Try Reality

The California Supreme Court has spoken.  Prop 8 stands as written.  All same-sex marriages already done stand.  Let the protests begin. Whatever. As I said a few weeks ago, I’m not terribly interested in the subject of gay marriage right now.  There are far too many far more important issues facing us all.  However, that said I’m not entirely without interest in the subject or empathy for those directly involved.  I have gay friends.  I’ve counseled more than a few of them about their relationships.  Not in a “you God-cursed sodomite” fashion, but in the same manner I’ve counseled men and women who were together about their relationship.  They are who and what they are.  I have no problem with that.  None. With that as a backdrop, a few words on the subject.

1. Stop whining. Look.  The people of California have voted — twice — to define marriage as an institution between one man and one woman.  Sorry you don’t like that.  But that’s how they’ve voted.  Twice.  Crying about the “tyranny of the majority” and all that is not going to curry favor, and it’s not going to change anyone’s mind, and it is not going to change the final vote tally.  So quit complaining about Prop 8.  The election is over.  The outcome is settled.  Hey, I really don’t like how the presidential election came out last November.  But when the votes were counted and Obama won, I accepted it.  Make peace with reality.  You’re hurting only yourself if you don’t.
2. Don’t try to put it back on the ballot next year. In case it’s escaped your attention, California is getting really tired of voting every fifteen minutes.  Statewide we voted twice in 2000, twice in 2002, once in 2003, twice in 2004, once in 2005, twice in 2006, three times in 2008, and once so far in 2009.  If I missed any, feel free to correct me.  Anyway, the point is between the total number of elections (fourteen) and propositions (something close to if not over two hundred), the populace is disenchanted to say the least.  And you want to run something out there again that’s been voted on twice?  Don’t be shocked if it’s not greeted with thunderous applause.
3. Understand what the court said today. It ruled the process used for Prop 8 was constitutional, namely that the state constitution could be amended in the fashion it was.  It wasn’t a ruling for or against gay marriage.  It was an assertion that the mechanics of the vote and the proposition were constitutional.  The majority of voters voted for it.  So be it.  Next case, please.
4. You still have the right to register as domestic partners. Crying discrimination at this point is the same as those who scream oppression due to the color of their skin and because of it they can never get ahead in this society and… oh, wait, who’s in the Oval Office these days?  But I digress.  Have you ever read the law in question?  It says and I quote: “Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.”  And by the way, a man and woman cannot register as domestic partners unless they are both over 62 and one or both qualifies for old age insurance benefits under Social Security.  But again I digress.  In short, the only difference between registered domestic partnership and marriage is the name of the institution.  Sorry if that offends you on a social level.  The law is not a social declaration.  Social and legal are two different animals, and legally you’re still covered.
5. It’s up to you to state why this doesn’t open Pandora’s box, not me. If the definition of who can marry is changed from one man and one woman to two consenting adults because not doing so is discriminatory, you tell me on what legal grounds you can then oppose polygamy if all parties consent or incestuous marriage if both parties consent.  This isn’t the nonsensical hysteria of “I want to marry my golf clubs and/or cow.”  This is legit.  You answer the questions.  I already gave you my answer as to who can marry.

Again, look.  You lost.  I’m sorry if you feel pain because of it.  But please look around.  North Korea is rattling a nuclear-tipped saber in the direction of South Korea.  Israel is ready and willing to launch an attack against Iran, using nuclear weapons if need be, should it feel there is an imminent danger of Iran developing its own nuclear weapons for the purpose of using them against Israel.  Pakistan is in dire straits with a threatened takeover of the entire country, including its nuclear arsenal, by the Taliban.  American soldiers are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The present administration is actively pursuing an economic plan of government-owned and run business.  The economy is in tatters.  We are as a nation drowning in debt, yet our political leaders continue to spend money like a drunken sailor on shore leave after six months at sea.  In short, we’ve got problems.  And quite frankly, right now your hurt feelings over a societal, not legal slight don’t rate very high on the scale.  Capiche?