Being Obnoxious is Never the Answer
November 14th, 2008 by
draveed
Yes I should be studying. I should also be working. Somehow though I am completely unfocused. I know I have work to do, but I’m just not doing it. So at the very least I might as well enjoy my wasted time and pound out a few words.
Let’s start with prop 8! i would have been a trendsetter rather than a bandwagoner if I shared my opinion just after the election rather than today. I’ll share it anyway.
To all the prop 8 opponents… The many protests against Mormons and the handful of protests against Catholics are pointless and obnoxious. No matter how many millions those churches donated for pro-prop 8 ads, they aren’t the ones who voted. You have to contend with the 52% of voting Californians who decided to support the initiative. I know you don’t want to. It’s too hard to do that. For all you know your neighbor voted for it. Or maybe your dry cleaner did, or the guy who bags your groceries, or your Muni bus driver today. You have no idea so you can’t demonize them. That weird church in Salt Lake City is another story. They’re the perfect focus for your anger. Mormons lack your acerbic wit and jaded disposition. Such freaks! They wear holy underwear too. How weird is that! If only we could crush that church, nay, cult, gay marriage would flourish and everyone would love it.

Except that’s not the case. Those 52% of people didn’t vote yes because they take their marching orders from Utah, and there isn’t a mind control ray hidden in the Salt Lake Temple. Those made their own choice to oppose gay marriage, and it’s up to you to change their minds. Being dismissive like Keith Olbermann isn’t going to convince anyone.
“What is it to you?” That is just the wrong question to ask, Keith. The Yes on 8 folks have their concerns. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind by scolding them and telling them they shouldn’t care about this.
*** By the way, every time I watch Olbermann’s special comment all I can think of is that part from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure when Bill and Ted hug, then quickly step away from each other and yell “Fag!“ It just seems such an appropriate counterbalance to Olbermann’s earnestness. ***
Screaming and yelling like shrill morons isn’t going to get the job done either. I bet it feels good though. You’re filled with righteous indignation that you want to get out. But let me ask you. When you see some super religious holy roller holding up a sign that says, “God Hates Fags,” does that make you re-examine your opinion on homosexuality, or do you just get angry? That right there is what you’re doing to a lot of wishy-washy prop 8 supporters. You’re taking the chunk of 8 supporters who are only weakly opposed to gay marriage and hardening them against you. The louder and more disruptive protests get, the less the public at large will want to be associated with your cause.
I feel confident you could swing 3% of the voters fairly easily. Put out some respectable gay couples in front of the cameras; some that would elicit some sympathy. Have them tell sob stories about a loving marriage being a lifelong dream. All you need to do is push a few fence sitters over to your side. Tugging on some heartstrings is not that hard. The most difficult part would be rebutting that commercial where the little girl says to her mom she can marry a princess.
When I saw that ad I knew instantly prop 8 would win. Putting that school superintendent in the rebuttal commercial was a mistake. The little girl ad pulled on parents’ fears and emotions. The superintendent appealed to logic. Fear trumps logic. Now I wish I could give you an easy answer to this charge, but I can’t. It’s a powerful ad. All I can say is that mailing fake anthrax to Mormon churches is not the answer.
And by the way, it’s ridiculous you’re ignoring the black elephant in the room. Gay marriage would still be legal in California if black voters were comfortable with it. Seventy percent of black voters chose yes on 8. Yet you’re completely focusing your rage on Mormons and Catholics. Ridiculous. How about some confrontations at black churches? No? Your white liberal guilt makes you fear being labeled racist? Okay then, I understand. Keep doing what you’re doing then. You’ll get the gay marriage ban overturned in 2025 I’m sure.
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