Foundation for strong families... hmmm...

"I wish on a federal level that’s where we would go. I don’t support gay marriage,” Palin said. She said she believed traditional marriage is the foundation for strong families.

Let's look at some examples of heterosexual marriage and see what a 'foundation' it is...

In 2004 Britney Spears was married for 55 hours.  She went on to marry again a number of months later and have two children who have since been in the middle of an ugly custody battle.  

I am personally aware of a man and woman in Alabama who had married, divorced and remarried the same man six times.  I don't know their current status, but I know that they had reached a state maximum of number of times to be married to the same person.

Elizabeth Taylor has been married eight times to seven husbands.

The divorce rate in America:

50% for first marriages

67% of second marriages

74% of third marriages

I'm just saying...

I Hate WIND!!!

It was another long night in Southern California. Fires burning all over the place and the wind blowing like crazy. No fires really near us, but I still couldn't help getting the cat carriers ready, making Teddy wear his harness all night and other plans for a quick get away. I don't think I will ever stop doing this when there is fire and wind. Teddy may wear his harness til it rains.

Our friend Claudeth got a little trapped on the 215 FWY yesterday (after letting me know not to go home that way). She sent me some pics and I did an iReport and sent them to KFI (KFI wasn't reporting this fire at all). One of the pics she sent me is on the KFI website!! http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=153218&article=4400746 Claudeth got out safely and finally made it home last night.

Personal Appeal / Reminder to Vote

On November 4th of this year, America gets ready to make history. In California, Leslie and I have the possibility of making personal history.
I don’t usually write appeals like this, but this one is very personal to me. For those of you who may not know, Leslie and I got married on September 1st of this year, because the California Supreme Court said it was not lawful to prohibit us from doing so. For those who did know, thank you again for your support.
On November 4th, there is a Proposition on the ballot that would relegate Leslie and I back to 2nd class citizens. The Proposition is number 8. Plain and simply, I am asking as a personal favor for you to vote NO on Proposition 8.
If you are inclined not to vote because you don’t really care one way or another, I am asking you please to go to the polls this time. We really need all of the “NO” votes we can get. You may think that your vote doesn’t matter, and that if you don’t show up it is no big deal. This is why I am writing…it is a big deal to me.
If you are inclined to vote yes on this proposition, I would be happy to discuss it further with you in person. But I will say this for now. If you are inclined to vote yes, and your conscience will not let you vote no, as a personal favor to me I am asking you to consider casting no vote at all. A “no” vote helps us; a “yes” vote hurts. Voting neither yes or no at least causes us no pain.
America’s constitution, California’s constitution, and the American spirit in general have not been in the business of taking rights away from folks. It has always been about preserving and protecting rights. Let’s not start prohibiting groups from having what others have by letting Proposition 8 pass. If we start taking away rights or prohibiting rights from one group, who knows where it might lead next?
If you are not eligible to cast a vote because you are not registered, I think it’s not too late. If you are unable to cast a vote based on citizenship, age or geographic factors, if you could please appeal to or remind just one person who can vote in California, I would be very appreciative. We really can make a difference.
Thanks for your time.

TWO PERSPECTIVES

I love the Garden Wedding ad!  It really gets to the heart of the issue.

On a personal note, at this point Prop 8 is not just denying people rights.  It is FORCIBLY removing rights from certain people.

My new husband and I just got married last weekend in Santa Monica.  The ceremony was beautiful, perfect and magical in every way.  It was also legally recognized by the State of California, which made it even more beautiful, perfect and magical.

This wedding is legal because some Judges did their jobs and interpreted the California Constitution as having no room for "separate but equal."  Turns out, in their estimation, "separate but equal" is another way of saying "discrimination" and on these grounds, they struck down a citizen-generated proposal recognizing only heterosexual marriage that was passed 8 years ago.

