Human Compassion & Proposition 8

If you do not live in California and have not heard about Proposition 8 then here's a quick rundown.   Proposition 8 was put on the November ballot to ban gay marriage and any and all rights of same sex couples (sadly, prop 8 passed which will ban gay marriage and any same sex couple rights). 

No matter where you stand on the issue, I found this commentary by Keith Obermann to be sincere, heartfelt and loving.  He takes a human approach to this issue and gets to the heart of the matter.

I am not using my blog as a political forum.  I wanted to share something that looks at people as...people. 

 How can looking at something through the filter of humanity support you?  What would it look like to see everyone as human (the man that yells at you in traffic, the grumpy cashier, etc.)? 

I'd love to her your comments and discoveries. 

Comments

[Joseph Lyons]

Thanks Kelsey!

I found Keith's commentary to transcend politics and religion and went directly to ethics - a level of discussion I think we're often afraid to have because there are often no clear answers.

I may be biased - being one of those humans that isn't seen as equally human in California. I have worked for the rights of all people, along with notable figures such as my grandmother and mother to ensure that all humans have equal rights. It's in my blood.

Half of the state of California doesn't believe I should have rights. And yet I see them as innocent. I view them as human. I believe they are decent human beings. I simply believe they are wrong.

And that's how I attempt to view the world. If I can challenge myself to see the people who want to deny my right to life, liberty, and happiness as innocent, human, and decent - I think I can see just about anyone that way too. And I don't have to agree with them.

Thanks for letting me post Kelsey!

[Toni]

Kelsey,

Thank you for posting this. I was and am deeply upset that our state passed this proposition. It has nothing to do with me. I am straight. What a word for the fact that I love and am married to a man. It has everything to do with me. I now recognize that more than the majority who voted do not see everyone as sharing the same human rights.

I am hopeful your posting of this will help others to explore their thoughts. Keith Olbermann said it well, “What is this to you?” I am afraid though that this is one of those things that once someone has an opinion it does not change. This argument could be made towards me and my opinion.

I have tremendous compassion for those who have found someone to love and cannot have the rights I have. I have tremendous compassion for those who just do not get it.

Toni