UPDATE: There will be a rally here in CU, so we can make our voices heard without having to go to Springfield or Chicago!
ALMA MATER AT THE U OF I
11:30 AM ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH
Find the Facebook event and say that you’ll attend, and then, most importantly, actually attend!
**
A friend of mine recently spotted that I joined a group on Facebook that is protesting the outcome of the Prop 8 vote that took place in California. When it comes to this debate I have a very strong opinion that marriage, heterosexual or otherwise, should come with no legal rights. I believe that church should be separate from state and therefore a union under the eyes of God(s) should have nothing to do with whether or not a couple is exempt from certain taxes. However, I do believe that there are benefits to these laws and therefore I do believe we should be able to have civil unions. I believe that heterosexuals and homosexuals should both be granted the right to form a union under the eyes of the government. I also believe whites should be allowed to marry blacks and I also believe a woman should be able to propose marriage to a man.
I do not believe that an adult should legally be able to form a union, marry, or have sex with a child and I do not believe that an adult should be able to form a union, marry, or have sex with an animal. Children are not mature beings and do not have a complete grasp for what these things mean. Most animals also probably lack the ability to define what these words mean to society. Therefore adults would be taking advantage of ignorant beings whom they have power over, which is, in my opinion, wrong.
**
Several other debates have arisen due to the passing of Proposition 8. One of my favorites is that the reason Prop 8 passed is due to a high turnout of the Black population. Polling data reveals that 70% of Black California voted for Proposition 8. I think people have become too p.c. when others discuss this statistic. They are called racists, and I disagree with this.
United States history has shown segregation between blacks and whites. First Blacks were slaves. Then Blacks were free but they were denied equal rights; we were kept “separate but equal.” Eventually they were given full rights, but only sort of kind of in a way I guess maybe but not really. If you glance at the suburbs of Chicago you’ll notice some very predominantly White suburbs and some very predominantly Black suburbs. The white suburbs happen to have better education systems than the Black suburbs. New Trier, one of the highest rated public high schools in Illinois, is found in the city of Winnetka. Total Population in 2000: 12,419 White Population in 2000: 11,958. Winnetka is also known for its incredibly expensive property value and gigantic homes with statues in the front yards. Robbins, a suburb on the south side, had a population of 6,635 residents in 2000, 96.3% of which was Black. What is Robbins known for? Well, one of its natives played a character on Star Trek (Uhura), but that’s about it.
Uhura/Nichelle Nichols
Maybe I’m exaggerating the “importance” of Winnetka and Robbins, but the fact of the matter is that there are many cities across the United States that are still separated by race, and what tends to be a common factor is indeed less funding for the Black cities. If there’s less education and less money there is probably also more of a dependence on God. (If you are going to view me as a bigot/asshole/blaspheme in any way, I would prefer you do so in my linking of economics and education to belief in God than a direct link between race and belief in God.) If a majority of Black cities are poorer and less educated than white cities, then this means Blacks will be more religious.
Maybe I’m absolutely wrong. Maybe God does exist and I’m just not an enlightened individual. Fine. But this does not change the main point that many Blacks believe in God.
Now, because Obama ran this year there was a very high turnout of blacks at the polls. Many people have linked the turnout of black voters with religious beliefs which in turn resulted in Proposition 8 passing in California. There are arguments for this, such as the one written above which I am sure will be misread, and there are arguments against it. How could a minority that has been oppressed for so long and is finally being represented in the White House possibly vote against another minority that is also struggling for the same rights that all heterosexuals already have? Whether it was all White people or all Black people or a mix of the two that got this proposition to pass, something tells me that God has a lot to do with it.
**
At the same time, I’m really glad that Proposition 8 did pass. If it didn’t, many gays in California would be appeased and people would just go on with their daily lives. Many gays from across the nation would probably pack up and move to California and live out the rest of their lives at Disney Land and that other theme park across the street from Disney Land. Thankfully that didn’t happen. Thankfully these rights are not going to be coming slowly one state at a time. This Saturday, November 15th, people in EVERY STATE will be gathering to protest Prop 8. The GLBT community is not going to simply be satisfied with a single state, but we will be demanding equal rights as a nation.
If you’re interested in going to one of these protests in Illinois, there will be one in Springfield, Normal, and Chicago. Information on those locations can be found here.
**
One last thing before the comments about me being a racist ensue, I have a little shout out to the people writing Opinions for the Daily Illini:
PLEASE STOP REFERRING TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS SEXUAL PREFERENCE.
Get the lingo right.
**
Here are some links in regard to Blacks and Prop 8:
http://www.jasmynecannick.com/blog/?p=2902
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/raymond-leon-roker/stop-blaming-californias_b_142018.html
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1378391.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603880.html
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-139408
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7723645.stm
Liam Reed: 1987 model, runs fairly well, few dents, starts in cold weather, no baggage, loves flea markets and canned soup. Send all hate mail, love mail, and sexual advances to withtongue@gmail.com
Comments
Tom (Tom) says:
(Posted November 13th, 2008 at 1:40 pm)
Liam Reed (Liam Reed) says:
(Posted November 13th, 2008 at 2:18 pm)
Alright, I don’t think that the Black voting community is the only reason why Prop 8 passed, but I do believe there is a lot of homophobia in the Black community, and I think that that sucks.
Mike Consalvo (Mike Consalvo) says:
(Posted November 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pm)
What about the union of man and car?
