3 posts tagged “california”

Face it folks, in churches, synagogues and temples across the country, gay people are marrying each other in same sex marriages.  Whether you live in a state that has passed a law banning it or laws that allow it - gay people are marrying each other.   The question of whether or not they can be married is irrelevant because it is happening whether you like it or not.  The real issue is whether or not the federal and state governments will equally recognize all marriages of two, consenting adults or continue to show prejudiced, preferential favoritism to a select group of religious groups.

Iowa and Vermont are the two latest states to allow gay marriage and for that I applaud them!  They understand that the right of two consenting adult - heterosexual or homosexual - should be recognized equally.   They understand that the recognition of same sex marriages at a legal level offers same sex couples more that 1500 rights and privileges offered to man-woman couples. So while some states push to reinstate prejudicial laws and treatment of homosexuals, some states fight for equality.

California now looks to its Supreme Court to decide if their recent voter-approved ban on gay marriage is constitutional.  Their recent ballot measure cost 170 million dollars of money that could have been put to good use actually HELPING families rather than trying to hurt them. 

California Supreme Court Associate Justice Joyce Kennard seems to support the new law because she doesn't want to override the will of the people. "What I am picking up from the oral arguments is that this court should willy-nilly disregard the will of the people."  Clearly Justice Kennard fails to realize the the USA and all of its states are NOT democracies - they are Republics.  As republics, mob rule does not apply.   The courts have the right to override prejudicial and unfair laws - even if 90% of the populace votes for them. 

 Thank god Justice Kennard wasn't around when they decided Brown vs Board of Education.  After all, the mob (aka the majority) supported and voted on the laws that segregated black people from white people.  In Kennard's world, voters approved those laws, so they should have been allowed to stand.

This week the California court system informed the people there that the ban on gay marriage (Prop 22) was unconstitutional. Good For Them!!! Two consenting adults that wish to join in the union of marriage SHOULD be allowed to marry!

Today I opened my email and the American Family Association (AFA) had sent me an email with the following:

Dear Kathleen,

As you know, the California Supreme Court has legalized homosexual marriage. This happened despite the fact that voters in California passed Proposition 22 with 61.4 percent of the vote. Proposition 22 defined marriage as only between one man and one woman.
The recent 4-3 ruling, if allowed to stand, would destroy marriage as it has been known for thousands of years. It would lead to the logical conclusion of the following:

• Legalization of polygamous and other aberrant unions as "marriages"

• Legalization of marriage between an adult parent and adult child

• Legalization of group marriage

• Overturn all the marriage laws in the other 49 state

Apparently - the AFA equates homosexuality with incest and other "aberrant" types of marriages. Why can't these people live and let live? Why do they have to try to legislate other people's lives?

Bravo California! Now if only we could get ruling like these here in Michigan - then my aunt could marry her partner of two decades.

 I am feeling very cynical about the fires.   Yes, they are horrible and its awful they are happening but people need to look at a harsh reality.

1.   The fires are growing out of hand because of stupid people that need to be rescued.   Thgey refuse to evacuate when they were ordered to go, now the firefighters have to rescue them instead of putting the fires out.  Personally, I say leave their stupid assses and if they die - tough.     They should have left when they were told to go.     http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/22/wildfire.ca/index.html

2.   Fire in that area is a natural part of the life cycle in Southern California.   There are plants there that only germinate with fire.     How can people even begin to act shocked when this is something they KNEW would happen?   http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/fires/20040210-9999-1m10chapa.html

Sigh...I don't want be horribly mean in the face of such tragedy but I just needed to vent.