I heard today that there was going to be a protest in North Hollywood tonight. There was mention of it on Craigslist as well as other places on the Internet. And at first I couldn't believe it. But when it was mentioned that a church was being targeted in this march it became obvious that this was indeed happening.
I am amazed. I am amazed at the outcry on the internet surrounding this proposition. I am amazed at how many No on 8 people are speaking out on the Internet and now, it would seem, in person. 52% of the state of California voted for proposition 8. There was even support for Proposition 8 among homosexual people. The people spoke loud and clear and the response to this vote is to protest, block traffic, target a church for their monetary donations and otherwise throw a loud tantrum? What the hell is wrong with this picture?
If a proposition to approve of same-gender marriage was passed and those opposed to it were protesting, marching and targeting the likes of PG&E, Apple Computers and Google, wouldn't those that fought for their proposition be up in arms at the thought of that? What names would they call these people? How would they be depicted in the media? How would things be different?
If the feelings of those opposed to maintaining marriage as being between a man and woman felt as they do why did they not attempt to get a ballot measure passed like those that got Prop 8 on the ballot? Why did they think the outcome would be different now as opposed to eight years ago when we as a state voted the exact same way? And how in the world can they now turn to the courts to have a vote overturned... again? If those that oppose marriage being between a man and woman really had the desire to see marriage opened up why would they not ask the state to vote on it?
Is it perhaps because they knew they couldn't win it by vote and instead chose to turn to the same court system that overturned the people's vote last time? That would be my guess.
And for the record, your tantrums, pity parties and whining in public are not really going to sway anyone's opinion. It might make people mad at you, but I can almost guarantee you no one will choose to vote your way or support your cause - that opposed you before - if you continue to attempt to quiet their voices at the behest of a handful of judges.
My wife and I have been trying something lately that involves feeding our children later than usual. No, we are not trying to torture our children nor are we trying to cause them distress or discomfort. To the contrary we are trying to help them eat better and maintain a more controlled environment at dinner.
What we have done is started to have dinner closer to 8:00 PM as opposed to 6:00 PM. Yes, it is later. But because of the timing of dinner the kids are typically hungrier when it is served. Which means they eat better. And they eat quieter. Which makes for less waste, less stress and better overall health for our kids.
It is pretty neat to sit down and have the entire table start scarfing like ravenous wolves atop a kill. It is even neater to see a table full of empty plates after dinner. I am amazed that this is working. And the kids are not complaining. And neither are mom and I.
If you have kids and have noticed that dinner time usually involves some sort of raucous behavior and lots of uneaten food, try pushing dinner time back a bit. It might make things a little better for your dinner time.
And it might make bed time easier, too. At least it has for us. Bed time now no longer involves laps being around the house, getting tackled in the hallway or hearing toys being chucked into a wall. Nope. Now bedtime is a little more relaxed. Kind of like Winnie the Pooh after a visit to Rabbit's place.
There were probably no greater a controversial ballot proposition this past election than that of Proposition 8 in my home state of California. The erroneously named "Same-sex marriage ban" proposition had gotten the attention of just about every state in the nation along with just about every media outlet in the nation. It was one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive proposition campaign ever and it is likely to be far from over now that California has, for the second time, voted to recognize marriage as being between a man and a woman.
For those unfamiliar to this proposition (have you been living under a rock?), the entire premise of the proposition is the adding of the following text to the California constitution:
"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."
Somehow this has gotten the name of the "Same-sex marriage ban" proposition. The "OFFICIAL TITLE AND SUMMARY" as "PREPARED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL" in the California voter guide was "ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY". It was even referred to in some circles as the "Gay Marriage ban" proposition.
I have to tell you I was extremely disappointed with just about every aspect of Proposition 8 with the exception of it's passing. The text of the proposed constitutional amendment was the exact same text that was proposed in the 2000 election under proposition 22. The text of the law specifically states "marriage between a man and woman". Minor apologies to those of you who believe that this was a same-sex issue, but the reality of it is that this proposition was for people that believe marriage to be between a man and woman. This was not a "same-sex" issue, it was a "marriage between a man and woman" issue.
