There are three issues in this upcoming election that disturbs me because they should be non-issues. It saddens me that in reality we as a country really have not made much progress at all if race is still an issue, and freedom of religion is not respected, and equality for all Americans doesn't happen. The focus of this post is on the latter; however, I want to quickly comment on the first two.
I was disappointed that race even entered into the presidential campaign, but sadly it did. What's interesting about those who made it an issue is that they wanted to put Obama into a box and label him as a "black man" and then try to spin it as if it was something negative. Highly disturbing.
And what gets me is that he is just as much white as he is black. He's a bi-racial man who is intelligent, highly competent, and can bring the change we so desperately need. Race should never enter into this. It's competence and the content of one's character that matters, not the color of one's skin. As a bi-racial person myself, I'm always amazed (and annoyed) at how people want to put you in a box and label you.
The second issue that has no place in this election, or any election for that matter, is religion. Some people on the opposing side have tried to spin it as if Obama was a Muslim. He's not, he's a Christian. But, what if he were Muslim? Isn't that the real issue? I think it is. By people saying "he's a Muslim" they are saying that a Muslim can't run for president of the United States. I find that highly disturbing. What kind of message are they sending to people, especially Muslim kids and young adults who are intelligent, driven and may want to run for president one day? One's faith or lack of it has no place in politics or the workplace. Respecting all religious beliefs or lack of them is what needs to happen. Let’s keep religion out of politics.
Now onto the third issue and the one that I am most fired up about, which is Proposition 8 in California and Proposition 102 in Arizona. I don't see it as a gay issue or a gay marriage issue. It's an equality issue. Marriage should be available to everyone, not just a select group, even if that select group is the majority. I really struggle with how anyone could see it in any other light. It's a matter of equality. Equal rights for all.
To be against it is to say you're ignorant. To say you're a bigot. To say you're against equality. Because I can't see it any other way. You have to take your emotions, your beliefs, your RELIGION (because we all know that this is where it stems from and religion has NO place in politics or civil rights other than freedom of religion) out of the equation and look at the issue intelligently and then you will see there is no issue and that it's a matter of equality.
For supporters of Prop 8 and Prop 102 -- both are mostly funded by Mormons and strongly supported by the LDS church -- I think that they feel if they can win on these propositions that it somehow protects their religious beliefs and practices, and their way of life. It does neither. If they win, nothing changes other than ripping the rights away from their neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and fellow citizens.
They don't realize what a false sense of security it is (I say that because their belief is fear-based). Nothing changes in their lives. They just deny equal rights to others. Whether Prop 8 and Prop 102 pass or fail, married gay couples and families will still stay intact. Their kids will still go to school with your kids, sit in the pews of your church (okay, well maybe not the Mormon church or some other churches that don't openly welcome gay people and their families, which I say to them, shame on you!), stand in the grocery line with you, and do all the other activities we all do. You see, none of that changes. Gay married couples and their families will still be doing what they’ve always done, but they will do it without equal rights. And that is not right!
I've always been disturbed by people who want to control other people's lives. Or like to stand in judgment of others when they haven't taken the time to walk a mile in the other person's shoes. There's something really wrong with that. This is an emotionally charged issue that stems from deep-seeded beliefs. I get that. But, for me, it's a matter of equality for all.
When I found out that both propositions were mostly funded by Mormons, I was not surprised, but I was saddened by it. I may not agree with all Mormon beliefs, but I love Mormons. Out of all the people whom I've met throughout my "colorful" life, Mormons have been some of the most honest, trustworthy and giving people who I have ever known and loved. And I really like and love most of them, but I just can't support what they are doing with Prop 8 and 102.
It's pure bigotry and given LDS history they should be the first to stand up against bigotry since there was a time that they were victims of bigotry, given their polygamist past. And to some extent, I suppose there is still some bigotry against Mormons because outsiders don't understand that they are just another Christian sect with varying practices and beliefs. But the core of the LDS church is the same as any other Christian church, a belief in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
Come November 4th I just hope that we get the change we need by electing Barack Hussein Obama to become the next president of the United States, and that Prop 8 and Prop 102 are defeated. But what I hope more than that is that people go out and vote, especially Democrats who historically have a dismal record in coming out to vote. Get out and vote, and help bring the change we need and equality to all.
Peace out!
