Continued Prop 8 Bias

Over the past couple of months, following the Nov. 4, 2008 election, there have been numerous letters to the Editor of the Thousand Oaks Acorn, aimed at the people who are protesting the results of Proposition 8. I fundamentally believe that we are all entitled to our own opinions, but some of the letters were getting really out of hand. Last week, the Thousand Oaks Acorn published my letter; they did some editing to lower the word count, and changed the title, but they published it nonetheless. The letter can be found here:
http://www.toacorn.com/news/2009/0101/letters/013.html

or you may read the unedited version below. Let us all remain firm in our resolve to stand up for what is right and just. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!

To: T.O. Acorn Editor
From: Jonathan Serret
Re: Letters to the Editor
Title: Equality for All

Dear Editor:
I have become increasingly disturbed by the letters submitted regarding the passage of Proposition 8. I would like to respond to the letters written in the Dec. 4 issue by Kelly Taggart and Lisa Caestaecker. The title of Ms. Caestecker’s letter is disturbing in itself: “If you don’t Like Prop. 8, go to Massachusetts.” We are all truly blessed to live in such a wonderful country where we can discuss and debate topics and take dissenting points of view; many people died to give us those rights. I would like to respond with my own version:
“If you don’t like living in a place where we can have conversations about differing opinions; move to another country.”
Marriage discrimination is not a new concept; we’ve been down this road before. Yes, it is true, that the majority of Californians have voted (twice) to ban same-sex marriage. However, just because the majority votes one way, doesn’t mean it is right. In the 1930’s, my great-grandparents had to go to New Mexico to get married. My great-grandfather was an immigrant from the Philippines and my great-grandmother was an “American;” it was the majority belief at that time that they shouldn’t get married. The majority was wrong. It also wasn’t that long ago that blacks and whites couldn’t marry each other. Again, this was the view of the majority, and again, they were wrong. Proposition 8 is no different; the majority of Californians are wrong again and over time they will realize it.
This concept of “Traditional Marriage” is completely outlandish. The only reason it is considered traditional, is because it’s the only version of marriage anyone has ever known. Another reason people are opposed is because of their religious ties. I have the utmost respect for people of differing faiths and firmly believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and values, but when those values and beliefs begin affecting others, there is an issue. There is often a blinding mentality of, “The Bible says,” luckily for us; we have a separation of church and state. What the Bible says should have absolutely no bearing on how government policy is created. Open your minds and your hearts and accept that everyone is equal.
If one of your children were gay and one day wants to get married; don’t you want to be there to watch them walk down the aisle, and see them be happy with the person they love? When two people want to spend the rest of their lives together, that means something; and whether the couples are male-female, female-female, or male-male, love is universal and should be celebrated equally amongst everyone.

Jonathan Serret
Agoura Hills