Letter to Editor in California Paper

I think this letter to the editor of The Union (a Calfornian newspaper) really encompasses what proposition 8 is all about:

"Opponents to Proposition 8 claim that this amendment prejudicially takes away rights. The fact is similar limits already exist. The separation of church and state naturally limits (or takes away) religious teaching rights in public schools. So, where it bumps up against religious views, of course the teaching of gender to young children should likewise be limited. Without such limits, public school teachers seem mandated to teach gender beliefs that resemble a state promoted religion.

Correcting tolerance deficiencies for gay couples in California by redefining the age-honored institution of marriage is a colossal intrusion into hundreds of existing pro-family laws.

In comparison, this is like discovering a small electrical fire in a New York City skyscraper and dowsing the entire building with water. Is life really better when political correctness makes the average family in California feel like their values are being drenched with cold water? Come on, folks, this is America! Here, we can find less intrusive ways to correct existing tolerance problems.Vote "yes" on 8.

Ralph McKnight

Penn Valley"

Here is a great comment to this letter:

"The man is right. If Prop 8 does not pass, others will be forced to teach that same sex marriage is normal, and will likely be forced to perform such marriages in their facilities - public or private - or they reap the consequences of the law. Look at what has happened in Massachusetts. Parents can't know when their children will be taught about same sex marriage. The law has effectively taken that freedom away. We are free to live and believe as we choose, but those against Proposition 8 have taken this truth to the point where they want to infringe on others' freedoms in order to have their lifestyle choice written into law. Passing proposition 8 does not take away your right to live a homosexual lifestyle, but not passing it does take away others' rights to choose to believe against that lifestyle. Let's work to foster love for all people, black, white, heterosexual, homosexual, etc. rather than to take away rights. Vote yes on Prop 8."

To see the original article or make your comment to the newspaper see http://www.theunion.com/article/20081025/OPINION/110245596/1025&parentprofile=1056&title=Limits%20are%20important:%20Vote%20%27yes%27%20on%20Proposition%208

Does Prop 8 Violate Civil Rights?

Here is another video that explains why Prop 8 should not be compared to the civil rights movement.

Prop 8 and Parents

Here's a movie about another family from Massachusetts who have tried to stand up for their rights as parents.

How Prop 8 may affect other States

How will Prop 8 affect states other than California?

Here is a some quotes from a newsletter published by the Sutherland Institute, a conservative public policy think tank had a public forum on Tuesday, October 14th. It talks about how Prop 8 will affect Utah specifically, but I think it applies to all of us. For more information on their forum see their web site: http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org

"California's Proposition 8 matters to Utah because what happens in California won't stay in California," Duncan said.

"During his presentation, Duncan outlined specific reasons why California matters to Utahns:

1. Letting a handful of California judges get away with redefining marriage sets a bad precedent for other states.
2. The cultural impact of a redefinition of marriage cannot be confined to one state.
3. Same-sex couples who marry in California can go to other states and have standing to challenge other states' marriage laws in federal court.
4. All Americans should be concerned that our most populous state might endorse the idea that children don't need a mother and father and that those who believe they do should be treated as bigots."

"LaVar Christensen...said it is the birthright of every boy and girl to be welcomed into the world by a mother and a father. Christensen also spoke critically of the California State Supreme Court that created "out of thin air" the right for same-sex couples to legally marry and overturned the will of 4.6 million voters because they felt the shifting demands of society warranted the change."

"'The rights of man' that are being discussed and debated 'come not from generosity of the state,'" Christensen said, quoting John F. Kennedy, "'but from the hand of God.'"

What can I do to support Prop 8?

Here are some ways you can support prop 8:

1. Vote - this would be the obvious one if you are in California.
   
2. Spread the word - let all your friends, family, and acquaintances know that you are in favor of prop 8. Mass e-mail, blog, get on facebook, chat, call, write letters, etc.
   
3. Donate - you can make a donation at http://www.protectmarriage.com/.
4. Endorse - you can endorse prop 8 at http://www.protectmarriage.com/endorse.
5. Propaganda - yard signs, bumper sticker, posters, etc. can be found at http://www.protectmarriage.com/resource
   
6. Volunteer - because of limited funding, the campaign is using a grassroots approach. There is something for everyone to do. And they need a lot of help. To find out more, see http://www.protectmarriage.com/volunteer

Here are some ideas of ways to volunteer from the protectmarriage website:

Distribute Literature to my Friends and Neighbors

Make Phone Calls

Host a House Party

Donate to the Campaign

Write a Letter to the Editor

Recruit 10 New Supporters

Volunteer at the Campaign HQ

Put a Sign in my Yard

Place a Sticker on my Car

Attend Events

Blog About the Campaign

Stuff Envelopes

Volunteer on Other Projects

Another great resource is: http://www.iprotectmarriage.com/

Here's a video I found on that website. It is about a family in Massachusetts that is experiencing many of the same things we would experience if proposition 8 passes in California:

Do you have other ideas? What have you done?

Proposition 8 Videos

Will same sex marriages hurt others?



Sick and Tired of Intolerance?



Are others supporting Prop 8?



Will courts overturn it again?



Didn’t we already vote on this?



Don’t others deserve the same happiness?



Will existing rights disappear?

Proposition 8

We support Proposition 8 in California. Here are a few reasons why:

• Proposition 8 seeks to define marriage as between one man and one woman. We believe that this traditional institution of marriage and the family is the basis of a stable and healthy society.
  
• We think it is essential that the basic rights of all American citizens, including those who profess homosexuality as a way of life, be preserved. In California, homosexual couples already have the same rights that heterosexual couples do. Passing Proposition 8 will not take away any of those rights. If proposition 8 does not pass, the rights of those that do believe in the traditional institution of marriage will likely be infringed upon. Just two of the likely effects are: church's could lose the freedom to teach about and perform traditional marriages as a standard, and public schools will be required to teach children about homosexual relationships. For more information about the likely results if proposition 8 does not pass see: www.preservingmarriage.org and www.protectmarriage.com
  
• Along with protecting the traditional family, the foundation of society, there is another important principle at stake. The majority of Californians already voted a number of years ago to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Four liberal judges chose to overturn that vote, thus Californians are being asked to vote on it again. This movement not only seeks to destroy the sacred institution of the family, it also seeks to take power out of the hands of the American people and put it into the hands of the few in high government offices.
• California has historically been a weather vane of political things to come in the rest of the country. Even though this proposition is not on the ballots in the state that we live in, we believe that it is important to be involved in supporting it. If this proposition does not pass in California this year, it is likely that other states around the country will eventually follow suit.

What are your thoughts? The links listed above have some helpful ways that you can become involved in supporting Proposition 8. Does anyone have other ideas on how to become involved?

Introducing Us

This is a blog by Brandon and Heather. We have been married for 7 years and have 2 beautiful children. Brandon grew up in Idaho Falls and Heather grew up in Northern California. We met while in college and got married during our undergraduate studies. We both graduated from with Bachelors and Masters degrees. Brandon's Bachelor's is in Information Technology and his Master's is Instructional Psychology and Technology. Heather's degrees are both in physics, but she did her Masters with an emphasis in acoustics.

We want to use this blog to discuss important current issues. Here are some of the issues on our minds:

• Proposition 8 in California, preserving the traditional institution of marriage and family
• The economic crisis, staying out of debt and home finances
• Healthy eating, adding whole grains, legumes and vegetables into meals. For more information on this topic specifically, see Heather's blog: http://healthyfamilieswarmhearts.blogspot.com/

What do you think about these topics?