Five Important Minutes on Proposition 8

Dear Friends and Loyal Readers:

I am asking for your attention. I’m not asking for much; just the next five minutes or so of your life. Sit down, focus and read what I am sending you. I believe that other than the choice you will make for President, Proposition 8 is the most important issue on the ballot this year.

If you are a California citizen, I am asking for your careful consideration of what I am about to lay out. If you are not a citizen of the great state of California, you certainly know someone who is. I am asking you to pick up the phone and call that person or those people you know and encourage them in the way that I hope that I encourage you.

Proposition 8 is a ballot measure that will in essence reshape the California constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. If this is an issue that makes you uncomfortable, I certainly understand. Marriage rights for same sex couples is not something with which everyone is comfortable. However, instead of allowing your own feelings to guide your decisions and position on this proposition, I would ask that you pick up the United States Constitution and give it a read. Read through the beautiful and groundbreaking purpose of perhaps the world’s most perfect and forgiving document.

The US Constitution has been described as living and breathing for its ability to change and grow with our culture. It has changed with the times to make amends for a country’s early failures and shortcomings. It has corrected mistakes and evolved over time. As we as a people have recognized our own failures it has allowed us the flexibility to correct course while moving forward.

There are twenty-seven amendments to the US Constitution, all of which go to great lengths to fix that which was broken by virtue of its own infancy and improve the lives of the people for which it was written. Each amendment stays true to the spirit of the preamble in its effort to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. How beautiful is that? Who should be denied the blessings of liberty? You? Me?

Nowhere in the Constitution will you see anything even slightly exclusionary. Nothing is designed to limit or remove the rights of Americans. The only time discriminatory policy is addressed is when it is being corrected.

The first amendment protects us from discrimination on the basis of our religion, protects our speech and the integrity of a free and open press. The thirteenth amendment abolished the horrors of slavery. In the fourteenth amendment our civil rights are bravely and clearly defended; “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.”

Sit on that for a moment. Read it again. It is providing civil liberties and protection under the law to all citizens. Consistent with the rest of the Constitution, it does not exclude anyone and it does not take back rights. It is designed to protect and ensure the protection of every citizen of the United States of America. Whether, Christian or Jew, Muslim or atheist, you are protected. It doesn’t matter if you are black, white or any shade in between, you are protected. Straight, gay, a-sexual, nonsexual, it does not matter; you are protected.

The Constitution, whether state or federal is no place to amend or write into law anything that adds an asterisk to any rights afforded to any citizen. In this context, the word, ‘except’ does not exist. If something applies to me, it applies to you. If you are protected, so am I. Amending the constitution to define marriage as anything is simply not appropriate and should not happen.

The supporters of this bill in California are attempting to muddy the water by scaring us. They are telling tales of gay marriage being taught in public schools and even elementary classes being taken to same-sex wedding ceremonies as field trips. Does any of that sound right? It is nothing more than a lie. The California Superintendent has said very clearly that there is no curriculum that explains marriage of any sort – nor will there be.

Supporters like Rick Warren and others have said that Barrack Obama and John McCain support Proposition 8. This also is a lie. While both candidates personally define marriage between a man and a woman, neither McCain nor Obama support amending the Constitution to define marriage at all. They agree that it is just not appropriate on any level.

This proposition says nothing about churches rights. They can continue to deny the rights to marry anyone. They will not be obligated to marry same-sex couples nor will they be required to so much as accept them as members. Nothing changes in this regard. Proposition 8 is an issue of law and civil rights – nothing more, nothing less.

While this is a state measure, California is often a national trend setter with regard to legislation such as this. You have the opportunity to speak loudly and very clearly to the rest of the country that California is a state where the Constitution is honored for all people. Together we can say with one voice that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Everyone has these rights under the law and everyone is charged with the duty of protecting them. You are your brother’s keeper in this case. You are your sister’s keeper and must defend her rights as you would your own. Stand up and stand strong and say in your loudest voice, NO! No to California Proposition 8 on November 4th. History will judge your discernment and wisdom kindly.

Thank you most sincerely,

Mickey Griffith