Man's best friend says Yes on 8
I was out at a farmer's market today with the No on Prop 8 campaign, answering questions and giving our literature and signs. Many voters are confused about what a "yes" or "no" vote will mean, and so the campaign is trying to help clarify that. I asked an older woman and a bearded man passing me, "Would you like some information on Proposition 8?"
"Which one is that?" he said.
"It would amend the State Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry."
"Oh, well, then I'm for it."
I try not to antagonize or engage with supporters, so I said, "I'm sorry to hear that, sir. Have a nice day."
But he didn't keep walking. "You're against it?" he asked, and when I confirmed that I was, he said, "Well, I don't think that's a right, marriage. Next people will be wanting to marry their dogs!"
I stared at him, taken aback. "I don't think anybody's wanting to marry their dog, sir."
"Sure they are! There are all kinds of people! I could show you magazines!"
I recoiled slightly. "Really, that's fine. Please don't, sir."
"I should have a right to marry my dog, then?"
I wasn't quite sure what to say to him at this point. I ventured, "Dogs aren't people. I don't think they have civil rights the same way a person does."
He pursued the conversation with unholy glee. "But I have rights!"
I made some sort of vague assenting noise, hoping like hell he'd go away. You can't argue with weirdos.
The woman he was with started to drag him off through the crowd, but he looked over his shoulder. "I think you underestimate how much some people love their pets!" he said.
...
...Ooooookay, sir.
"Which one is that?" he said.
"It would amend the State Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry."
"Oh, well, then I'm for it."
I try not to antagonize or engage with supporters, so I said, "I'm sorry to hear that, sir. Have a nice day."
But he didn't keep walking. "You're against it?" he asked, and when I confirmed that I was, he said, "Well, I don't think that's a right, marriage. Next people will be wanting to marry their dogs!"
I stared at him, taken aback. "I don't think anybody's wanting to marry their dog, sir."
"Sure they are! There are all kinds of people! I could show you magazines!"
I recoiled slightly. "Really, that's fine. Please don't, sir."
"I should have a right to marry my dog, then?"
I wasn't quite sure what to say to him at this point. I ventured, "Dogs aren't people. I don't think they have civil rights the same way a person does."
He pursued the conversation with unholy glee. "But I have rights!"
I made some sort of vague assenting noise, hoping like hell he'd go away. You can't argue with weirdos.
The woman he was with started to drag him off through the crowd, but he looked over his shoulder. "I think you underestimate how much some people love their pets!" he said.
...
...Ooooookay, sir.
posted by The Stute Fish at 21:05
3 Comments:
The other day I come off of BART to see this little asian woman handing out yes on 8 literature and as I pass by I'm thinking it wasn't long ago that women were denied the vote, when we were little better than a possession and then I start thinking about the laws in the not so distant past against asians becoming citizens, voting, living where they wanted, owning property, marrying American citizens. How can we deny rights to another. I just don't understand.
--anon.
I don't get it either. I talked to a black man who was voting Yes and I wanted to ask, but like I say, I try not to antagonize or engage with people who have obviously made up their minds.
It's mostly a church split, but I really wonder at that, too - the same people who insist that marriage has "always" been one man and one woman appear to be forgetting that there is bigamy in their own Bible - and the people who are so rabid about the Bible's words on homosexuality are quick to discount the same disciple's suggestions that women be relegated to the backs of churches, or to renounce the early American belief that the same Bible condoned and supported slavery.
I kind of want to make up a 1 John 4:7 No on 8 sign and go wave it on the corners, but I don't think the campaign would thank me for it.
People might throw stuff at you, in the true spirit of love thy neighbor, no doubt.
--Anon
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