Now, the same people who passed the original unconstitutional proposition are angling to change the constitution, thus circumventing a judicial process that has taken 8 years to finally come to a close.  A huge amount of money for this is coming from out of state (with the membership of the Mormon Church being directly responsible for anywhere from 30-40% of the funding) because there are people in America who fear a domino-effect tipped off by Massachusetts and gaining momentum with California.

So I am asking that people from both in state and out of state donate to say NO to Prop 8.  Don't think that just because it is happening across the country, it won't happen to you.  Also, remember that on some level, EVERYONE is a minority.  How would you feel if your best friend was deported because he was a Muslim?  Or how would you feel if you were denied the right to visit your children after a bunch of people WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN MET YOU decided that you do not deserve these rights because you aren't married to the right person, or have the right job?

Stephen and I are married legally and hopefully will continue to be here in California.  If Prop 8 does pass, the Attorney General has stated that he will work to keep legal recognition for all unions that were legal at inception.  In that case, on a certain level Prop 8 doesn't matter.  Stephen and I and numerous others will still be married and the religious right will have (and all ready has) failed.

But what happens if the Attorney General is replaced by someone who does not feel that certain minority rights should be defended?  Will they revoke our marriage license?  And will you stand idly by as your brothers, sisters, sons, daughter, friends, co-workers, neighbors lose the protections that legal marriage grants them?

I hope not.

Ethan

----- Original Message ----


Subject: help

I'm sending this to everyone I can think of who might just take a moment to read it and pass it on.  It is deeply personal to me and I'm asking for your help.

California has taken the step to allow someone like me and my partner Davy, whom I love more than anything, to share in the same civil marriage rights as anyone else.

In the coming election there will be a proposition introduced to California voters, Prop 8.  If passed it would amend the California constitution to disallow someone like me from ever getting married there.

I don't understand why this issue even exists or why I have to fight and beg to be allowed the same rights as anybody else.

There are three very lovely, very short ads linked below which I'm hoping you'll take a look at and consider sharing with anyone and everyone you know.  Perhaps post them on your webpage, myspace, facebook, etc.?

Perhaps you don't live in CA, perhaps you don't know anyone who does, but I believe in the power of a network of people.  Through friends of friends, family and associates, I'm sure this argument might just find it's way into the inbox of enough people who can vote against Prop 8.  Folks who might not even know to look for it.  Please forward indiscriminately.

And as a resident of a state that will acknowledge a legal same sex marriage even if it won't perform it (New York), it is as relevant to me that California will perform that marriage as it would be if I lived there.

Davy and I need your help.  Look at the links below.  Get out the word.

Love,
Michael

PERMISSION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2nsGtd7y3c

GARDEN WEDDING:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TBe3yn-XTg

PSA No to Proposition 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBSy5V4t7sI

CONGRATULATIONS CONNETICUT!!!

In his majority opinion, Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote that the court found that the “segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm,” in light of “the history of pernicious discrimination faced by gay men and lesbians, and because the institution of marriage carries with it a status and significance that the newly created classification of civil unions does not embody.”

I DONT LIKE PEOPLE

This statement couldn't be more true today!  As a general rule, I used to like people.  I guess I could really qualify that statement: I don't like closed-minded stupid people, who glom on to one idea and follow it blindly without any consideration for other opinions, facts, or ideas.  This breed of idiot usually falls for outrageous lies in political advertising - the more blatantly false the statement is, the more likely they are to fall for it.  Not jsut fall for, pick it up as their sword and their shield and nuclear weapon and attack with it...

I don't like people

Bail Out Blues

I overheard a couple of people talking about the financial bailout at lunch today.  One of the two women was very excited about the possibility of it because then her foreclosure would just 'go away'!  Her friend was very excited for her!  This is just one example of how Americans don't understand what this bailout will mean to them.  

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog.  I have named this blog, "Little Thought Bubble" because if I were a cartoon, I would always walk around with little thought bubbles above my head.  The content of those bubbles would change frequently throughout the day.  As I have time, I will stop by here and share my thought bubbles with you!