Tolerance

In just a few weeks there are going to be 13 different Propositions for your consideration on the ballot along with various local and federal races. That's overwhelming for most people. There is one Proposition that I believe deserves your attention and "yes" vote more than anything else: Proposition 8. Proposition 8 restores the traditional definition of marriage in California. The bottom line question you're asking yourself is, "Why should I vote for this?"

We Californians pride ourselves in the diversity and tolerance in our state. We respect the freedom of others to make their own choices and we expect them to do the same for us. Tolerance and respect go both ways. We're willing to listen to others' viewpoints and consider them, but we don't want their ideas forced upon us. We expect to be able to make our voices duly heard through the political process. If you are one of the millions of Californians who identify with this description, then you will be stunned by recent events.

In May of this year, the California Supreme Court ruled1 that domestic partnerships in California—available since 2003— have "virtually all of the same substantive legal benefits and privileges, and imposes upon the couple virtually all of the same legal obligations and duties, that California law affords to and imposes upon a married couple." The high court's finding means that Voting Yes on Proposition 8 in no way affects the legal status of same-sex couples in California.We Californians' tolerate and respect our fellow citizens, and we expect them to do the same for us.

However, this last Friday, October 10, the San Francisco Chronicle reported2 that a first grade class—5 and 6 year old children—took a field trip, on school time, to witness a same-sex marriage performed by the San Francisco city mayor. When asked by the paper, the school staff noted that "they didn't see the big deal. Same-sex marriage is legal." As adults, we can tolerate others' choices even though we disagree, but the manipulation of our school children in an effort to force on us a contrary viewpoint is intolerant, un-Californian, and unacceptable. Children should not be exposed to adults' controversial decisions in this way: parents should be the ones to decide if and when to expose their children to these controversies. The school trip is just one of the many events that are happening and will continue to happen in California unless we pass Proposition 8.

I hope you find this as enlightening as I do, and more importantly, I hope you now see that tolerance and respect demand that we vote Yes on Proposition 8.

References
1. California Supreme Court, case S147999, dated 15 May 2008
2. "Class surprises lesbian teacher on wedding day," San Francisco Chronicle, October 11, 2008
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/11/MNFG13F1VG.DTL