Prop 8: A "NO" vote is not enough
| By Lucas O'Connor, Courage Campaign - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm PST |
| Also listed in: Courage Campaign Staff |
This is it. The finish line is in sight but the outcome is nowhere near certain. We need your No on 8 vote, but it's more than that. No on Prop 8 needs volunteers to push this all the way through tomorrow.
When I first started dabbling in politics, I wrote about my somewhat confused and aimless search for my Tank Man/ Tiananmen Square moment. This lacks some of the dramatic immediacy of that moment, but it's what I've got. This is the moment to stand up for what is fundamentally right and fair and decent in our society. You've all been amazing in your support, and it's been that support that led us to deliver 17,345 signatures to the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City, bringing your voices to their door. I won't wax too poetic and and let Eden's message below make the important points, but this has been inspiring for me to be a small part of because of all the passion from the grassroots from across the state including so many thousands of Courage members.
To quote Boots Riley: "If we waiting for the times to fight, these is thems." Leave it all on the road:
Let me be blunt:
A "NO" vote against Prop 8 is not enough.
Have you seen the polls? The "NO" side may be slightly ahead, but the trend is not looking good. Fortunately, if we get progressives out to vote on Election Day, Prop 8 will be defeated.
That's why we need you to VOLUNTEER for the "NO on 8" campaign on Election Day.
Need some more motivation? We've got two -- that's right, two -- online videos that we have produced in the last 24-48 hours. And we want you to watch them right now and share them with your friends, if you feel so inspired:
Watch both of these YouTube videos right now and then spread the word that a "NO" vote is not enough. We need you and your friends to volunteer on Election Day across California. Click here to view our "No on 8" videos and find out more about volunteering to defeat Prop 8:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/NoOn8videos
We can't say enough about these videos.
We set a mission to deliver 17,345 signatures to the Mormon Church. And we accomplished that mission. After getting the run-around from the "Yes on 8" campaign, security guards and a Mormon Church member in Los Angeles, we delivered your signatures and created a media stir in Salt Lake City. It's all on video and we hope you watch it.
Meanwhile, two of our friends in the progressive movement -- netroots activists and brothers Dante Atkins and David Atkins -- produced a provocative 60-second ad for Courage that we will be airing on CNN, MSNBC and Comedy Central in select markets on Election Day. "No on Prop 8: Home Invasion," which satirically skewers the Mormon Church's dictation of public policy to Californians, has been featured on Daily Kos, AmericaBlog, Calitics, Wonkette and many other blogs in the last 48 hours, garnering tens of thousands of views.
Now, we need your help to spread the word about "Home Invasion" ASAP. Just click here to watch both videos. Then get in touch with a local "NO on 8" campaign office and find out where you can help get out the vote across California on Election Day:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/NoOn8videos
By volunteering -- and not just voting -- you can make this election year a new era for progressive politics in California and our country.
Thank you for your time and thank you for your support.
Eden James
Managing Director
P.S. Not many people or organizations take on the Mormon Church directly. We're not afraid of the Church. But it's a lot easier knowing that you've got our back.
If you support the work we are doing to defeat Prop 8 and hold the Mormon Church accountable, can you make a contribution right now to fuel our final stretch run to Election Day?:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/FinalStretch
When I first started dabbling in politics, I wrote about my somewhat confused and aimless search for my Tank Man/ Tiananmen Square moment. This lacks some of the dramatic immediacy of that moment, but it's what I've got. This is the moment to stand up for what is fundamentally right and fair and decent in our society. You've all been amazing in your support, and it's been that support that led us to deliver 17,345 signatures to the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City, bringing your voices to their door. I won't wax too poetic and and let Eden's message below make the important points, but this has been inspiring for me to be a small part of because of all the passion from the grassroots from across the state including so many thousands of Courage members.
To quote Boots Riley: "If we waiting for the times to fight, these is thems." Leave it all on the road:
Let me be blunt:
A "NO" vote against Prop 8 is not enough.
Have you seen the polls? The "NO" side may be slightly ahead, but the trend is not looking good. Fortunately, if we get progressives out to vote on Election Day, Prop 8 will be defeated.
That's why we need you to VOLUNTEER for the "NO on 8" campaign on Election Day.
Need some more motivation? We've got two -- that's right, two -- online videos that we have produced in the last 24-48 hours. And we want you to watch them right now and share them with your friends, if you feel so inspired:
(1) "No on Prop 8: 17,345 signatures delivered to the Mormon Church" (2:43): Your signatures were rejected by the Los Angeles Mormon Temple last Tuesday, so we took them straight to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be delivered by two friends of Courage, both of whom are former Mormons.
(2) "No on Prop 8: Home Invasion" (60 seconds): A provocative people-powered netroots-produced TV ad that we will be airing in selected markets on Election Day.
