Dear Californians: do not despair, but try, try again

[question everything]

Time is on your side.

In the 90s, when we lived in California, I was active in defeating a local ballot measure. We failed twice, but won with the third try... except to have it struck down by a judge. The fourth time, though, we took the original proposition which was the law of the land and, with legal minds, of course, struck it down one sentence after another and we won. The whole fight lasted from 1994 to 2002.

Time is on your side. It is clear that the young generation could care less about same sex marriage. Several months ago, on NPR, there was a story about an Iowa legislator who was against same sex marriage, but once his young daughter set him straight (no pun intended) he changed his mind.

Back to my example, we won with the third measure because we spent a lot of time and effort on educating the voters, with many volunteers participating in meetings, sending letters to the editors and addressing many city councils.

You will have to go back to the drawing board. Find out where Prop. 8 failed, and why. Do not offend the intelligence of the voters and do not call them name. Talk to them, find out what they know and believe and how you can change their mind. Bring (heterosexual) military men and women who would describe how valuable homosexual service men and women are in the military and why they deserve all the benefits that the rest of us take for granted.

If they quote the Bible... is it from the Old Testament? I believe that in the same area there are also prohibitions on eating pork and shellfish, on wearing mixed thread fabrics, and on women wearing pants. Just to show that what was acceptable for people some 3,000 years ago, or so, deserves a fresh look these days.

Good luck.

[rocktivity]

1. I agree--all that has been proven is that civil rights is not a majority-rules issue

and this decision certainly violates equal protection under the law. It doesn't even equally protect the very people it's trying to discriminate against!

:crazy:
rocktivity

[question everything]

3. The first thing that needs to be changes

is that a Constitutional Amendment should require more than a simple majority. But do this after Prop. 8 has been reversed.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Excellent advice.

Persistence is the key.

[question everything]

4. Kick for the evening crowd (nt)