"Those Who Cannot Learn History Are Doomed To Repeat It"

The arguments for prop 8 make me sick and in doing my research for nov. 4th i am so overcome with frustration over this single issue. i can't even turn on the radio or watch tv without a commercial on prop 8. i'm probably only perpetuating this frustration even further by writing this, but its clear that in California the big issue is not over which presidential candidate will win the election. After all, California is a famously democratic state (knock on wood). Rather, the big debate is over the issue of gay marriages. 

Denying rights to any group based on gender, creed, race, or sexuality is unconstitutional. How can we be a land "with liberty and justice for all" if not everyone is granted equal rights. Think about it. We've been in this position before, you've heard it year after year since you were in first grade. What most people forget about history is the fact that its taught to us so that we don't repeat the same mistakes, but think about what's happening today. Its the 21st century and we're still marginalizing groups of people who go against the "norm," whatever that is.. 

I mean, lets take a look at some obvious cases throughout history where groups have been marginalized:

1. The Pilgrims faced religious persecution in England and founded this land so that they would have freedom. 

2. What did Susan B. Anthony fight for? Equal recognition for women to be apart of the democratic system. 

3. Let me bring this a little closer to home. Anti-miscegenation laws existed until the late 1800s to prohibit people of color (yes, including Filipinos) from marrying white people because they believed colored people to be beneath them, unworthy of equal rights. (Mmmhmm, that means if this act had not been deemed unconstitutional, there is no way John & Kate would have ever even had their 8 that we are all addicted to because they would never have been allowed to be together anyway.) So until fairly recently, colored people like me (and maybe you) were denied the right to marry freely. How is that any different than denying people rights based on their sexuality?

The struggle of underrepresented communities is a reoccurring theme in the history of the United States, but our ability to overcome them has always been a source of pride for this Nation. If Prop 8 passes, it will only be an example of how we have failed to learn from our mistakes of the past. Despite what political propaganda is littering mass media today, I do not believe that Prop 8 has anything to do with religion, education, children, or whatever else they are saying. I'm voting NO on Proposition 8 because I believe this country is SUPPOSED to stand for justice, freedom, and equality for all.