Are you deciding how to vote on Proposition 8?

Now is the time to decide what standard we want to set together as a group of citizens in a state. I am convinced that maintaining the traditional definition of marriage is best for the whole of society, even if not as accommodating as one social interest group would like.

I like ___THE PEBBLE IN THE POND ANALOGY___ because the waves that hit the shore and where they hit are the real issue here.
America is great! I spoke with my 9 year old today because of an unkind act to a neighbor on this issue. He clearly understood that if we lose our FREE SPEECH, we lose one of the greatest things about being American.

I am ALSO grateful to be able to excercise my Freedom of Religion. It is becoming evident that a failure to Pass Prop 8 would begin to encroach on that very right.
Gay couples are calling for tolerance. But if, under the new definition/law, a church who holds a traditional marriage view will be termed as intolerant and there will be the same fired-up people in this debate that will then ask,
"Why are tax-exempt benefits going to this church that teaches and practices discrimination?"

This intolerance-in-reverse and the lawsuits that have already begun one type of wave that will hit the shore long after the rock has been thrown.

Quoting NPR (National Public Radio)
“Same-sex couples are challenging religious organizations' policies that exclude them, claiming that a group's view that gay marriage is a sin cannot be used to violate their right to equal treatment. So far, the religious groups are losing.”

Below I cite an article done recently by NPR that shows the real legal cases that are happening now related to gay relationships and society. The article shows that we need to foresee the waves that will hit the shore before we throw the rock, as so many people are trying to point out. Summarizing NPR:


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486191


There are consequences to a failure to pass Prop 8.

Families are the Legos of society. When families are strong and practice kindness and hard work and other desired attributes, then the society exhibits these traits.

I support YES on Prop 8 because of this underlying belief.

Now this doesn’t mean that same-sex couples can’t raise loving children that contribute great things to society. Indeed they can. However I do not see a need to redefine marriage away from the only biologically capable union that can bear children.

I am so glad that California already ensured to gays the rights they need and deserve under the California Domestic Partnership laws (adoption of a partner's child, hospital visitation, retirement at the death of a partner, etc). Therefore this issue is not about rights.

It is about the definition of the word __marriage__.

I BELIEVE CALIFORNIANS CAN CHOOSE THIER LIFESTYLES AND THE WAY THEY TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION without redefining “marriage.” The consequences of that new definition will change what California is for me and for my grandkids.

I will vote YES on 8.