Watch both of these YouTube videos right now and then spread the word that a "NO" vote is not enough. We need you and your friends to volunteer on Election Day across California. Click here to view our "No on 8" videos and find out more about volunteering to defeat Prop 8:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/NoOn8videos
We can't say enough about these videos.
We set a mission to deliver 17,345 signatures to the Mormon Church. And we accomplished that mission. After getting the run-around from the "Yes on 8" campaign, security guards and a Mormon Church member in Los Angeles, we delivered your signatures and created a media stir in Salt Lake City. It's all on video and we hope you watch it.
Meanwhile, two of our friends in the progressive movement -- netroots activists and brothers Dante Atkins and David Atkins -- produced a provocative 60-second ad for Courage that we will be airing on CNN, MSNBC and Comedy Central in select markets on Election Day. "No on Prop 8: Home Invasion," which satirically skewers the Mormon Church's dictation of public policy to Californians, has been featured on Daily Kos, AmericaBlog, Calitics, Wonkette and many other blogs in the last 48 hours, garnering tens of thousands of views.
Now, we need your help to spread the word about "Home Invasion" ASAP. Just click here to watch both videos. Then get in touch with a local "NO on 8" campaign office and find out where you can help get out the vote across California on Election Day:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/NoOn8videos
By volunteering -- and not just voting -- you can make this election year a new era for progressive politics in California and our country.
Thank you for your time and thank you for your support.
Eden James
Managing Director
P.S. Not many people or organizations take on the Mormon Church directly. We're not afraid of the Church. But it's a lot easier knowing that you've got our back.
If you support the work we are doing to defeat Prop 8 and hold the Mormon Church accountable, can you make a contribution right now to fuel our final stretch run to Election Day?:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/FinalStretch
Comments are closed for this post.
Your add is not only false on so many accounts, but it demeans the LDS faith and what they promote. Their goal is not to destroy like you show so dramatically. Their view is to allow wholesome family values to flourish under the guidance of a man and woman bound in matrimony. This is how God and Nature planned a family to be.
By a majority, this notion of same sex marriage is not what the democratic population of California desire. It has been voted down before. And by the all powerful and unjust justices appointed to that state, it was overturned against the wishes of the people.
How dare you pointedly assault the Mormon church with such malicious propaganda. And for their support of the majority of people in California. Their support as to not give up hope in the democratic ways of our nation on moral issues of this day.
You are just as mad as they are. Family values!! What family values? I live in this hole or as they call it, 'behind the curtain'. Let me tell you a few things about family values out here.
The state of Utah ranked #1 globally in having the highest number of women and children on mood altering drugs. That's prozac, paxil and a host of cocktail drugs for the multitude of special children they keep having.
I work in a crisis center. I see counsel women and children who have been raped or abused. Guess where the majority of my clients come from? You guessed it buddy!! Right out of the mormon churches.
The good elders and bishops are constantly posting on classified ad sites looking for NSA encounters or to hook up with other men while their wives are out with their children. You would not believe the number of women I'm currently counselling that have walked in on their "temple sealed" husbands enjoying a leisurely round of 69 with another man.
If the church was so worried about their "family values" they'd spend more time getting their people to raise their children and live their lives instead of trying to live someone else's. I know gay couples out here that have been together longer than most of your hetero mormon couples.
Call it what it is. Bigotry. Classic human behaviour. You have to make others feel bad about themself to feel better about your own wrongdoings. They need to live and let live. I don't see gays protesting about all the the heteros walking around and how they live their lives.
The church stepped over the line and they will atone for this wrong one way or another. I know that when I die, and I meet my maker, I can honestly tell the good Lord that I lived my life, loved others for who and what they were and did my best to help my fellow man.
The church demeaned itself.
After I received my associates degree online (it only took me 12 weeks), I led a beastiality support group in Rome (Italy, as it were). The majority (BIGTIME MAJORITY) of our recovering zoophiles were Roman Catholic, if you can believe it. Those Roman Catholics are animal-loving fiends. All of 'em. And I know because I lived there.
There's a lesson here: hide your women and children from Mormons and hide your pets from Roman Catholics.
Oh and remember, Mormons are an extremely homogenous bunch so if you find a Mormon espousing a particular opinion, you can rest assured that all of those freaks are of the same mind. In accordance with the foregoing, if any member of that group offends you, feel free to attack any other member of the group as if he or she were solely responsible for your inner torment (that is how I rolled with the Catholics in Rome). These Mormons all know each other anyway.
I, however, am a product of a successful LDS family, and I will tell you right now that I know a whole lot more success stories than I know abuse cases. No family is perfect, no Catholic family, no Protestant family, no Buddhist family. . . EVERYONE will have some type of dysfunction, it's part of being human. It is unfair to say that because someone is LDS, or Catholic, or Baptist, that their religious zealotry makes them dysfunctional.