Its ironic that in 2004 Bush got re-elected because so many Bible beaters turned out to vote against gay marriage and for Bush and then in 2008 so many blacks turned out to vote against gay marriage and for Obama (who by the way is the most gay friend president we have ever had. Or will have, since he isn’t in office yet). I do not believe you are racist and agree with you 100%.
Let’s also not forget the Mormons role in all of this. The Mormons donated some $25 million in support of Prop 8. Perhaps if the ballot had a measure stating that it was ok for 80 year old men to marry 13 year old girls they would have thrown their money against Prop 8. Yes, the Mormons of all people, the same people who advocate polygamy and underage girls marrying adult men and consider puberty as consent. And I want to stress I’m all for polygamy, I believe that as long as all partners know, you should be able to marry as many people as you want. But the underage marriage? That’s wrong and disgusting. But in their eyes that is a more wholesome environment than gay marriage. Religion………….is there a bigger pile of bullshit out there?
Not Mary Z (Not Mary Z) says:
(Posted November 14th, 2008 at 10:18 am)
I agree with you that religion and homophobia in the black community played a significant part in the passing of Prop 8, it’s also important to remember that this one aspect intersected with many other factors. Generational differences. Religion and homophobia in other racial categories, INCLUDING white folk. Or, as it is posted on the facebook event, inability of the LGBT community to mobilize. So yes, while it does suck balls that a minority group might discriminate against another minority group, we can’t chalk it up to just one group.
Liamz (Liamz) says:
(Posted November 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am)
Right, I agree. For some reason I don’t think you guys are understanding what I mean when I say things like “I don’t think that the Black voting community is the only reason why Prop 8 passed” and “Whether it was all White people or all Black people or a mix of the two that got this proposition to pass, something tells me that God has a lot to do with it.”
PJHale (PJHale) says:
(Posted November 14th, 2008 at 1:24 pm)
For you to be a bigot and make the claim that lower socioeconomic status and poor education is linked to a higher involvement in organized religion would only mean if you made that statement without evidence. Your evidence was merely COMMON SENSE, therefore, you are speaking the truth.
As for how I feel about “marriage” itself, you stated everything I feel plainly and simply. I think that all romantic unions based on love should be recognized fully under the law, but that it should be up to the churches, not the government, which faith systems should allow for same-gender couples to marry. There is a certain divide within this nation of those who think that church and state should be integrated, and those who think they should be separate, and if we want to protest, stay away from the churches, but go to the courthouses and legislators’ offices that try to bring “the Lord” into the judicial process.
I think people are taking Liam’s comments out of context, honestly. As a Black person, I am well aware of the ignorance that exists, but I also recognize that the ignorance comes from the generation of Blacks that don’t seem to recognize that the world is DIFFERENT than it was back in the 1960s. As a Black person who also happens to be gay, I also recognize that homophobia that exists (and yes, it’s only one factor), but that doesn’t suggest that all Black people have these attitudes. Most Blacks in my generation would have opposed Prop 8, but still…don’t expect me to walk into an all-Black meeting and expect that they’ll welcome a queer with open arms. That’s all I’m saying….
Well written, Liam!! Very well done!
dobby (dobby) says:
(Posted November 15th, 2008 at 10:05 pm)
I would just like to point out a few things. Firstly, the reason that there are such segregated qualities in cities and income is for the simple fact that the typical black person makes less money and therefore cannot afford to live in the expensive neighborhood. This is not to say that it is fair but that is the simple fact of the matter. Secondly, the reason that education standards are lower in black communities is because the funding for those schools largely comes from the residents and they cannot afford to pay higher educational taxes. This is also a nationwide problem that the federal government has failed to address. Consider this…..If rich white people move into a neighborhood or even a section of a city, money flows things get better property values increase and as a result the black people that cannot afford those higher taxes must move out. On to the next point you make. In saying that blacks have a greater faith in god, i believe you are very much correct. Faith is something people tend to hold to more tightly when they have nothing else to turn to and as a basic fact, black people in general, and primarily because of income and wealth distribution, face more difficulties in their lives and therefore grasp on to faith for comfort, strength, and hope.
Lastly, I believe that your views on the separation of church and state are completely correct. The problem is that while this country was founded on freedom, those that forged this countries ideals were christian. Church will likely never be separated from state because it has been too deeply engrained in the system from its birth. We swear on the holy bible in court, our money states “In god we trust.” The fact is change like what we all hope will come has a price. That price is often things reaching a tension to the point where the nation rises up to change things. Look at the past and all the other major changes in civil rights. People need to stand together and fight for what is right in this country and i think you had it right in believing that the prop 8 outcome will spur just that type of reaction. The question now is whether or not it was enough or if we will simply continue on with our lives as usual until something else comes along to jar the public into action with greater effect.
I leave you with this largely because i learned it in high school and it stuck “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and provide new Guards for their future security.” Some of you may remember this from the movie national treasure and a small part of me feels that its use was well placed because it is something that all americans should take to heart. The other part of me despises that i now use a line from a movie to impress upon anyone who reads this the importance of making your voice heard.
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Liam Reed
1987 model, runs fairly well, few dents, starts in cold weather, no baggage, loves flea markets and canned soup. Send all hate mail, love mail, and sexual advances to withtongue@gmail.com
Jess (Jess) says:
(Posted November 13th, 2008 at 7:37 am)
It’s like you can read my mind,dear Liam. I do not think you are a racist bastard but we can only wait for the angry comments to rush in.