Prop 8 & Gay Marriage

A mistake was made in California. The passage of proposition 8, a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being only between a man and a woman, was a mistake. The California state supreme court now has a chance to correct that mistake. Let us hope they do the right thing.

Civil rights, human rights, gay rights, should not be put up for a vote. The minority must be protected from the tyranny of the majority. It is time to put away the hatred and bigotry. The discrimination has gone on too long. Our religious institutions are largely to blame, for it is from these institutions the bigotry and hatred comes.

Gay rights are civil rights are human rights. Discrimination is always wrong. In the future, those who oppose gay marriage now, will appear as ignorant and foolish as those who opposed interracial marriage fifty years ago.

Make no mistake, if you oppose gay marriage you stand on the side of ignorance and hate; you stand in darkness and shame.

Indeed, it is only a matter of time. Prop 8 passed with only the slightest majority. Studies show the proposition passed based on the votes of the old and the uneducated. The old will die. The uneducated can be enlightened. Very soon the majority will recognize what many Americans recognized long ago: homophobia is wrong.

Should Sam Go?

Sam Adams is a mayor under siege. Adams is under fire for lying about a 2005 sexual relationship with an 18-year-old legislative intern, Beau Breedlove, while he was a city commissioner. 
Adams was beginning a run for mayor in 2007 when rumors of the affair began to surface. At the time Adams denied any sexual contact with the intern.  Adams, the first openly gay mayor of a top 40 US city, now admits the lies he told about the affair were a mistake.  In addition to apologizing to the city at large, Adams went out of his way to apologize directly to the Portland gay community.  Nevertheless, the question remains:  Should Sam go?
Most agree that it is not the homosexual nature of the affair that is troubling.  Rather, it is the deceit around the affair; and, to a lesser extent, the age of Beau Breedlove at the time of the affair.  Rumors persist that the affair began before Breedlove turned 18, although both the Mayor and Breedlove deny this.
Should Sam go?  The political truism holds true:  the cover-up is worse than the crime.  Why did Sam lie?  Why did he not simply utter a “no comment”?  Why, oh why?  Now Portland is left with a mess.  What looked to be a young, dynamic Mayor, with enthusiasm and ability; is but now another dirty politician, awash in scandal.  And Portland weeps for what might have been.  

Homophobia & the Pope

The pope is wrong. He is blinded by prejudice. His words are a disservice to humanity. It is sad that a supposed representative of peace and love goes out of his way to slander and malign good people. The pope's homophobia represents a deep flaw in his character. And indeed, anybody who shares the pope's homophobia is equally flawed.

Can't we all get along?. Should we not work together in mutual respect? Rather than pointing fingers and making accusations which only inflame the passions, why can't we exercise tolerance and good will?

Gay Marriage

Acceptance of gay marriage is only a matter of time.  The numbers are moving fast.  The only people who oppose gay marriage are the old, the religious, amd the ignorant.  Fear and hatred of homosexuality is being replaced by tolerance and understanding.  Moral progress is possible.