[Tex]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I find the epilogue to the Prop. 8 vote a fascinating morality play. What's the right answer to the issue? I think I know. I've had an exchange with LA Ute and he didn't disuade me. But I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

I'm referring to the picketing, the forced resignations, businesses boycotted, etc. If it's non-violent, if it involves an exercise of First Amendment rights, what's the problem? I heard the recent piece NPR ran on these events. The piece was sympathetic to the Prop. 8 supporters who have suffered a backlash. I didn't hear the whole show, but interestingly enough three of the four people they featured were Mormons.

But all these people said the same thing essentially, "Hey, gays are some of my best friends, they have spent a lot of money in my business, our theater has run plays written by gays about gays [and so on, etc. etc. etc.], they have helped me pay my mortgage." Then the clincher: "I was just doing what my bishop told me to do." They all say essentially the same thing.

My reaction: HELLLLOOOOO!!!!!!! What did you expect would happen? You're a grown up. Maybe next time you won't just do what an authority figure tells you to do. Dipshit, you blindly do what you're told then don't want to suffer any consequence for your actions. You're a baby! Sorry, that's my reaction. I'm asking here if I'm wrong.

I've started reading "The Kindly Ones." The narrator is an unrepentant former member of the SS who committed terrible atrocities and then slipped through the allied net at the conclusion of the war. The book is one of those rare ones that perfectly blend repulsive horror story and compulsively readablility; it's unputdownable. In the opening pages the narrator lays out a very articulate rationalization for himself and others in his position. It boils down to this: "Go ahead and judge me, but I never asked to be a mass murderer. In war, we all lose our right to live, and to not murder. The difference between you and me is who is telling us to do what. Most people do what their authority figures tell them to do."

These people all seem to be saying the same thing. What am I missing?

Had I been able to vote on Prop 8, I would've voted against it because I oppose gay marriage.

I'm referring to the picketing, the forced resignations, businesses boycotted, etc. If it's non-violent, if it involves an exercise of First Amendment rights, what's the problem?

There's something inherently amusing about organizations named Californians Against Hate doing this kind of stuff.