The people have spoken

First of all, I have no strong feelings either way on the actual issue that Proposition 8 represents. It was a California State ballot proposition that amended the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. It overrode a decision of the California Supreme Court from earlier in the year, In re Marriage Cases, that had recognized same-sex marriage in California as a fundamental right by overturning the California Defense of Marriage Act.

So what the California Supreme Court did initially was take a pre-existing law, and then overruled it. The court decided to put the power in its own hands. The California Supreme Court’s initial decision is debatable, but then it was decided that the people of California would have the chance to make the final decision. Proposition 8 was put on the ballot in this past election and according to The San Francisco Chronicle, it passed with 52 percent of the vote. In a state as large as California, a 4 point percentage difference is a fairly large amount. All in all, there was more than a 500,000 vote difference between “yes” and “no.”

The people of California had decided that they wanted marriage to be defined as between a man and a woman. This should be then end of the story, but as those of you who follow politics know-it is not. Protests have begun. Legal actions are being thrown around. People are demanding the Supreme Court over turn the ruling again.

Here’s my deal-the people have voted. The people have decided. This should be over. Like it or not, the decision has been made. What is the point of having an election if you don’t honor the results? That would be like me asking the Supreme Court to override the Presidential election and make Sen. John McCain president. That would be great for me and the 56 million other people that voted for him, but it’s not right. You cannot suppress the will of the people.

If gay marriage was not wanted by the people of California – which is certainly a more liberal state than most – then I don’t see it being allowed in very many states. Eventually, I’m sure there will come a time where gay marriage is legal everywhere, but that time is not now. The majority of people living in this country believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and I believe we should honor that. After all, are we not a country that is “by the people, for the people”?