I wrote this article for my journalism class. I turned 18 in September but I still have one more year of high school
But I love my journalism class and I love to write in general.
This article is about proposition 8 a bill, for those of you unaware, that's in the California 2008 ballot which is trying to get rid of same-sex marrige. Earlier this year in June the California supreme court allowed for same-sex couples to get married but sadly there's people that want to abolish this. If this bill is passed in California then same-sex marriage will be banned. I voiced my opinion against this proposition. I think it's hurtful and dehumanizing but anyway please read my article about prop 8
Stop the Hate, Vote No on Prop 8
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
In the opening stanza to the song The Times They Are a-Changin' Bob Dylan describes the need for people to evolve and accept the changes in the world around them. Written in 1964, during a time when everything -- including politics, civil rights, women's liberation, sexuality, youth and ideas -- was changing, this balled gained huge success for its strong message of social change. Though written in 1964, the message in The Times They Are a-Changin' is still as relevant today as it was when it was first released.
What's important to note is that politics and ideas are always changing, such as the issue of gay marriage. For many years the people among the L.G.B.T. (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community have been denied the right to get married to their same-sex partner. Though for the past five years the Supreme Court has allowed some states to legalize gay marriage. The first was in 2004 in Massachusetts, then in California in the beginning of 2008 and recently Connecticut. A vast amount of other states are trying their best as well to legalize gay marriage.
In the state of California on May 15th of this year the Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage and allowed for gay marriage to be legalized. The law went into effect on June 16, 2008, according to an article in the New York Times.
Though a great amount of support has surrounded this new law, a backlash of opposition has surfaced as well.
According to wikipedia.com, Proposition 8, located in this years California General Election ballot titled Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry, was, "submitted for the ballot by petitioners with the title "California Marriage Protection Act." This ballot was started in opposition to the new law in California that legalized same-sex marriage.
Because of this ballot on November 4th, the people of California must decide whether to eliminate or keep same-sex marriage legal.
Though the people and organizations that are for this proposal have made statements as to why Proposition 8 should be passed, citizens of California - and, for the matter, all over the country -- need to realize that Proposition 8 is dehumanizing and needs to be defeated. Simply stated by Helix sophomore Bridget Fitch, "Proposition 8 is taking away rights!"
There are myriad reasons why people need to vote no on Prop 8. The main vital reasons are best summed up from an excerpt of an article from the L.A. Times Editorial, stating, "Proposition 8 would eliminate the fundamental right to same-sex marriage. The very act of denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry - traditionally the highest legal and societal recognition of a loving commitment - by definition relegates them and their relationship to second class status."
To clarify the main message in the above statement, all people, including people of the L.G.B.T. community, are to be treated equal and have the right to make a sacred commitment to each other and should be able, like any other heterosexual couple, to get married. Proposition 8 would eliminate this fundamental right and treat people within the L.G.B.T. community as second-class citizens.
Many would argue that gay and lesbian couples do have fair treatment as these couples can gain a domestic partnership. Though domestic partnerships, according to wikipedia.com, are "a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life but are neither joined by a traditional marriage nor a civil union." Domestic partnerships are documents and this form of union does not offer the same respect and commitment as a traditional marriage ceremony.
Just imagine if a heterosexual couple was denied by the government the right to have a traditional marriage (the scenario that is showcased in many commercials for vote no on Prop 8 on television) and forced to take the second option of getting a domestic partnership, an option that is less dignified than a regular marriage ceremony.
This scenario also brings up another important argument. The government, religious organizations, conservative organizations and in general the public should not decide whether a couple should or shouldn't get married. Couples, whether heterosexual or gay, should decide for themselves whether to make such a strong commitment or not. As best stated from the official Vote No on Prop 8 website, "Eliminating fundamental rights for same-sex couples treats them differently under the law"
To many, gay marriage does not seem like such a big deal and several would agree to legalize gay marriage. In a survey taken among three American history classes at Helix, out of 70 students 18 voted yes, 43 voted no and 9 students were undecided. Though some see this as challenging the traditional values of marriage, stated on the website Protectmarrige.com, many believe that gay marriage, "undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it."
Bridget Fitch, an active member of the Gay-Straight Alliance here at Helix, was asked why many citizens feel the need to eliminate same-sex marriage. "I think it's because they're scared of things that are different, they want to live in a time that is already past. They want things to be like how they've always been, but in a world that's moving it won't happen."
Hopefully with time the public will change, and stop the hate and vote no on Prop 8. As explained by senior Taylor Kahal, "I hope more people will allow it (same-sex marriage) and accept itbut that doesn't mean it's going to happen. People just need to learn and get over their arrogance."
Just as Taylor Kahal and Bridget Fitch hinted and Bob Dylan stated, "The times they are changing" and will continue to do so. Proposition 8 is overall an unwanted and intolerant rule created by backward thinking conservatives who are trying to slow down the evolution process of democracy within the United States.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
I hope you enjoyed his article and for those that live in California I hope you vote no on prop 8!!!. The lyrics were found in the website songmeanings.org
But I love my journalism class and I love to write in general.
