changing the prop 8 debate

i think it's about time someone speak up. to identify the gay marriage with the civil rights debate of the 1960s is the wrong argument and won't win americans over. but before you jump to your feet and claim that i don't believe in equal rights, hold on and let me explain.

it is an un-debated fact that you cannot change the color of person's skin or even their gender. they ARE born into the world just who they are. it has absolutely nothing to do with behavior, but rather their genetic make-up.

in the united states of america- there IS still a debate about the behavior of homosexuality. some believe that a person is born gay (aka, genetics- which science has yet to come out with), others say it's a choice, and still there are some who believe it is a psychological & social beginning when a person is young. in other words, we, as a country, haven't even decided where the behavior begins! as a result how can we possibly say that it's a debate that should be lumped in with racial issues?

it doesn't matter what you believe, or i believe or the guy down the street says. it's matter of where the debate should stand, in and of itself.

the word "marriage" is up for arguement as well. some say that it should be about any two people falling in love and you can't help who you fall in love with. some say it's all about the tax rights and beneficiary rights. other says it's a religious term and should stay that way. again, we, as a country, can't even decide how to define "marriage."

the point is- this is not the debate of the 1960s. it's a different issue, with different rules and different attitudes, for better or worse on either side. so where does it begin? if gay & lesbian rights are a social issue that we really care about in this country, then why don't we stop for a minute and actually define what the debate should be rather spewing passion about this bill or that?

i hear analysts going back and forth. i hear the gay community wanting to blame christian right for taking away their right to live as they please and the christian right wanting to bull horn the gay community into changing their evil ways. but not one person has bothered to stop and talk about the real issues. aligning gay rights issues with that of martin luther king jr's fight isn't the right step in making yourself heard, nor is banning the gay community from equal rights. but again, i don't think those can be decided w/o initial definitions for homosexuality and marriage which are BOTH divided among social groups. it's not easy, but it is possible.

going to the surpreme court could be sketchy and certainly i think it should be a state's rights issue to begin with. each state has to define what their most important social issues are and give their people a voice- which california has done, twice and the majority has spoken...for now.