When Chuck Norris speaks, we listen.
(That was a reference to all the Chuck Norris jokes. My favorite: "Chuck Norris doesn't do push ups. He pushes the earth down.")
Below are some excerpts from an article he wrote titled "If Democracy Doesn't Work, Try Anarchy".
Nevertheless, bitter activists simply cannot accept the outcome as being truly reflective of the general public. So they have placed the brainwashing blame upon the crusading and misleading zealotry of those religious villains: the Catholics, evangelical Protestants, and especially Mormons, who allegedly are robbing the rights of American citizens by merely executing their right to vote and standing upon their moral convictions and traditional views.
What's surprising (or maybe not so) is that even though 70 percent of African-Americans voted in favor of Proposition 8, protests against black churches are virtually nonexistent. And everyone knows exactly why: Such actions would be viewed as racist. Yet these opponents of Prop. 8 can protest vehemently and shout obscenities in front of Mormon temples without ever being accused of religious bigotry. There's a clear double standard in our society. Where are the hate-crime cops when religious conservatives need them?
There were many of us who passionately opposed Obama, but you don't see us protesting in the streets or crying "unfair." Rather, we are submitting to a democratic process and now asking how we can support "our" president. Just because we don't like the election outcome doesn't give us the right to bully those who oppose us. In other words, if democracy doesn't tip our direction, we don't swing to anarchy.
Regardless of one's opinion of Proposition 8, it is flat-out wrong and un-American to intimidate and harass individuals, churches and businesses that are guilty of nothing more than participating in the democratic process. Political protests are one thing, but when old-fashioned bullying techniques are used that restrict voting liberties and even prompt fear of safety, activists have crossed a line. There is a difference between respectfully advocating one's civil rights and demanding public endorsement of what many still consider to be unnatural sexual behavior through cruel coercion and repression tactics. One thing is for sure: The days of peaceful marches, such as those headed up by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seem to be long gone.
On Nov. 4, the pro-gay community obviously was flabbergasted that a state that generally leans left actually voted right when it came to holy matrimony. But that's exactly what happened; the majority of Californians -- red, yellow, black and white -- voted to define the margins of marriage as being between one man and one woman. California is the 30th state in our union to amend its constitution in doing so, joining Florida and Arizona in this election. Like it or not, it's the law now. The people have spoken.
I love the ending to the article, "The people have spoken." So the opposition needs to relax or you can take it up with Chuck Norris.
You can read the entire article here:
http://townhall.com/columnists/ChuckNorris/2008/11/18/if_democracy_doesnt_work,_try_anarchy?page=full&comments=true
Thursday, November 20, 2008
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9 comments:
Heather! You are awesome. I loved this Chuck Norris article. He is my hero now. :) Do you have an email address where I could contact you?
Liz
P.S. Thanks for adding the subscription option. I hope it wasn't too much of a hassle! I've added your blog to my "marriage defenders" widget that I absolutely adore. :0)
I realize it can't be fun for you that the opposition refuses to "sit down and deal with it" but that's not really how protesting works. I'm sure many people told the LDS church to just "sit down and deal with it" when you were fighting for rights, but your refusal to do so is what led to state and federal recognition of your religion and that recognition's attendant benefits.
Amen! I love Chuck. Did you know he can watch 60 minutes in 20?
WaltzInExile -
Everything the proponents of prop 8 did was legal. We did not harrass/intimidate/threaten people, interrupt church services, force people to quit their jobs, vandalize private property or tie up traffic on major freeways in California. The proponents of prop 8 did not call the opposition bigots, haters, or use any other vile and crude phrases.
Yes, everyone has the right to protest. But as Mr. Norris points out, the line has been crossed between protesting and hate crimes.
Heather,
I'm not condoning violence or any other criminal activity. However, not all of the protests nor protesters have engaged in such. So when I say the opposition doesn't have to sit down and deal with it, this is what I mean. It is not criminal to boycott anyone. It is not criminal to protest. Additionally, while I will agree that hatred and bigotry are "vile and crude", naming the behaviors associated with hatred and bigotry as "hateful" and "bigoted" is not, however unpleasant it may be to hear.
WaltzinExile -
You like to talk in circles, but your arguments are weak. You're right, it's not criminal to protest. And you're right, the opposition to Prop 8 has every American right to boycott. However, just because something isn't criminal doesn't mean it isn't hateful or bigoted (which, I assume, is an argument you've also used against supporters of Prop 8). But, you seem to also have a skewed sense as to these so-called "peaceful" boycotts. I have an advantage over you in this respect because I know people who are being boycotted, many people and their businesses, and the backlash has been anything but peaceful: scathing and threatening letters, false accusations and slanders, drive-by verbal attacks at personal residences. This is intimidation, not peaceful boycotting. I am sure there are some going about things the right way, the civil way. In fact I remember reading that down south in San Diego they had a peaceful march with 20,000+ people. Well good for them. At least everyone hasn't lost their heads. But to turn a blind eye to all the absolutely unacceptable stuff that is happening, and try to justify it as "their right," or sweep it under the rug while claiming that the actions of a few (right, a few thousand, that is) don't speak for the whole. Well, that's just plain wrong and many decent folk see right through that pathetic attempt at justification.
Now Ms. Heather, you just keep right on posting these stories. The world needs to know the ugly face hidden behind this so-called "love" movement. What you are doing is wonderful and appreciated by many. Goodnight.
Aging Pops,
Threatening letters, are, in fact, criminal. Slander isn't criminal, but it's rude and stupid and CAN get you sued. I'm not turning a blind eye to all that is happening, and I will repeat: I do NOT condone violence or criminal activity. As for my view of protests being skewed, you're likely right. I have been involved with the "No on 8" team since before the election, and have not (nor will I ever) engaged in any criminal or violent behavior. My point is simply that not all who protest your position are anarchists, bent on destruction. It is reprehensible that some people have crossed the line, but those people are fringe extremists, and every side has them.
Aging Pops,
Are the abortion clinic bombers the true face of the pro-Life movement? Is the IRA the true face of Catholicism?
We had marches where more than 1,000,000 people participated across the country in a single day. There were some bad incidents ON BOTH SIDES. They are inexcusable, but not representative.
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