A group of Montrealers is taking part in a nationwide worldwide protest against California’s Proposition 8, which amends the state constitution to ban gay marriage and was narrowly approved by voters on Nov. 4. Organizing is happening on Facebook and LiveJournal, among other places.
Now, the left being what it is, there are discussions happening in these forums about whether or not it makes sense to stage such a protest. Logicians point out two major points against it:
- This is a California state proposition, has nothing to do with Canada, and Californians probably wouldn’t appreciate us telling them what to do with themselves
- Prop 8 already passed, the people have spoken, and you can’t undo a democratic decision just because you don’t agree with it.
The meeting is at 1 p.m. at McGill’s Roddick Gates, and then proceeds to the U.S. consulate on Ste. Alexandre.
Plus, of course, the issue isn’t particularly important on any level.
“On any level”? Well, that’s your opinion, and one that I certainly don’t share.
It should be more of a stand of solidarity than a protest. The issue is before the courts now anyway, so protesting won’t make a difference.
Logicians of a different sort might ask questions about the whole idea behind putting rights like that to a vote in the first place.
When did public opinion in the US finally start to come around on the idea of interracial marriage? Would people there and then have “democratically” voted against it before the courts forced the issue? In a word, yes. A vote on something doesn’t have to mean the end of it.
And another thing: would you question a protest at the Chinese consulate about human rights in the same way? Because to the people on one side of the gay marriage thing, it’s the same idea.
It doesn’t! For different reasons, though. It’s completely up to the people n California, and are they really going to care if some McGill kids in Montreal (Queer McGill, nonetheless) are anti-Prop 8? Wouldn’t they already assume they were?
Ironically, a lot of my friends are in QM, but I know that this is a protest just to protest, the worst kind of all.
– (thecheat1974, lj)
Steven, sweetie, you didn’t mention the politics and religious bigotry and exclusivity behind Propositon 8, which only narrowly passed. Just more Bible thumpers dictating what everyone else must do. This is a question of rights and equality, and Canadians should be concerned that our neighbours to the South are busy stripping more and more rights away from people in the name of God. Give them an inch, and they’ll be moving right into Canada and taking away your rights, too. We should boycott California; don’t vacation there. Don’t buy their products.
So much for the land of fruits and nuts. Now it’s the land of bigots and fanatics.
“The great lost chord of modern civilization is forgetfulness of the fact in nature of universal brotherhood, which means not merely a sentimental or political brotherhood; it means that we are all of one common cosmic or spiritual origin, and that what affects one affects all.”
– G. de Purucker