When it comes to politics, I'm not as passionate as others I know. Barack Obama is our President elect; I'm glad he is; But while watching others at school and my sister at home, I just don't get as hyped as others. For me its like..."Sweet, Barack is President. He's the right guy." And others: "OMG Finally! *goes on rant about race, change, hope, McCain hating. etc." It's just not in me to get so excited.
The other issue I see passions running high over is Prop 8: The amendment to make only marriage between a man and a woman legally recognized in CA. I feel that people are hating on the YES on 8 people way to much. Not everyone who voted YES is a bigot or homophobe. Not everyones' motive to vote YES on 8 was to withhold the rights of gays to marry. Many people voted based on the belief that marriage is between a guy and a girl. Who's to say that they can't believe in that?
Actually, the way I see it, the NO on 8 people have done more "attacking" than the YES people. Some people just can't respect the belief of others. Many of my friends who wanted a NO vote spend their time ranting about how the YES people have no respect for morals and on other sweeping generalizations. And since when did people not vote because of what they believed in? So what if the result was not the one that would have pleased you, the point of a democracy is that the people get to state what they believe on the issue. Shit, people are already protesting and if Stephen Douglas's Freeport Doctrine can apply, then if enough people are against the amendment, the amendment won't stand. I'm not saying that there aren't some YES people that won't hear anything NO people have to say, but really, CHILL OUT.
My personal opinion on Prop 8? I'm not a fan of gay marriage. I was raised with traditional marriage and I firmly believe that marriage is a guy-girl thing. But what would I have voted on the Prop? Personally, I find it hard to pick a side. I think that it's wrong to just go out and say "Gay's can't even choose to get married." If gays want to be together, fine by me. It's their belief and their choice. But I also think that a guy-girl marriage is the only kind of real marriage, and should be the only form recognized. Laws are being pushed and passed that give domestic partners rights that homosexuals have been asking for. It's really belief vs. belief. Belief that gays should be able to marry, or the belief that marriage should be between a girl and a guy.
In the end, I'm just trying to throw out defense for why people vote the way they do. I'm annoyed by everyone yelling "OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA." Yes he won, I get it; Yes, it's historical, I get it. Yes, he represents hope and change, I get it; But do you have to continuously say his name and toot about how awesome he is? (Even though I do think that Obama is a pretty tight OG.) I'm also sick of people treating people who don't have the same views as them as bigots. Maybe I see too much good in others, maybe I'm being foolish, but honestly, can we please lay off the overly biased comments of others? Both positive and negative.