Proposition 8 – The Best Gift Video

The following is a video entitled The Best Gift that was created in response to Proposition 8. I believe this video partially conveys my own personal feelings concerning this topic – a reaffirmation to preserve the divine institution of marriage.

What is Proposition 8?

Proposition 8 is an initiative measure on the 2008 California Election ballot to add a section to the California Constitution stating “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” This initiative has a history.

In 2000, voters passed ballot initiative Proposition 22 with 61% of the vote. This proposition formally defined marriage in California between a man and a woman. On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court, by a vote of 4–3, ruled that the statute enacted by Proposition 22, and other statutes that limit marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman, violated the equal protection clause of the California Constitution.

Proposition 8’s Changed Title and Summary

When Proposition 8 was submitted for ballot, it was originally entitled the “California Marriage Protection Act.” However, the title and summary of the proposition were revised by Attorney General Jerry Brown to more “accurately reflect the measure” and is now entitled “Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry”.

On August 8, 2008, the Superior Court rejected attempts to reverse the renaming and rephrasing of the official Proposition 8 language created by Brown. According to Brown, “the title and summary is not false or misleading because it states that Proposition 8 would ‘eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry’ in California”. This language will now be used in the “Official Voter Information Guide.”¹

For or Against Proposition 8…

Obviously, this proposition has many potential long-term consequences. These consequences – and perhaps how this entire subject should be approached – are outlined in The Divine Institution of Marriage. As pointed out in this article, the traditional meaning of words such as tolerance, forgiveness, and love are used to pit one part of society against another, or family against family, in the name of equality.

Unfortunately, it appears the changed language of the proposition was a calculated effort by California’s Attorney General to rally support against the measure. Regardless of where a person stands on this issue, I am sure there will be “ripple effects” whether or not Proposition 8 passes.

But why is it that being “for” something positive and wonderful – such as marriage and family – is defined in negative terms which is then often used as a tactic as being “against” another group’s equal rights? There seems to be something Hegelian dialectic about this whole concept

Sources:

1. “California Proposition 8.” Wikipedia.org. 15 October 2008.↩

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• Proposition 8 – Home Invasion Video
• Prop 8 Poll at SFGate