Wes, I tried posting this to your blog, but can't seem to get it to accept it. (Readers: Something is wrong with Blogger today. If you would like to comment, e-mail me at wesblackman@gmail.com and I will make a post for you.)
After witnessing Obama's acceptance speech and having some faith rekindled that we are indeed a country of people who continue to work towards the ideals of equality for all, the passing of amendment 2 reminds us that fear, intolerance and ignorance are still deeply rooted in our society.
It serves us well to remember that F.E.A.R. stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Simply put it is not a moral compass that guided those who voted for 2, rather fear.
Regardless of faith, political affiliation or upbringing, affording the same rights, benefits and privileges to all is a core principle in a democracy. To feel otherwise is, in my opinion, allowing fear to override this principle is what happened.
We were given new hope to believe in our country, our leaders and ourselves last night. However we were also given proof that there is still a long way to go. Accepting one loss should never signal defeat !
After witnessing Obama's acceptance speech and having some faith rekindled that we are indeed a country of people who continue to work towards the ideals of equality for all, the passing of amendment 2 reminds us that fear, intolerance and ignorance are still deeply rooted in our society.
It serves us well to remember that F.E.A.R. stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Simply put it is not a moral compass that guided those who voted for 2, rather fear.
Regardless of faith, political affiliation or upbringing, affording the same rights, benefits and privileges to all is a core principle in a democracy. To feel otherwise is, in my opinion, allowing fear to override this principle is what happened.
We were given new hope to believe in our country, our leaders and ourselves last night. However we were also given proof that there is still a long way to go. Accepting one loss should never signal defeat !
Tom McGow
North L St.From another reader:
I am hopeful that the US Supreme Court will eventually find this type of discrimination in violation of the US Constitution. I am not hopeful....I KNOW this will happen.....just need some better people on the bench (think HILLARY). Until then, I shall be hiding in my crawl space.
From,
"GV"
My take on its passage:
I am surprised. Especially so since Florida went for Obama and that means that many of same people supporting the change represented with his election did not extend that support for non-traditional relationships. It means to me that social progress and equality can take an agonizingly long time to achieve and is many times done in fits and starts.
But we are on the path. The limitations on achievement and freedom in this country that many people feel have been lifted today are still in place for certain groups. Eventually, we will come to a time when all human adult relationships are worthy of celebration, support and due the same benefits and rights as all others. That will be the day that the stigma associated with who you love, who you sleep with, will disappear. It will be a day when we are free to be ourselves without the glare of society's prejudicial eye. That can only help increase the self-esteem of people in non-traditional relationships.
It is unfortunate too that a whole group of people may find previous benefits jeopardized and legal issues arise - making life more complicated for them - due to the narrow view of what an adult, human, intimate relationship should be. Indeed, fear can be a powerful emotion.
My take on its passage:
I am surprised. Especially so since Florida went for Obama and that means that many of same people supporting the change represented with his election did not extend that support for non-traditional relationships. It means to me that social progress and equality can take an agonizingly long time to achieve and is many times done in fits and starts.
But we are on the path. The limitations on achievement and freedom in this country that many people feel have been lifted today are still in place for certain groups. Eventually, we will come to a time when all human adult relationships are worthy of celebration, support and due the same benefits and rights as all others. That will be the day that the stigma associated with who you love, who you sleep with, will disappear. It will be a day when we are free to be ourselves without the glare of society's prejudicial eye. That can only help increase the self-esteem of people in non-traditional relationships.
It is unfortunate too that a whole group of people may find previous benefits jeopardized and legal issues arise - making life more complicated for them - due to the narrow view of what an adult, human, intimate relationship should be. Indeed, fear can be a powerful emotion.
![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhHyCn84ZIQ/WezjlEL-0tI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/CzkhriK6zpEJJ3d9Je1495d49gIhnMlxACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
