The men who signed the Declaration of Independence knew they were risking their lives and their personal wealth when they decided to create a free nation separate from Great Britain. If you read some of the history of the American Revolution you come to understand the blood and suffering the pro- independence colonists endured to forge this nation.
So here we sit today, saddled with a movement whose leaders harken back to that era and tell us to ride to the sound of the guns when they want to rally the troops politically. They take controversial stands on abortion, the right to keep and bear arms, stem cell research and gay marriage, school choice etc. In a way they consider themselves revolutionaries fighting against liberal mores and elitist values. So…. Last summer, when the California supreme court decided to overturn the Gay marriage ban the conservative coalition banded together to try and save marriage for heterosexual folks only. They brought us Proposition 8.
When the Proposition 8 campaign could not get any traction in public opinion by saying that only straight people should marry and that marriage is sacred (after all straight people have done such a great job with marriage) they turned to people’s fears and started running ads basically saying that that our public schools will be teaching Adam and Steve as a viable family lifestyle to scare parents.
And it worked.
My point here is not to point out the merits of such an argument, but to show that they went for the jugular politically and won. Now they will have to deal with the consequences their victory.
I do not condone anyone using physical violence or threats of violence, but if you own a business and support causes that some people don’t agree with, I believe that free people can make free choices to protest or disagree strongly or not do business with you. Conservatives have been doing this for years. I seem to remember they were protesting Disneyland a while back. So is it not an appalling bit of hypocrisy when Prop. 8 supporters run to the court system (a system many consider the enemy) to protect them from a political fight they won? As the late William F. Buckley once said, conservatives want to stand athwart history and yell stop. OK then be prepared to fight when you step into the breach against a well funded and organized opponet and stop whining to the court.
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thank BJD I like your site too!!
Since the end of the Cold War conservatives have become wimps! They will give our all to protest a washed out hippie terrorist like Bill Ayers!! Oh but those Gay people who want marrige, Katy Bar the door and I’ll call the supreme court!!!!
There is no bigger government than the one that tells you who to love, who you can marry, and what you can do with your body.
On the article, I’m glad you said this. For too long people have been complaining and trying to change the law to “protect” Prop.8 supporters.
I personally, do not in any way shape or form support or condone violence of any kind over political beliefs.
“I do not condone anyone using physical violence or threats of violence, but if you own a business and support causes that some people don’t agree with, I believe that free people can make free choices to protest or disagree strongly or not do business with you. Conservatives have been doing this for years. I seem to remember they were protesting Disneyland a while back. So is it not an appalling bit of hypocrisy when Prop. 8 supporters run to the court system (a system many consider the enemy) to protect them from a political fight they won?” -Kudos to you author!