There are so many advantages to promoting traditional family values. For example, because of my parents' example, I grew up with a strong sense of the meaning of life, the sanctity of marriage and fidelity, and the importance of service. Today I am married to a loving husband who respects me and honors my role as a mother. We both served LDS missions where we learned what it means to live for other people and forget ourselves. What a concept in today's society where people go shopping and surround themselves with "stuff" to fill their voids! I'm just saying that because I grew up in a traditional family that took our values seriously, I know what my priorities are, and I am living a functional, happy, extremely fulfilling life. And I'm not on any medications whatsoever. So your examples of depressed housewives and addicted fathers, in my experience, are by far the exception in the LDS church, rather than the rule. Maybe you are jealous that you don't know the meaning of life yourself? Maybe you are confused or don't understand why you're never fully at peace? I don't know.
Anyway, that Proposition 8 ad was totally inappropriate, and I don't know why it focused on Mormons. Almost every single Christian church supports traditional family values, it's not just us. We are taught tolerance for others in the LDS church. We do serve missions, but that is for the sole purpose of bringing people to Christ, not telling them they are bad if they are in a gay relationship. Why would that even be helpful to someone? The double standard presented in that ad was offensive. I guess it's okay to slam the Mormon church, but would never be okay to do the same thing to the Catholics who take the exact same stand as we do. Totally inappropriate and uneducated. Thanks for letting me say my peace.
My personal request: Help them with more love than you displayed on this blog. Your methods seem terrifying if anything like your published hatred. Maybe you should look into the teachings of the LDS church. Perhaps they could help you acquire the inner peace that you are obviously lacking.
Truth.
Where is truth more prevalent, whole and complete? Where is it more threatening to wickedness? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Do you not retaliate in anger my friends. Our efforts, and our "Christian Courage" is seen and appreciated by the majority of Californians and many throughout this great nation. Let them smite our cheek, turn the other for them to backhand us (an even more demeaning act than the first) and while we are at it, give them our cloak, raiment, and all the love that our inadequate, incapable, mortal hearts can muster. Know that our rewards are greater than the shame that these, our brethren, could bring upon us by slander and foolish ignorance.
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Were all men to understand the Plan of Salvation, they would understand why this issue is so important. But many seek for the light but are confused and lost because "they know not where to find it." Remember this as we deal with love, patience, respect, understanding, and kindness to our accusers.
Our "Christian Courage", that courage that an Apostle of God, Elder Hales, spoke of at the last General Conference, is seen by all the world, including our accusers. Remember the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's who would rather lay down their lives in praising God than to take up the sword because of the covenants that they had made with God.
Remember the affect that it had on many of their Lamanite enemies. There were more that day converted than there were slain. Many souls rejoiced as they entered into the Spirit World, knowing that they had been faithful to the end.
This is what our friend John Schroeder had to say about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What A Long Strange Trip It's Been Posted by: John Schroeder at 07:09 am, November 6th 2008 Proposition 8 is now a part of the California constitution! That is probably the best news from an otherwise difficult election for conservatives and Republicans. In very large part, we Evangelicals must thank our Mormon cousins for that fact. They, along with our Catholic brethren, were better organized than us and that provided a base from which we could ALL work together to get this job done. What more, as we have chronicled here, Mormons took the brunt of the abuse, derision, and even threats of physical harm that came with this effort. And like us, they have given thanks to the Almighty that is ultimately in control, even if their understanding of that Almighty is a bit different than ours. I cannot help but wonder how much more thankful we ALL might be today if we had been more willing to embrace these religious cousins a few months ago - but alas, politics is always about governing today and looking forward to the next election. Said John Mark Reynolds: In the battle for the family, however, traditional Christians have no better friends than the Mormon faithful. It would be wrong if that support were taken for granted. We are intolerant of the false attacks on Mormon faith and family. We stand with our Mormon friends in their right to express their views on the public square. We celebrate the areas, such as family values, where we agree. A heart felt thank you may not win points from other friends who demand one hundred percent agreement from their allies, but it is the decent and proper thing to do. Thank you to our Mormon friends and allies! Hard to do better than that. The "Ruth Youth" ministry proclaimed yesterday "International Mormon Appreciation Day." Very appropriate, yet still inadequate. In addition to our thanks, Mormons deserve our protection. They have been oppressed in ways during the Prop 8 campaign that this nation has not seen since the 1960's and the civil rights movement. The rhetoric has been deplorable, but moreover. we have seen instances of vandalism, property destruction, and some leaders in the fight currently find themselves with armed protection because of the threats made against them and their families. Our nation will not and cannot tolerate this sort of behavior - it is incumbent on all of us to stand against it, and the best way to do that is to stand between the Mormons and the forces that would perpetrate such evil. Now I am sure the Mormons can, and probably want, to take care of themselves, but as a Christian, it is my duty to protect the innocent and free the oppressed. To turn a blind eye in this circumstance is not only ungracious, it is simply unChristian. Make all the theological distinctions you want, but in the political arena we are yoked with the Mormons (he said borrowing some religious imagery) and it is darn well time we started acting like it. Absolutely, positively thank the Mormons - but don't stop there. Stand up and be counted against the evil that has been perpetrated towards them in this campaign. As Christians we can do no less.
