Doing My Civic Duty; And CA Proposition 8

I suppose a post about politics once every national election might not be too cumbersome, and plus, perhaps some new readers are curious -- perhaps not. Comments are closed, so this is simply a statement on an election day. Such diversions will be rare to non-existent in the future.

I saw one popular health blogger mention that he had driven home a long distance to do his civic duty. Well, for me, I can imagine no civic duty higher than simply minding my own business. 

Besides, there's evolutionary precedent. We're descended from hominoids, not bees & ants.

So; no, I didn't vote. I won't vote; not now, not ever. I can't imagine an exercise more undeserving of my time, or so profoundly unhealthy considering all the feverish work up for what is, now, literally years prior to each one. The amount of time wasted that could go towards constructive rather than destructive and divisive things boggles the mind. Of course, contrary to my post on stress, some people apparently aren't worried at all. Powerful things, "hope" & "change," eh?

I did perform one act of voting, however, and it was with my feet; last evening. I walked out on a dinner with other folks as the conversation turned to Proposition 8 here in California, the one that seeks to prevent gays and lesbians from uniting themselves in marriage under CA law. I'm privileged to have lots of dear friends, gays and lesbians both, some of whom have been partnered in excess of 25 years.

This "vote" is a vile and evil repudiation of their basic dignity as people. It's an embarrassment that such a fundamental right of free association and equality under the law is even up for a "vote." Should we put human life to a vote? How about liberty? Pursuit of happiness? Why not, if anything can be voted on; anything wrested from those less influential by those whose only claim is that they're more mighty in numbers?

This isn't a vote about whether to "allow" such marriages, which would be bad enough, because, as I told you, man's most fundamental civic duty is to first mind his own business, tend to his own peaceful affairs, and leave others likewise free to attend theirs. That, to my mind, is civilization. What we're witnessing today, a competition to see whose values get imposed upon whom is, to me, profoundly uncivilized.

This is a vote where one group of people are attempting to deny, by force, a peaceful union by two human beings that they can already legally engage in. Anyone who is to vote yes, affirming their desire to employ force against people simply trying to get married, should be ashamed of themselves. Shame on you.

In the end, I don't think we're very enlightened at all. Seems some people may still have to go to the back of the bus, drink from their own water fountains, and keep to their own restrooms.

P.S. Yes, I am aware that a pro Prop 8 group bought up tons of Google AdSense space and their ads have been showing up here. I have taken measures to suspend advertising for the time being.