Prop 8 Thoughts - Why am I supporting this so strongly? Part I

I'm going to get pretty vulnerable and honest here. Supporting this proposition as openly as I have has really stretched me. I am quite a sensitive person and I have opened myself up for all kinds of ridicule and false accusations. I understand that this is the risk I take in blogging, Facebook notes, etc. I am finally working on a post for my blog that it is just a bunch of bullet points of why I support Prop 8 and some of my response to opposers. I wanted to put out this post before I do so.

I know full well I will not convince most to vote yes on Prop 8; especially not with my limited writing ability. My main purpose in writing about it as much as I have is to simply promote UNDERSTANDING. There is a difference between agreeing and understanding. I have communicated with many people that are against Prop 8. Some have made presumptuous or hurtful remarks to respond to my opinions. Again, I understand that this is the risk that I take in opening myself up online, but it does not make it any less hurtful. There have been some, interestingly enough mostly those that actually ARE homosexual, that have been very respectful and understanding as we have shared our views with each other. One gay guy in particular that I have been communicating with online I wish I could just reach through the computer and hug because he has been SO sweet about genuinely asking why I feel the way I do and LISTENING to my answers as I listen to his view. Is he going to vote yes on Prop 8? No! But he now has a more clear view of why some ARE voting yes & I am more understanding of his perspective. Opinions should be formed from carefully weighing different perspectives and then changed ONLY if there is new information that causes he or she that holds the opinion to re-evaluate; not because they are bullied into changing their opinion.

I have been doing a lot of research & reading from both sides about this topic. I have felt very inadequate to explain myself, mainly because I feel like others wouldn't take the time to listen. I feel like I've been keeping more of an "open mind" than many may think. True, I have not changed my position, but I after reading what some opposers have had to say I find more and more that there are arguments, (only from those that articulate themselves well without getting hateful,) that I say, "Touche" to. Frankly, if I didn't have some of the beliefs that I do I probably would be voting no!

Those that know me personally know that hatred is not even in my language; I don't think I even have it in me to hate. I feel that there are many secular arguments for this proposition, but to be honest, I DO know that many of my reasons for supporting this ARE religious. I completely understand why some people are in opposition to it; particularly those that are homo-sexual. I UNDERSTAND that despite how many times we have are told that their CIVIL RIGHTS do NOT change, that they still feel like they are not being treated equally. While I understand that many will not agree with my personal convictions I hope that I can somehow make my intentions behind my support clear.

To be continued . . .