Well all....I really do not know what to say. I am at a loss for words--or at least the right words, so I will make an honest, but undoubtedly futile attempt, nonetheless.
I have taken to not posting for a while because I found that I really was trying too hard to be interesting, funny, witty, yadda, yadda, yadda. I know that I certainly do not want to read drivel, so why should anyone else. I have decided to come back to the keyboard (as it were) because I am struggling with being able to wrap my mind around something that I feel is a big issue and an important one that deserves honest discussion and discourse and airing of all concerns from both sides. It is also an issue that I, unfortunately, had to watch from the sidelines.
Let me start off by saying that I am not an overly superstitious person (unless it involves the Red Sox). However, certain events, when strung together can give the sense of what is to come. Yesterday I had a wonderful and exciting job interview. I was so happy to finally get out there and prove myself verbally to folks that are generally interested in giving me a chance to better their company. So, that was 1. Secondly, I learned that my brother has a job at Sugarloaf--if he so desires it. Living at the mountain is something we had wanted to do since we started visiting it in the mid-90s. Lastly, things are all falling into place for the wedding. We are getting down to the wire and we are meeting all the milestones with ease. Sounds good, right?
So given all the positives, it is obvious why I was riding high as the sun set on November 3, 2009. This day ended much happier than others, but was not unlike many that I have experienced in my 28 years. However, what you may or may not have realized is that November 3, 2009 was the date of the off-year elections in many states. The races in New York, New Jersey, California, and Virginia took up most of the media spotlight. However, there were some important issues put on various state ballots from coast to coast.
Now, I never intended for this to be a political blog, but I nonetheless feel the need to delve into an issue that suffered a rather crushing defeat last night in Maine. Not overwhelmingly and giving no mandate to the cause, the right of gay couples to have the same marriage rights as straight couples was voted down by just about 52% of the people. Early polls showed the side in favor of gay marriage ahead, but the lead slowly dissipated through the night. By 2 A.M. it was clear to me, through eyes bloodshot from refreshing every major and minor news website I could think of, that the Vote No On 1 side (the ones against repealing the equal marriage law) had lost.
I do not pretend to be an authority on all things politics. I do not claim to always be on the right side of every issue. But I do stand up for what I believe as well as the rights of those who disagree with me to do just that. This is what makes our country and our process so great. However, in the world of politics things are not always as they seem and the choices made in the voting booth are not always the result of honest discussion and analysis of information. There was a lot at stake last night for both sides. I can see why some people might be weary of "gay marriage" because this issue was incorrectly framed as just that. This was not about Gay marriage--it was about Equal marriage. There were no special rights being sought, only the same that are afforded to straight couples every single day in this country.
The debate around marriage equality has wrongly been thrust onto the people as an issue of gay versus straight. This is a much too simplistic and narrow framing of the issue. It is an issue of equality under the law. It is an issue of obtaining certain benefits granted by Civil Rights for citizens of this country. It is unfair, I believe, to ask someone to abide by all of the rules and regulations but fail to give them full protection and benefits. This country has had a long struggle with Civil Rights of types. And, whenever there was an Amendment to the Constitution to attempt to fix these problems, the language was broad as to encapsulate all that might fall under that clause.
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution (Section 1)states that:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This was done in order to bring freed slaves into the fold of citizenship. However, if it had been written specifically about freed slaves, it would never have been as powerful or as lasting. There is a lot in this Amendment that speaks to what is happening today. And, there is a reason why it was an Amendment rather than a ballot question--It never would have passed. Still, to this day, there are some people in some places that would not vote for some of the rights that all citizens take for granted.
Civil Rights are too important and too guaranteed to ever be put on the ballot because fear, mistrust, ignorance, misinformation, and simple reluctance to change often win over careful thought and consideration. When Maine extended marriage rights to include couples that happened to be gay, it was a great step forward. It was also not forcing acceptance of those that were against it. It did not force any church to marry gay couples, it did not force any other state to recognize the union. It did not do anything extra. It simply extended rights that were already freely enjoyed by the heterosexual married public--as they should be.
Dirigo--our state motto--means: 'I lead'. This is why Maine has been looked to in many important elections since its rise to statehood in 1820. This is why there is the saying: 'As goes Maine, so goes the nation.' So Maine went last night--52% to 48% percent. This is not the result that I had hoped for, but I am not willing to except defeat on this issue. Also, I am not willing to call everyone on the winning side a bigot or a homophobe--though I am sure there are those who exercised their rights as ANY OTHER CITIZEN. This will be revisited. This will be debated. And, just as so many other important Civil Rights issues in this country, will be taken up by more courageous people and eventually a courageous Congress and a courageous President and will finally bear the fruit of so many efforts from across the country in the form of Equal Civil Rights and Benefits for all. I just hope I am around to see that day.
I am still proud to be from Maine, just disappointed in the way she went.
*That is just my 2 cents.
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