Political Hangover

Man, what a whirlwind.

So, I've been reading and noticing there's a very clear division of sides on our new President-Elect. My friends from the deep south--republicans, duh--are pissed that Obama won. I've gotten text messages degrading him, his future presidency, etc. A whole slew of messages that the future is bleak, the end is near, even my mom thinking the second coming of Jesus is in our midst. And, you know, I get it. I felt the crazy-painful sting of defeat when UGA lost to FLA this weekend..and I'm still reeling a bit. I also know that for the last 18months--for some, maybe four years--the nation has been stewing in politics. There was, for a gleaming second, a hope that there wouldn't be such polarization, but alas, that didn't happen.

I hope, for this nation, that we can come back together. Once the sting of "defeat" wears off, that we'll come back to the heart of the matter. Mr. Obama does, in fact, work for us. I may not have elected him into his position, but my friends did. He didn't get there alone, let's give him his chance. Some of the wisest words I've ever heard were from my grandmother--in reference to a previous president: "Even if I don't respect the person, I respect the position." And Mr. Obama will be receiving my respect.

The reality of the matter is even weirder to me...I consider myself a moderate. I have a tendency to be a social democrat and a fiscal republican. But this election seemed to force me into one direction or another. It was as if for the last two weeks--or much, much longer--we'd all been binging on Politics and now we have the hangover of the century. I can't wait to get back to business-as-NEWsual. I'm interested to see how things will change. There is a certain reign we can have on our leaders and it's high time we exercise our very vocal and constitutional right to be heard. Not just on election day--but every day. Our representatives can't forget that they are there because WE voted them to be so.

As for the proposition 8, I feel I have a few extra words to say. I'm disappointed that there's such an outlandish cry of "discrimination." First of all, those who READ the proposition will know that the prop stated that it was instituting the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. It also still allows for civil unions and legal rights to be the same as heterosexual couples.

"So then if the legal rights don't change, why don't you support it, Bex?"

Here's my beef:

Marriage is an institution that was DESIGNED BY GOD to be between a man and a woman. Marriage was never meant to be a "fundamental right" (as is advertised by the anti-8 folks)--it was designed to be a privilege. Okay, that sets the premise.

What bothers me is that divorce runs rampant in this country--some statistics show 54% of marriages end in divorce. Then there are also people who don't believe in God who are getting married. Well, why? If you don't believe in the god who designed it, wouldn't that negate you from participating in such institution? What I really don't understand is why people are fighting SO HARD for an institution that is failing the way it is now. It's like me investing everything I have in Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Really?

But what I propose is this..and it won't seem logical but it would satisfy both parties (the yessers and the no-ers). Make all unions between anyone a civil union. Those who see that it's religiously their preference, can enter into a marriage. So, Joe and Jane, who don't really care about the sanctity of a holy union (as I may see it) can be united with the same "rights" and privileges but it's not called a marriage. Their children will still call them mommy and daddy...or mommy and mommy but their union's title would not be a Marriage.

So, yes, I'm a christian and don't think that gay "marriage" is the way to go, but I also have a very close friend who's a lesbian. I may even be her "maid of honor" in her union. I've seen her through a lot of things and while I may not completely support the lifestyle, I know she's happy. I support her. And I'll continue to.

So, boo on you, No-on-8 supporters. For throwing all sorts of back-woods discrimination ads into the works. This is not the same as civil rights. Gays and lesbians can use all the same toilets, drink from the same water fountains, even sit in the front of the bus. No one is questioning their place in the world. We are merely stating that the definition of marriage is not between two members of the same sex.

And while I'm at it, the petition to re-open prop 8 has less than half of the margin of loss. It will take over 3,000,000 people to just petition to even re-open it. 52% of the state decided. They're not re-opening the McCain loss, even though the popular vote was 51-49%, are they?

Anyways, my hope is for a strong, united nation. I plead to Mr. Obama not to abandon the middle--as many of his constituents are happy there. But the world is already positively responding to a new leadership direction this country will be taking. So, here's hoping, America.