Democracy. It’s a great word that gets thrown around like popcorn at a children’s movie showing. It’s what we think we need to aspire to; the democratic process. In essence, it’s what we see as the model that all countries should be following. No other model for society is to be tolerated. This is it. This system is God.
The United States is great for telling the world just how ‘undemocratic’ they are. The word ‘freedom’ seems to be constantly coupled with the word democracy. They, and other democratic countries love the system when it swings in their favour, but they get a little bit sour when it doesn’t deliver their desired result.
We have just been filled with a great sense of elation at the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. The democratic process, through the complicated electoral college count, has been upheld. Obama won fair and square, thereby gaining the prize.
However, another vote also took place. But this democratic result did not please some. The vote was fair, the vote was honest. I am talking of the Proposition 8 vote in California.
Proposition 8 was a California State ballot proposition that changed the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman and eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry. The proposition did not affect domestic partnerships in California.
In May of this year, the California Supreme Court made this ruling:
May 16, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — – The California Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage Thursday in a broadly worded decision that would invalidate virtually any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.
This ruling was democratic, but nowhere near as democratic as a vote from the people. We jumped up and down when the Supreme Court ’stole’ the 2000 Presidential election from Al Gore and gave it to George W Bush, ignoring the popular ‘democratic’ vote. But what we are seeing now is the Gay and Lesbian community protesting the democratic process. As much as I am in favour of gay marriage, and I stand with those in California in my deep disappointment in this vote, I must also abide by the democratic process. We cannot have it both ways.
The other important thing to remember here is the Gay and Lesbian community have only seriously rallied to publicly denounce the proposal after it was voted up. There was absolutely no inclination to get out there before the vote and possibly get more people to use their democratic voice to support the court ruling. The Gay and Lesbian community sat on their collective backsides and assumed that liberal California, the home of anything goes, would simply hand them their rights on a plate.
Barack Obama had to fight to where he is now, as did all the great men and women of our time. The Gay and Lesbian community used to have a fighting spirit. Moments in history like Stonewall, the Sydney Mardi Gras beginnings in 1978( which began as a protest for equal rights), AIDS candelight vigils and quilt displays which were held on a regular basis not that long ago. They all sent a clear message that if you wanted your voice heard, you needed to shout from the rooftops, march in the streets, and suffer a bit.
What the voting up of Proposition 8 says to the Gay and Lesbian community is that they have lost their guts. It’s only now that they are jumping up and down because they lost. They are trying desperately to call the vote unconstitutional, but what they are clearly not wanting to admit is that it is their fault for not fighting for this issue as much as they have fought before. Fighting now is akin to closing the gate after the horse has bolted. It’s not too late, but it’s going to take a long while before we find that horse and put it back in the stable.
I want marriage to be available to all, because it is more than just the simple act of standing in front of a celebrant and saying ‘I Do’. Allowing marriage for all allows everyone to be treated equally, fairly, and with dignity. It allows same sex couples to have their relationships validated in the eyes of the community. Just like heterosexual couples have the choice of marriage or not, so should same sex couples.
But as much as I support same sex marriage, that is not my point here. Let this be a wake up call to the Gay and Lesbian community. Nothing should be assumed or taken for granted. The Gay and Lesbian community should continue to fight for what is right, and never take their eye off the ball, as they have with this issue. The 18,000 couples that were married in California are now wondering whether their marriages are legal. Many of them are now regretting that they didn’t get out there with placards before the election.
However, the Gay and Lesbian community should heed the words of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as they start the backward climb up the hill to equality:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed hope that the California Supreme Court would overturn Proposition 8. He urged backers of gay marriage to follow the lesson he learned as a bodybuilder trying to lift weights that were too heavy for him at first: “I learned that you should never ever give up. . . . They should never give up. They should be on it and on it until they get it done.” He also predicted that the 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who have already wed would not see their marriages nullified by the initiative.
This unlikely ally may not be gay or necessarily a great fan of the gay community, but he knows what it means to fight. Maybe the ultimate Hollywood tough guy’s words are what should spur us on to not take our eye off the ball again.
November 24, 2008
Democracy is fine…when it suits us.
Posted by damob under Social commentaryLeave a Comment
Democracy. It’s a great word that gets thrown around like popcorn at a children’s movie showing. It’s what we think we need to aspire to; the democratic process. In essence, it’s what we see as the model that all countries should be following. No other model for society is to be tolerated. This is it. This system is God.
The United States is great for telling the world just how ‘undemocratic’ they are. The word ‘freedom’ seems to be constantly coupled with the word democracy. They, and other democratic countries love the system when it swings in their favour, but they get a little bit sour when it doesn’t deliver their desired result.
We have just been filled with a great sense of elation at the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. The democratic process, through the complicated electoral college count, has been upheld. Obama won fair and square, thereby gaining the prize.
However, another vote also took place. But this democratic result did not please some. The vote was fair, the vote was honest. I am talking of the Proposition 8 vote in California.
In May of this year, the California Supreme Court made this ruling:
This ruling was democratic, but nowhere near as democratic as a vote from the people. We jumped up and down when the Supreme Court ’stole’ the 2000 Presidential election from Al Gore and gave it to George W Bush, ignoring the popular ‘democratic’ vote. But what we are seeing now is the Gay and Lesbian community protesting the democratic process. As much as I am in favour of gay marriage, and I stand with those in California in my deep disappointment in this vote, I must also abide by the democratic process. We cannot have it both ways.
The other important thing to remember here is the Gay and Lesbian community have only seriously rallied to publicly denounce the proposal after it was voted up. There was absolutely no inclination to get out there before the vote and possibly get more people to use their democratic voice to support the court ruling. The Gay and Lesbian community sat on their collective backsides and assumed that liberal California, the home of anything goes, would simply hand them their rights on a plate.
Barack Obama had to fight to where he is now, as did all the great men and women of our time. The Gay and Lesbian community used to have a fighting spirit. Moments in history like Stonewall, the Sydney Mardi Gras beginnings in 1978( which began as a protest for equal rights), AIDS candelight vigils and quilt displays which were held on a regular basis not that long ago. They all sent a clear message that if you wanted your voice heard, you needed to shout from the rooftops, march in the streets, and suffer a bit.
What the voting up of Proposition 8 says to the Gay and Lesbian community is that they have lost their guts. It’s only now that they are jumping up and down because they lost. They are trying desperately to call the vote unconstitutional, but what they are clearly not wanting to admit is that it is their fault for not fighting for this issue as much as they have fought before. Fighting now is akin to closing the gate after the horse has bolted. It’s not too late, but it’s going to take a long while before we find that horse and put it back in the stable.
I want marriage to be available to all, because it is more than just the simple act of standing in front of a celebrant and saying ‘I Do’. Allowing marriage for all allows everyone to be treated equally, fairly, and with dignity. It allows same sex couples to have their relationships validated in the eyes of the community. Just like heterosexual couples have the choice of marriage or not, so should same sex couples.
But as much as I support same sex marriage, that is not my point here. Let this be a wake up call to the Gay and Lesbian community. Nothing should be assumed or taken for granted. The Gay and Lesbian community should continue to fight for what is right, and never take their eye off the ball, as they have with this issue. The 18,000 couples that were married in California are now wondering whether their marriages are legal. Many of them are now regretting that they didn’t get out there with placards before the election.
However, the Gay and Lesbian community should heed the words of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as they start the backward climb up the hill to equality:
This unlikely ally may not be gay or necessarily a great fan of the gay community, but he knows what it means to fight. Maybe the ultimate Hollywood tough guy’s words are what should spur us on to not take our eye off the ball again.
Enjoy your day.