Logic and Prop 8

As I read about Judge Walker’s decision, released Wednesday, I couldn’t help feeling elated that he was validating my equal right to marriage.  It was a gut reaction and an emotional one to a subject that is often debated using emotions and personal beliefs rather than logic and the premise that we are all created equally and as such should be treated equally.

 

Recently,  I read the commentary by Eric Zorn, in the Chicago Tribune, where he talks about the issue, and the logic that Judge Walker used when making his decision.  I want to quote some of his article and hope this will encourage you to use the link below and read the rest of it:

 

“Walker’s ruling is a stirring reminder of the central component of the American ideal of freedom:

 A person or group may be unpopular, their beliefs or actions widely reviled, their appearance or manner of speech considered offensive by the majority. But to crack down on such people or groups or deny them the same basic rights and opportunities other Americans enjoy, we need a reason – a good reason, a reason based on evidence, not tradition, conjecture, fear or faith; a reason that trumps the fundamental guarantees of liberty and rises to the level of “compelling government interest.

 

The arguments against allowing same sex couples to marry have never met this basic threshold test.”

 

Although I have only read small sections from Judge Walker’s ruling, I have to say I greatly admire the man – he listened to the arguments, looked at the data, looked to the law and told me I deserve the same right to marry as my heterosexual counterparts.  That there is no “rational” basis for Proposition 8.

 

Visit the Chicago Tribune blog to read more:  

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2010/08/gay-marriage-ruling-speaks-to-our-nations-highest-values.html

 

We are not there yet, we still have a long way to go, but I do believe that we will get there - as more Americans consider the facts and realize that we don’t want anything special, we have no intention of interfering with a heterosexual’s right to marry someone they love, we just want that right as well.  Equality – I believe that I should be treated the same as anyone else, yet for me inequality still exists.  Thank you Judge Walker.

 

Regan Lewis

Program Manager - Talent Development

Volunteer - Aon Pride

Aon

Comments

[Ariel]

This is a great article. I am a college student and I have learned that we are all the same. In order to be successful, we need to promote a more "just" society. In order to do that, we have to accept everyone around us. It shouldn't matter if it's two people of the same sex getting married. Majority of the time, those couples are better off then most heterosexual couples that get married. This blog post was well written and I definitely think Judge Walker should read this.

Thank you for posting this Regan.

[Beth Lynn Cardall Leehy]

Thanks for the support from Chicago, Regan. It sounds like California will end up on the side of Equality eventually, but I agree with you that it will not be soon.