This article is about proposition 8 a bill, for those of you unaware, that's in the California 2008 ballot which is trying to get rid of same-sex marrige. Earlier this year in June the California supreme court allowed for same-sex couples to get married but sadly there's people that want to abolish this. If this bill is passed in California then same-sex marriage will be banned. I voiced my opinion against this proposition. I think it's hurtful and dehumanizing but anyway please read my article about prop 8
Stop the Hate, Vote No on Prop 8
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
In the opening stanza to the song The Times They Are a-Changin' Bob Dylan describes the need for people to evolve and accept the changes in the world around them. Written in 1964, during a time when everything -- including politics, civil rights, women's liberation, sexuality, youth and ideas -- was changing, this balled gained huge success for its strong message of social change. Though written in 1964, the message in The Times They Are a-Changin' is still as relevant today as it was when it was first released.
What's important to note is that politics and ideas are always changing, such as the issue of gay marriage. For many years the people among the L.G.B.T. (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community have been denied the right to get married to their same-sex partner. Though for the past five years the Supreme Court has allowed some states to legalize gay marriage. The first was in 2004 in Massachusetts, then in California in the beginning of 2008 and recently Connecticut. A vast amount of other states are trying their best as well to legalize gay marriage.
In the state of California on May 15th of this year the Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage and allowed for gay marriage to be legalized. The law went into effect on June 16, 2008, according to an article in the New York Times.
Though a great amount of support has surrounded this new law, a backlash of opposition has surfaced as well.
According to wikipedia.com, Proposition 8, located in this years California General Election ballot titled Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry, was, "submitted for the ballot by petitioners with the title "California Marriage Protection Act." This ballot was started in opposition to the new law in California that legalized same-sex marriage.
Because of this ballot on November 4th, the people of California must decide whether to eliminate or keep same-sex marriage legal.
Though the people and organizations that are for this proposal have made statements as to why Proposition 8 should be passed, citizens of California - and, for the matter, all over the country -- need to realize that Proposition 8 is dehumanizing and needs to be defeated. Simply stated by Helix sophomore Bridget Fitch, "Proposition 8 is taking away rights!"
There are myriad reasons why people need to vote no on Prop 8. The main vital reasons are best summed up from an excerpt of an article from the L.A. Times Editorial, stating, "Proposition 8 would eliminate the fundamental right to same-sex marriage. The very act of denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry - traditionally the highest legal and societal recognition of a loving commitment - by definition relegates them and their relationship to second class status."
To clarify the main message in the above statement, all people, including people of the L.G.B.T. community, are to be treated equal and have the right to make a sacred commitment to each other and should be able, like any other heterosexual couple, to get married. Proposition 8 would eliminate this fundamental right and treat people within the L.G.B.T. community as second-class citizens.
Many would argue that gay and lesbian couples do have fair treatment as these couples can gain a domestic partnership. Though domestic partnerships, according to wikipedia.com, are "a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life but are neither joined by a traditional marriage nor a civil union." Domestic partnerships are documents and this form of union does not offer the same respect and commitment as a traditional marriage ceremony.
Just imagine if a heterosexual couple was denied by the government the right to have a traditional marriage (the scenario that is showcased in many commercials for vote no on Prop 8 on television) and forced to take the second option of getting a domestic partnership, an option that is less dignified than a regular marriage ceremony.
This scenario also brings up another important argument. The government, religious organizations, conservative organizations and in general the public should not decide whether a couple should or shouldn't get married. Couples, whether heterosexual or gay, should decide for themselves whether to make such a strong commitment or not. As best stated from the official Vote No on Prop 8 website, "Eliminating fundamental rights for same-sex couples treats them differently under the law"
To many, gay marriage does not seem like such a big deal and several would agree to legalize gay marriage. In a survey taken among three American history classes at Helix, out of 70 students 18 voted yes, 43 voted no and 9 students were undecided. Though some see this as challenging the traditional values of marriage, stated on the website Protectmarrige.com, many believe that gay marriage, "undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it."
Bridget Fitch, an active member of the Gay-Straight Alliance here at Helix, was asked why many citizens feel the need to eliminate same-sex marriage. "I think it's because they're scared of things that are different, they want to live in a time that is already past. They want things to be like how they've always been, but in a world that's moving it won't happen."
Hopefully with time the public will change, and stop the hate and vote no on Prop 8. As explained by senior Taylor Kahal, "I hope more people will allow it (same-sex marriage) and accept itbut that doesn't mean it's going to happen. People just need to learn and get over their arrogance."
Just as Taylor Kahal and Bridget Fitch hinted and Bob Dylan stated, "The times they are changing" and will continue to do so. Proposition 8 is overall an unwanted and intolerant rule created by backward thinking conservatives who are trying to slow down the evolution process of democracy within the United States.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
I hope you enjoyed his article and for those that live in California I hope you vote no on prop 8!!!. The lyrics were found in the website songmeanings.org