Keep the Savior's love in mind as you approach those who rebuke, mock, scorn or even abuse and molest you for your faithfulness and unwaivering support of the Prophet of God, President Thomas S. Monson, his Counselors, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Lord God Almighty.
This is only the beginning. Develop habits of love, respect and kindness now so that when the stakes are higher, you will have already made your decision to act with Christian Courage, love, and understanding.
Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship
Link
Some have said they were worried about having to perform the marriages in their temples. But, churches don't give out marriage licenses.
What really angered me is the fact that the #1 crime in this state is CHILD MOLESTATION. They should worry more about the molestation and rampant homosexuality amongst the "hetero" members of their flock. Their actions in this matter should warrant a loss of their tax exempt status. If the ACLU doesn't step up, someone should march right to the Supreme Court and sit on that bench until someone snatches it away.
I posted a comment on youtube in response to someone claiming the church was worried about having to perform samesex marriages in their temples. My response was, "Don't worry. Some prophet will go into a closet and shroom for a while and come out with a vision that is financially lucrative to the church and all this will be as the late Hinkley said, 'a blip in the churh's history'". Just as blacks weren't allowed to hold the priesthood, the minute they are threatened with losing their tax exempt status, they will bend the other way. Keep the faith. Your day is coming.
Did you pull that out of your ass? Back up your claim with some statistics, idiot.
Did you pull that out of your ass? Back up your claim with some citations, idiot.
Now if by "#1 Crime" you mean that molestation is the best, the most popular, the coolest crime in Utah, I am afraid I cannot be of too much assistance. The question of which crime is coolest is very subjective. We would probably have to poll criminals to see which crimes are their favorites. Maybe molestation will be in the top five but I am willing to bet that marijuana use, underage drinking or vandalism are probably considered to be funner/cooler crimes in Utah. Maybe if you put together a pro-molestation commercial, we might be able to improve the popularity of molestation in Utah.
You seem to be a really awesome, rational person though. Thanks for sharing.
Bring respect and integrity to your campaign and let the people decide their vote by an informed decision. There is no place for slander and name calling and dare I say bigotry. You did not give the whole truth in this ad, specifically by the way it was presented. Come on! Don't insult our intelligence. The ugliness can end with you.
If you a-holes weren't out fomenting hate on your fellow citizens, your nasty tactics wouldn't be exposed.
It takes pure courage for the LDS Church to stand up and make a stand on this issue. Your ad is fueled by hate, not courage.
Hating is easy. Having real courage requires a lot more than pretending 17,345 signatures actually means something.
I'm just curious, what do you honestly think only 17,345 signatures would prove -- especially coming from a state with over 37 million people, or a county with over 9 million people.
Anyway, the next time your group tries to take on the LDS Church or any other organization that simply believes the sacredness of marriage is worth fighting for, and pretend the issue is about hate, don't make your message so full of hate.
Vote YES on Prop 8!
If you have a problem with "formenting hate on your fellow citizens", then you should have a problem with this ad, otherwise that would make you a hypocrit.
It's doesn't take more than a couple minutes of surfing your site to learn that it's packed full of political rhetoric, laced with partial facts and incomplete truths, aimed at making one single slanted position seem valid.
California is not progressive in it's quest to redefine civil rights and equality, and certainly not admired by the rest of the country. No, you are just the embarrassing relative that shows up to the party, yaps all night about nothing but yourself, then leaves the without helping to clean up. I guess on Nov 5th, the rest of us in the nation can all go back to waiting for the big one to drop you all into the ocean.
The fact of the matter is, there is a two-sided debate on a topic that will perhaps never be resolved. Though the LDS Church does in fact advocate passing Prop 8, the beliefs that they stand for are no less credible than the beliefs anyone else embraces. To discredit the beliefs of a single group discredits belief in general, which as far as I understand, is protected under the freedoms of this country.
That said, believe what you want, disagree with those that support Prop 8, but do not disparage and mock others for taking a stance for what they believe.
Bigot ˈbi-gət
a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices ; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
This ad, by definition, according to the dictionary, makes you a bigot.
How dare you pick on a religion and spread hate and lies, honestly show some respect for others and for yourself. If you have any decency you would pull the ad from YouTube. By creating things like this you weaken your own argument and credibility, and in turn you lose the ability to demand respect and tolerance from others if you are not willing to give it.