I’m breaking my promise not to write any more about the election than yesterday’s post. But there’s a good reason and it doesn’t include denouncing President Bush, not directly anyway. Allow me to explain my deep despair from yesterday and why, even when that despair dissipates, the fragile peace in my mind will still force me to never let up in defending my principles.
The Karl Rove impact on America is my issue. I’m not concerned that a majority of Americans differed from my view of President Bush as a war president or his impact on the financial health of our nation; majority will is the nature of a democracy. The minority within the majority is what concerns me. It’s the “We drank the Kool-Aid, it was really good, you must have some” crowd of the Republican Party who seem to have missed the point of freedom and democracy and decency. That small group of people makes me fret for the immediate future of our great country and the ideals we claim to hold dear. The belief that a heterogeneous society is not only what sets us apart, it’s what makes us so great.
But some among us don’t believe this. They wrap themselves in the flag and pretend that only they are the defenders of the real America. They’re the true patriots, they tell us. If we don’t like it, get the hell out. While others who didn’t vote for Kerry are proclaiming that they’re ready to move to Canada or the U.K., I’m not one of them. This wave of hysteria will pass, but only if someone defends the truth. I will play my small part in that over the next four years and beyond.
I give that introduction to lead into my primary anger at the election. I’m concerned because of the eleven state constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage that passed. Marriage is a right traditionally reserved for the states, so a state’s citizens passing such an amendment is within their rights, regardless of how ridiculous and discriminatory I may find it. The citizens acted. Now same-sex couples (and singles and traditional couples and singles) know where the state’s citizens stand. They can stay and fight, stay and not fight, or move. As a tourist, I can choose not to visit the states that passed such amendments. All of that is democracy in action.
But that isn’t the whole story, is it? The argument over same-sex marriage (and homosexuality) has extended beyond ridiculous and discriminatory and slipped into hatred. Whatever causes that hatred is interesting but irrelevant. I’m ashamed at my country when I think that this is what people believe and vote into reality.
Here are two examples from e-mails received by Andrew Sullivan about the election illustrate the underbelly of Tuesday’s election. These quotes are the gist of what is wrong with how far today’s Republican Party has strayed from the core of Conservatism and how fanaticism has taken over America. Consider:
“I wonder if you noticed that yesterday all eleven states that considered the question of gay marriage voted to ban it. ALL ELEVEN. I think this sends a very clear message — true Americans do not like your kind of homosexual deviants in our country, and we will not tolerate your radical pro-gay agenda trying to force our children to adopt your homosexual lifestyle. You should be EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that we even let you write a very public and influential blog, instead of suppressing your treasonous views (as I would prefer). But I’m sure someone like yourself would consider me just an “extremist” that you don’t need to worry about. Well you are wrong — I’m not just an extremist, I am a real American, and you should be worried because eleven states yesterday proved that there are millions more just like me who will not let you impose your radical agenda on our country.”
And…
“I’ll tell you, being a 16 year-old gay kid in Michigan just got a hell of a lot worse. When I woke up this morning and saw the anti gay marriage proposal had passed, I was shocked. I realized the situation I’m faced with everyday in school – the American people have just shown my classmates that it’s perfectly fine to discriminate. A direct quote from a ‘friend’ at school today: ‘It’s so cool that all these states just told all the faggots to eat shit and get the hell out…’ Because of the above events, I am at a crossroads … I’m the youngest card-carrying Republican in the county, and am constantly asked to get others involved for Bush/Cheney. Herein lies a problem, I can’t bring myself to do that. Bush totally lost all my support (I know I can’t vote – but I make a hell of a campaigner) when he supported the amendment to ban gay marriages, and I felt bad that in straying from Bush, I was abandoning Cheney, who I have an amazing amount of respect for. Many would say go Democrat… but I can’t do that (that signals the absence of a spine up here), and in the next year, I’m considering dropping my membership to the party. Especially this year, despite how undercut and violated I feel as a gay person, I couldn’t be happier that I am. I’ve got a stronger will because of it, and will lead my life just as strongly.”
Contrary to what some people believe, hatred is not a family value. We’re all in this mess together. Until we accept that, not only does legitimate debate and intellectual curiosity fade away, we increase the divide between those in power and those in the minority. Intentionally creating (or refusing to work to reduce) that gap has never led to anything good. Remember the immortal words of Ximinez, from Monty Python’s Flying Circus:
“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms – Oh damn! (To Cardinal Biggles) I can’t say it – you’ll have to say it.”
That’s the America I see right now. I don’t like it.
I couldn’t have said this better myself.
Tony, Tony, Way too much angst!!!!! I honestly think one of the reasons why I am more conservative than liberal is this. I wake up each and every morning and count what is good about this great country of ours instead of looking for all the “bad”
OH GOD WHY AM I DOING THIS?
So, why don’t the folks who are Gay/Lesbian join together and form a grassroots campaign and have ‘same sex marriage’ defined?
I don’t live in one of these states, and if I did … I would NOT have supported this kind of legislation, but what’s done is done. It’s time to figure out a counter strategy. Obviously MORE than just Republicans voted on this issue and MORE than just Republicans PASSED these amendments.
Don’t you think that if they were presented with the same sort of legislation asking them to define ‘same sex marriage’ it would be passed?
Talk to the women of the 1800’s (well, they’re all dead now) who worked tirelessly to secure the right to vote. Talk to the blacks who fought their way to the front of the bus. These things TAKE TIME.
Hello .. this is not a hard one … just an emotionally charged one.
There’s no reason why Gay/Lesbian couples should be denied the right to marry. Period.
So get out there and make it happen. Don’t sit here and bitch about it and feel sorry for yourself and presume to know what motivated these voters.
:: This is all just my opinion and as you know, opinions are like assholes (and you probably think I’m one now too. HAHA) ::
🙂
For the most part, I do focus on what’s great about America. I just leave it out of here sometimes. Hell, that I can write this entry and post it without fear is the greatest freedom in the world to me. But I can’t let an issue like this go just because there are other good things.
Wendy, you’re correct in your comments. It definitely took more than just a bunch of Republicans to pass these amendments. My point, which I should’ve stated better, was that the mindset begun by the Republican campaign (not indicative of all Republicans, just the leadership in this campaign) was so overwhelminly embraced by Americans. But you’re right, I should’ve been clear about it.
As for the future, I definitely don’t intend to sit around and do nothing. In the past, I’ve written letters to my Congressmen. I will continue to do that, but I will find other ways to help, as well. I firmly believe in the theory that when one person’s rights are being trampled, mine are too.