And right now, California itself looks like a giant zit on the face of America.
I cannot. Do it. Again.
I cannot muster the energy to tell California what an a-hole it is again. I can however, hope that New York steps up soon and puts that left-coast loser in its place. My sincerest apologies to all of the wonderful gays and good people who do reside in the "Golden" state; but I'm exhausted from the beating our people are taking in your political arenas.
Like a volcanic explosion, this issue seems to be inspiring vomitus vitriol, hot poisonous ideas from the dregs of the earth erupting and spreading their slow, steaming, sludge all over the beautiful shiny society--proving once again that the old ways will rule when they see fit.
Basically, from what I can gather, it went down like this: in 2008, the Cali supreme court said gay marriage would be legal in the state. Then the homophobes and crazy religious types pushed Prop 8 onto the ballet in November. The A-holes voted to make gay marriage illegal. Then this was appealed, once again to the Cali supreme court, and yesterday they ruled that marriage is defined narrowly--between a man and a woman only. However, the 18,000 gay couples who got married in that short window of time are still legally married. WHAT. THE. FUCK. I'm sorry, I never curse here on PWA, but this issue has me hot and bothered. It's inconceivable to me that some people's marriages are legal and others aren't--but to further extend this charade and say now that some GAY marriages are legal--Because the courts made a booboo? Because they know this is total nonsense? Because they really don't care about justice, equal rights, liberty for ALL?--makes them look asinine.
The only thought giving me any consolation at the moment is one I came upon in the fourth grade. When thinking of this faulty state and it's faulty logic, and it's faulty faults running through that fault-lined hunk of land, I like to think this thought: One day, California will blast itself off the side of America and the Pacific Ocean will swallow it whole. Now, if only we could get all the good people in New York that weekend. Hmmm....maybe they'll do a Rent revival somewhere around that time.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Cali at Fault
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6 comments:
and the really sad thing is that prop 8 only passed by a small margin. 52% voted for proposition 8. Than means that 48% - nearly half of all Californians voted against prop 8, meaning nearly half were in FAVOR of gay marriage. That sounds to me like the homophobes had a better campaign than the gay community prior to the election. It certainly was no landslide, and represented no mandate from the electorate.
Okay. Wow. Normally I love your blog to pieces (I respect your wit and insight *so much*), but the all-out state bashing pretty much knotted me up and brought tears to my eyes. Not the good kind. I'm just as crushed over Prop 8 as you are, and I do think we've got all sorts of *mess* and *not right* to straighten out, but the fact stands that marriage equality isn't going to happen in California today. And that sucks, it really, really does, but in four years, when today's high schoolers get voting rights, there will be change. Compassion is necessary from all sides, and patience, when coupled with true dedication to the cause, can only help us here.
Yes, the state of California seems worthy of nationwide ridicule at times, but only because it is so thoroughly misrepresented in mass media. California isn't Berkeley or San Francisco or LA. It's huge and diverse and divided. Lashing out at a state, a *physical space*, for the deeply disputed politics of its population is, well... Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
I understand that you're mad and tired. So am I. But I'm not a Californian simply because California strikes me as a leftist sort of place to be; the passage/upholding of Prop 8 doesn't mean California has failed me somehow. I'm a California because I can't imagine *living* (and yes, marriage equality might be a coveted part of a fulfilling life, but it's certainly not the only part) anywhere else. I wouldn't give up my Bay Area citizenship for all the other citizenships in the world, and if California legislation doesn't yet provide me with equal rights, I'll be patient and strong and willing to keep fighting until it does. Because California, the physical space that I've loved since birth, will, in time, become a political space that supports me fully. That's what I believe and what I'll work toward.
Rage away. It's cathartic and healthy. But maybe when you're through railing against all things Californian, you'll take a step back and refine your thoughts a bit. Because, as thoroughly as a empathize with how you're feeling right now, your reaction to the ruling saddens me just as much as the ruling itself.
Interesting Regina--I wonder if you would be so "understanding" if it were your favourite restaurant that refused to serve you one item on the menu because of your sexual orientation. Would you say, "well, that's not the only dish on the menu...and I still love my restaurant." Or would you recognize that this is blatant, arbitrary discrimination and boycott and/or protest.
And the "diversity" of your state should inspire more understanding of different groups not allow for the bigotry that's overwhelming the California media. It's disgusting. I think "The Hills" actually makes your state look better than it is--they may be vapid and shallow, but they're not the hateful majority that seems to be populating and regulating your fake leftist state.
Being tolerant of bigotry and patiently awaiting basic human rights will get you no-where. Did we learn nothing from the women's movement? The Civil Rights movement? They didn't just sit back and say "it's ok, we'll just wait until the high school kids can vote."
From a more talented Canadian than myself, I offer this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQCUDqKNl1s
I'm so tired FOR you, America.
As someone born & bred in California, I have to say, I agree with Anne's sentiments. I'm ashamed of this state. I'm ashamed that hatred has won twice in a row. I feel duped by out state supreme court and I feel rejected by my neighbors. This is an ugly time in America's history. I feel alienated from my homeland and I feel betrayed by my government.
No one can rile up the lesbos like you can. (p.s. It's an admirable trait; a writer who can illicit that kind of response is a writer who will make a difference) And you could totally write the piece, "Stuff Lesbians Like: Reproach"
I think that this piece is refreshingly honest. I say: Nice Work!
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