Coming up in November along with obviously the presidential election and a whole slew of other offices up for bid my fellow Floridians have the joy of voting on a rather controversial constitutional amendment.

It’s called Amendment 2, and in my opinion it is DANGEROUS. I would suffice to say it is actually going to be far more detrimental to the families of Florida than the group sponsoring the amendment seem to think.

When I initially wrote this entry it was intended to be a balanced report of both sides of this amendment. Then I got to thinking about SEO, and how I need this entry to receive hits because, so far everyone I’ve talked to about this amendment seems to be focused on the fact that it is a gay marriage ban. As a result, as you can tell from the title, this entry will be far from balanced. If that pisses you off, leave.

FLORIDIANS NEED TO KNOW THAT AMENDMENT 2 IS NOT JUST A BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE!

It is actually a ban on any sort of relationship or partnership that is NOT a marriage between a man and a woman.

The exact wording that you will read on your ballet in November is:
“Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

What does that mean?

Well quite simply it means that if you are involved in a homosexual relationship you will loose all the rights and benefits currently afforded/awarded to you.

It means that if you are in a heterosexual relationship that is NOT a legally recognized marriage, then you too will loose all the rights and benefits currently afforded/awarded to you.

It means that any benefits (medical, banking, etc) that the partners share between themselves or their children will no longer be recognized in the State of Florida.

It means that the religious ceremony known as marriage that was taken over by the government as a means of profit (because lets face it, why else would the government busy themselves with a religious ceremony) will now be the only recognized form of a relationship or partnership in the state of Florida. Furthermore, it will only be recognized if it is a marriage between a male and a female.

It means a great deal of trouble for the many families in our state that are families through partnership be it heterosexual or homosexual.

It means broken families and a crap load of hurt.

Now, let it be known that I am not in favor of any ban on any sort of relationship. Yes, for all my Christian readers out there…even homosexual marriages (or as the media likes to refer to them “gay marriages”). However, the point that Yes2Marriage, the group that has sponsored the amendment is trying to make is that gay marriage should be banned. Now they’ll tell you that “A yes vote on 2 will do one thing and one thing only – protect the definition of marriage between a man and a woman.” They’ll have you believe based on the wording on the ballet that you are doing nothing more than banning gay marriage. What they won’t tell you is that you are actually banning any form of relationship within the State of Florida that ISN’T a marriage between one man and one woman. I say if it’s a gay marriage ban they want, then write an anti-gay marriage amendment. Don’t write an amendment that ruins the lives of many already fully-functioning happy Floridians involved in relationships that aren’t a marriage. Another thing that Yes2Marriage isn’t telling you is that Florida already has multiple laws banning same-sex marriage.

Look, the groups sponsoring Amendment 2 have every right to pursue their ideals and philosophies. However, in this case those ideals, those “morals” are going to have drastic affects on an entire states population.

So do yourself a favor visit Yes2Marriage’s website. Educate yourself on the amendment. Then head over to Say No to 2’s website and educate yourself on the consequences the State of Florida faces if this amendment is passed in November.

Amendment 2 is dangerous and is threatening the healthy, fully-functioning relationships and lives of many Floridians.

Vote NO on 2!

I have made every attempt to not use this blog to fuel negativity at least when it comes to politics. Some of you probably came here expecting me to be bashing one side or the other or both, but you’re not going to get that. For one, the varying political opinions of individuals often times gets in the way of their ability to think straight and two, I just don’t want this thing to become “one of those types of blogs.”

Partisan politics is taring us a part. One of the worst decisions I’ve ever made (politically) is to register as a Democrat simply so I could be more involved in the Obama Campaign and so that I could vote in my states closed primary. You can rest assured that one of the first things I’ll do (again politically) after this election cycle, is re-register as an independent.

The idiocy that has taken place at both the current Republican National Convention and at last weeks Democratic National Convention does nothing more than make me roll my eyes. The arrests of journalist, the arrest of normal citizens, the harassing of delegates, the fireworks, stadiums and all the other bull crap is ridiculous!

Admittedly, I have endorsed Barack Obama since the beginning and have been active in his campaign. More recently though I have admitted that my confidence in Barack Obama has been sinking rapidly since his announcement of Senator Joe Biden as is running mate. My initial endorsement was based on the fact that in Barack Obama I recognized a leader, I recognized someone who I wanted to lead this country. I recognized someone ready, willing and able to lead this country too and make a sincere change in this country. Now, I’ve slowly started to see that image I once had sink. I don’t see that in Senator Joe Biden. I’ve never seen that in John McCain. And since I barely know her, I don’t really see that in Sarah Palin. That is why, I have downloaded both parties platforms and will read every page. Upon doing so, I will then make my final decision and I will not announce it on here. In fact, I’m not sure I’ll even blog about politics after this particular post, as the whole thing has turned into a game.

The fact of the matter, in my opinion is this. This election is not about religion, it’s not about the color of someones skin, or the fact that one of the candidates has a vagina. It’s not about who is established, the media or their qualifications. It’s not about the NRA, or big-oil, or health care.

IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

And truthfully, neither side, nor most of the 3rd parties are in it for the people, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THEY ARE! If you’re naive to believe that, I understand, because I once was too. But Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden or Sarah Palin don’t care about you, in the end they have a party to answer to and they’ll do what that parties insists of them.

Right now, I believe that we are as far away from democracy as we’ve ever been.

There are many I could blame, but the reality is it’s my fault.

It’s your fault.

WE LET THIS HAPPEN TO OUR COUNTRY.
We decided that you have to be blue, or red or some other color.
We decided that if you’re blue and you believe in choice you’re a horrible human.
We decided that if you’re red and you let your faith influence your political decisions you’re wrong.
We decided that if you stand firm in your belief that the system works, but only when executed right and that the government CAN executed it right under the right leadership, then well you’re an idiot.

This is all our fault folks. Partisan politics have ruined who we are and who this country is and what democracy is about.

I believed in this election and the change that is ABSOLUTELY MUST BRING in the beginning.

Now, I really do not care.

I’ll read the platforms, and I will vote for the person who I believe is going to do the best job. Because that’s all I’ve got left. I’m burned out. I get in arguments over this stupid crap and I can’t afford to anymore. It’s not red, blue, black, vagina, experience or POW status to me.
It is me deciding who is the best leader for this country.

I do believe that Bill Clinton hit the nail on the head tonight when he said:

“People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.”