No Props for Prop 8- Part 1

I've been debating with myself about if I should talk about this issue or not. Then there was the fact that if I talk about this issue, I need to decide just how much I'm willing to talk about myself. I think I've got the courage right now to talk about Prop 8 simply because my brain is all fuzzy from the drugs I have to take for the pain I've been having. Still, we're talking about it.



As many of you know, Prop 8 is the proposition to amend the California consitution to state that marriage is between a man and a woman. That's all. The Yes on Prop 8 website (http://whatisprop8.com/) leads one to believe that the very act of Prop 8 not going through would be enough to have the following six consequences:

1. Children in schools will be taught about same-sex marriages.
2. Churches can get sued for refusing to perform same-sex marriages.
3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged to put children into same-sex homes.
4. Religious schools with married housing will be forced to provide housing for same-sex couples even if same-sex marriage is against church creed.
5. Pastors that speak against same-sex marriage may be sued for hate speech and risk fines.
6. It will cost you money.

People, please! They're twisting a lot of things in order to change how you're going to vote. I know that I'm blogging late in the game, but this is something that I need to talk about, or else I'll feel like I've failed myself. Kids aren't being taught about marriage in schools. It's assumed that things like that are left for the home. That's one of the reasons why we have so many unwed mothers and such a high divorce rate.

Churches still have the option to choose who they perform ceremonies for. Maybe they won't be able to say no to a couple on just the basis of orientation, but if they provide other reasons, things that have stopped straight couples as well, things should be fine. 9 times out of 10, gay people don't want to have weddings in a church that won't accept them in the first place.

Adoption agencies. Aren't there enough kids out there that need parents? I've known many straight couples that were terrible parents. What gives a religious agency the right to turn down a couple who wants to love a child that doesn't have parents simply because they don't follow the same creed as that company? Do the Catholic companies turn down non-Catholics? Sounds like a double standard if they don't.

I don't know about you, but my religious school doesn't have married housing. Most religious schools don't have people who are openly gay. Do you know why? The religious community has turned homosexuality into some big unforgiveable sin. There typically are two reactions- kicking people out of churches or forcing them to go through programs that are to "get rid" of the gayness. That annoys me.

As far as being sued for preaching against homosexual marriage, the only instance of that happening was in Canada, a different country entirely with its own constitution and set of rules. The state has no right to speak against what a church preaches, unless it is specificially to incite or otherwise inspire criminal acts.

Finally, costing you money. They cite that different lawsuits will end up taking money out of your pocket. Now, I don't know if more civil suits would mean that more civilians would end up paying more money, but there are going to be more court cases either way.

Part two will come later.

Excerpts from Real Life

Today is the twenty-first day of the worst headache of my life. Considering I've been getting at least three weekly headaches since I was twelve years old (read: 8 years), that says something. To be honest- and let's face it, sometimes a blog is the only place you can feel fully honest- this scares me to death. There are so many things that it could be caused by, so many possibilities. My mother always says that I row the boat before I even get into the water, saying that I worry before it's even an issue, but this is very real. I know full well that they will be checking for tumors, for vascular issues, and for a few other very serious conditions. I've been tested before, but that was 6-7 years ago. A lot can change in that time.

I don't like being unprepared, either. I like to have plans and stratagies. I'm probably the only person at my school with a fire-safe lock box for the important documents, but hey. If there's a fire or earthquake, my important documents are safe. I don't, however, have an "In case of cancer" plan.

To be honest? I'd probably quit school for a little while. I'd get my father to come down here and we'd haul my stuff home. I'd do my treatment at home, maybe a little bit of online schooling through the local community college. Make a few trips to see the really important people in my life.

I'm tired of the pain, too. The pain's been so bad that I just can't do more than one or two things a day. Unfortunately, this is tech week and I can't bring myself to go to class. I can't focus and I can't be around bright lights long enough to actually sit through a class. I went to chapel today and it was torture.

Please. Pray for me. I have an appointment on Monday with the doctor. He's a little limited as to what tests he can do due to certain complications, but hopefully, we'll have an answer soon. Pray that I can have the strength to make it through opening weekend this weekend. Pray that I can stop worrying about all the what ifs and take peace in the knowledge that whatever it is, God has a plan for me.