We're Missing the Point. . .

So in general I try to keep my blog very lighthearted and generally goofy and full of nonsense because honestly, that's where I feel most secure and I think generally as a blog reader, we have the most fun. Right? Good, glad we all agree!

Every now and again I feel brave enough to step out of my goofy comfort zone to make a statement and this may be one of the most uncomfortable blogs I have written in my life because I have no idea what kind of banter and Carlee hating this may erupt. BUT, I will say that if you walk away from this thinking less of me then you are missing the spirit of what I'm writing and I'd ask that you take a breath and read again. Can we all agree to that as well? Good. Please know that no part of this is meant to be mean spirited but is, for sure, meant to bring up a point. That preface complete, here we go. . .

So today is a HUGE day in our country's history. In what can only be considered one of the most important and most heated elections of all time, the country will decide what values are important and elect the man that they think can get the job done. I'm not here to plug either the conservative war vet or the extreme liberal because for a girl that finds herself wavering between the extremes, it's really a selection of the lesser of two evils.

What I would like to talk about is the second most heated debate for the election now and that is Proposition 8. For any of you living under a rock for the last many moons, it's the piece of legislation on the ballot in California that would change California's constitution to not allow gay marriage. Everyone from extreme political activists to those who are yet to have a political opinion have some sort of view on this. In fact, this very morning I sat in my cubicle and listened to a 30 minute conversation about how there are better uses for money than to push Proposition 8 and how people are intolerant and the like. Good for America that this is getting people to pay attention to legislation. Bad for many of us because in reality, I think we are missing the point.

The injustice in all of this is that the crux of this and many legislations like it has nothing to do with human rights. Now before you go all crazy on me, listen for a second. I grant that Proposition 8 in and of itself has everything to do with human rights but this is now how the debate over such oracles began. The bottom line to all of this debate has nothing to do with gay rights or straight rights or blue rights or purple rights; the main debate SHOULD be over who is allowed to make such decisions. The courts have ruled on more than one occasion that homosexuals have the right to be married and are entitled to all rights and privileges that a married couple enjoys. My question is is it the court's decision to make or should the legislature, the voice of the masses, be responsible for such a decision? That's the debate and that SHOULD be the issue.

As an LDS woman my personal views on the topic relate heavily to the conservative but that speaks nothing as to my love and appreciation for people who are living an alternative lifestyle. I may not agree with that lifestyle but I do love them just the same. Some of the brightest and most incredible people I know chose such a lifestyle in fact. But I do adamantly oppose the people that are preaching that anyone who is for Proposition 8 is some sort of bigot or hateful. I certainly have none of those feelings. But I do feel (as does the majority of this country, mind you) that it isn't up to the judicial branch, a court in any form, to make the decisions on the legality of such a union but it should, in fact, be left to the legislature to make these decisions as representatives of the masses.

It is really sad to me that the true issue behind all of this is masked by calling people haters and bigots. That's not the case and frankly, I think we're missing the point.