I found it ironic that so many people turned the desire of a group of people that want to protect marriage into something that was based on same-gender marriage or homosexual marriage. That is ludicrous. And to say it eliminated rights is just as ludicrous. In 2000 the people of the state of California voted to make marriage valid only when between a man and woman. 52 of 58 counties voted for Prop 22. It was passed overwhelmingly by the people of the state.
Eight years later four judges, four, on the California supreme court overruled the people's decision stating the Prop 22 was unconstitutional because it discriminated against couples of the same gender that sought marriage. Since when have judges been given the right to overturn vote results? If they can do that, why vote at all? Why not just ask judges to pass all of our laws for us?
So they did. They overturned Prop 22 and for the last five and a half months marriages were being performed between couples of the same gender. They in effect handed the right of marriage to people that up until that time did not have the right to marry under that context. Keep in mind that people of the same gender that have sought to become united have been able to do so for some time now under California's and America's laws recognizing civil unions. The only difference is that the term "marriage" has not been recognized in California as marriage unless it was between a man and a woman. Until the judges got involved.
So their decision then gave the Attorney General the ability to label Proposition 8 as "Eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry". Astonishing. Why not read the text of the proposed law and label the proposition as such? "Recognizes marriage as being between a man and a woman". That sounds more like the proposed law to me.
For the record I want to say that I have no ill feelings toward anyone. I don't hate homosexual people. I am not afraid of homosexual people. I am not mad at homosexual people. My opinions on marriage are not about the choices people make in their lifestyle. They are about what I believe marriage is. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Period.
I do, however, get bothered somewhat by folks that believe that because someone makes a choice they should be granted rights that they would not normally have had they not made that choice. These are the people that make statements associating homosexuality to ethnicity or gender. People that believe the struggle of the homosexual community is akin to the struggle of African-Americans that marched with Dr. Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. People that associate homosexuality to me being a male or me being Mexican. Thanks for trying to make your point but please do not place your sexual preference in the same category as my ethnic heritage or my gender. I didn't choose to be a man nor did I choose to be Mexican. Homosexuality cannot be compared to these.
It can be compared to being a Christian. Or being a smoker. Or being a Republican. Those are all choices that are made. And not one of them carries with it a privilege afforded it simply because one aligns himself or herself with that particular group. A smoker that is told to smoke outside a restaurant because it is a non-smoking restaurant is not being discriminated against. The smoker chooses to smoke and must smoke according to the law.
A man that wants to marry has every right to marry. But if that man chooses to wed another man, according to the law, he cannot. He can unite with the other man in a civil union. But he cannot marry him. Simple. Understandable. Nondiscriminatory.
I am glad the political campaigning is over. I am glad the elections are over. And I am glad that Proposition 8 passed. I know this is not over yet. We live in a state where when certain people don't get what they want they throw a fit and scream until someone bends. I can assure you there will still be noise on this matter for some time.
But I can also assure you that the state of California has spoken in a mighty voice and it has said clearly that marriage, regardless of your position on it, is supposed to be between a man and woman. It is clear. It is understandable. And now it is constitutional.
History was made tonight. Put simply, a major shift has been made in the thinking and philosophy of the nation as a whole. We, the United States of America, have voted for someone that is not white.
While I cannot say that I am thrilled about the election of Mr. Obama as president I cannot help but be thrilled to be alive at a time like this. No, I didn't vote for him. But it is still historic. It is still a great learning lesson for my kids. It is still an opportunity to pray for our leaders. And regardless of whether it was McCain or Obama I can feel good knowing I did nothing to elect him. However, he is my president so he is deserving of my family's prayers.
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I love how Timothy did not leave any wiggle room when he wrote this. He did not say that if you approve of the king, or agree with those that are in authority, or if you voted for the new president that you should pray for that person. No, he said that we should pray for, intercede for and make supplications for all people, kings and all those in authority. Make no mistake about it, president-elect Obama is a man in a position of authority.
