and simple. I seem to remember this one line, in this one document somewhere that said something to the effect of "..life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" (vagueness in the interest of effect, not ignorance). I don't, however, remember it saying "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...for upstanding heteros". I really get upset when some of these people who adamantly oppose this proposition do so on the grounds of "sanctifying the definition of marriage" when they can't even sanctify their own marriage. I say, if you can't even get your own marriage right, your argument is null. I wonder how many of the over 11,000 same sex marriages in the last four months has ruined the lives of anyone out there opposed to this proposition. I'll now climb down off my soapbox.
Dude, it would really suck for him if his signed just happened to magically dissapear. Hint Hint. I'd be pissed if I seen that in a work place!
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