I do not agree with him. And he was not my choice for president. And all of my children knew my position on Obama (Adriannah almost cried when they announced Obama was the winner - and they were not tears of joy). But I do want him to be saved. I want him to think in a manner consistent with how Christ would think when he makes decisions. To that end the first thing we did, as a family, when it was announced Obama had won, even as Senator McCain was giving his concession speech, was pray for Barack Obama, his family, his appointees, our congress and our country. That is what we are supposed to do, regardless of our feelings for the man. Have you prayed for him yet?
To my new president I have only this to say to you: Congratulations on shattering a line that has desperately needed to be shattered. Please use discernment, wisdom and conscience in office rather than partisan ideology. We have had more than enough of that.
Regardless of your choice for president, your philosophies on the propositions or your stance on politics, tomorrow will be an historic day for our nation.
Tomorrow we will either elect the first minority presidential nominee or the first female vice-presidential nominee. Times, they are a-changin' America. Aren't you glad to be alive?
If you asked anyone 20 years ago what they would have thought about an African American man as president, they would have laughed out loud and said that Jessie Jackson will never become president. If you would ask anyone around that time if a woman could ever hold the office of President or Vice-President, you would have probably gotten the same thing about Geraldine Ferraro.
Oh no, we are living in such a different time. We are living in a time when it is total commonplace for a black man to be running for the highest office in the land or for a woman to be a vice-presidential running mate. I am so glad to be alive at a time like this.
I love this country. And no matter what pans out tomorrow (I am not voting for either Obama or McCain) I will be able to say my family was witness to history. The only question is will we be praying for President-elect Obama or President-elect McCain?
Today was kind of a neat day. Though it was longer than I would have likes it we were able to spend some time with my family, my in-laws and my sister-in-law.
We all got together at my sister-in-laws apartment to celebrate my wife's parents birthday. They have birthdays that are very close to one another and, given the nature of the economy and the fact that my mother-in-law was recently laid off, it made sense to maximize this event. So my wife and her sister decided they were going to make a dinner for their parents to celebrate their birthday.
Cioppino was the order of the day and it was some kind of good. I have never had it before and I gotta say I could get used to a few more bowls of that stuff. It is sort of like crawfish stew mixed with a seafood soup. It has a very oceany flavor and it is very filling. Plus it was hot and the day was chilly so it made the end of the day so much better.
Throw in the fact that we were surrounded by family and food and football and, well, you can rest assured that I had a fantabulous time. Oh yeah, and the Colts beat the Patriots. If nothing else happened tonight that in and of itself would have been enough to make the night better than ever.
I have spent some time recently complaining of my failing economy. No, not the economy in general, but the economy of the Gonzalez household. It is not that I do not earn enough money. To the contrary, I am very blessed in that regard. No, the trouble is that I have been very irresponsible with my money.
I have let thing get out of control and out of hand and, as a result, I am reaping the consequence of my decisions. And I can tell you the consequences are bad. Really bad. In fact, you know it is bad when a bank closes your account for you. Or in my case, all of your accounts.
I have had several months worth of financial trauma in my house. It was to be expected considering the way I have (mis)managed my money for the past few years. So naturally this financial crisis has had an effect on my bank account which has, for quite some time, been sub-zero in terms of a balance.
Apparently banks do not like this. And as a result they closed all of my accounts. All of my checking accounts and all of my savings accounts. At least they were scheduled to close until I begged and pleaded with the bank to only close the account that was the worst instead of all of them.
For some strange reason the bank agreed and gave me a stern warning that I should not let my accounts ever get into that situation ever again.
After feeling somewhat humiliated by this incident I left the bank with my head held high knowing that even in the worst of times I can still manage to keep perspective. See, as I walked out of the bank I got into my truck that I still own and drove to my house that I still have. I have a wonderful family and a wonderful life.
Yes, it is hard at the moment. But it has been difficult before and we have gotten through it. I can see us getting through this one, too. I think it is just that the situation is so terrible at the moment that I think I will see even worse times before I see better times. And I am prepared for that.
Afterall, it was me who put me here.
