The Next U.S.A President

[Jacqui]

That actually does make sense. Thanks.

[KimboCosmo]

Your Welcome

[dj4celine]

81-34 now

 

Go Obama!!

[SuperLove4Celine]

I would love to hear a gay man's reasoning for voting Yes on Proposition 8. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why you would actually support that being a homosexual.

 

 

I can't imagine voting that way either, unless you purposefully want to take that decision to the Supreme Court.

 

There are a few reasons why I contemplated voting yes on 8. I don't want to bore anybody on here with going into each tiny specific, but I will touch on a few keypoints. I will simply bullet them.

• Marriage is a religious act and ceremony. There is supposed to be a seperation of church and state. If a religion is not for gay marriage that is their belief. If somebody practicing said religion and does not agree with this belief then it is my opinion that perhaps that religion is not for them.
   
  
• The majority of Californians voted against gay marriage. However, the Supreme Court swooped in and reversed it. I do not agree with this. This simply means that even when the collective agrees a few people with power can essentially overturn what the majority wants. Thus, making proposition voting useless. In voting yes on 8 I would have been supporting the majority of Californian's wishes and placing the measure back to how I believe it should be. Then a new proposition could have been put on the ballot to see if opinions changed. By this I mean a new proposition voted by the people to overturn what the PEOPLE had voted on before. Not, in this case, what a few with power changed.
   
  
• In terms of benefits I only believe the biggest issue is being able to have the same abilities straight couples do in terms of taxes, medical benefits, visitation rights in hospitals, etc. As long as everybody is entitled to these I really don't care what my relationship would be called. All that matters to me is what I know in my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let it be called marriage. Let it be called domestic partnership. Let it be called unisage (a word I made up using the word "unison"). I truly don't care.
   
  
• I believe that humans tend to make a bigger deal out of things than what needs to be. Humans spent so much time, energy, and money on the smaller details that the bigger more important ones tend to get overlooked and tossed to the side. Thus, stalling progress.
  

However, in the end I did vote no due to a few factors.

• I didn't appreciate the way the "Yes On 8" campaign was running and producing their commercials. Using children to gain any votes is unacceptable to me. (Those of you who have seen the commercial know which one I am talking about.) Children are amongst the world's most innocent and precious creatures on this planet. To force ones beliefs onto them and make them be in a production such as a "Yes On 8" commerical demeans them and exploits them in ways that I find wrong.
   
  
• I don't believe the state should have any say in whether or not a gay couple can "marry" or be in a "marriage." This is to be determined by religions the world over. I voted no to leave this issue up with the churches around the globe.
  

I know I probably haven't explained myself as well as I could. It's difficult at times to convey a point online in regards to various aspects of politics and viewpoints. If anybody has any questions or comments about what I have written above I would be more than happy and willing to address them. However, please try to understand that I will not respond to rude or demeaning messages. They will be overlooked. To those of you who want to learn why I feel the way I feel and ask about it in a respectful manner I'm all for it.

 

Simply know that I do see both sides of the fence on this issue. I don't feel anybody is worse or better than me because of their view on proposition 8 or any other political issue.

 

- Joe

[Allie]

so polls close when Alaska reaches 8pm, since they're the farthest behind? I'm in California and I think they're still open here.

 

I wish I could vote I am about two years shy though...so next election! This thing has had me nervous all fricken day.

[SuperLove4Celine]

so polls close when Alaska reaches 8pm, since they're the farthest behind? I'm in California and I think they're still open here.

 

I wish I could vote I am about two years shy though...so next election! This thing has had me nervous all fricken day.

 

The nation as a whole will close its polls after Alaska. However, each state has their own set time for when their polls close. Here in California ours close at 8:00 PM (in 1½ hours).

 

It's exciting, nerve-wracking, and fun to watch the results come flooding in. Some states have shocked me, others not so much. (I still can't believe it's so close in Florida and that Obama got Ohio by the margian he did.)

 

I love it! God bless America! Ha ha!

 

- Joe

[Jacqui]

[*]I don't believe the state should have any say in whether or not a gay couple can "marry" or be in a "marriage." This is to be determined by religions the world over. I voted no to leave this issue up with the churches around the globe.

I know I probably haven't explained myself as well as I could. It's difficult at times to convey a point online in regards to various aspects of politics and viewpoints. If anybody has any questions or comments about what I have written above I would be more than happy and willing to address them. However, please try to understand that I will not respond to rude or demeaning messages. They will be overlooked. To those of you who want to learn why I feel the way I feel and ask about it in a respectful manner I'm all for it.

 

Simply know that I do see both sides of the fence on this issue. I don't feel anybody is worse or better than me because of their view on proposition 8 or any other political issue.

 

- Joe

 

Ok, I have a question. If marriage is a church-only thing, and that's why gay people shouldn't be allowed to marry, how come nobody is opposed to atheists getting married?

[SuperLove4Celine]

[*]I don't believe the state should have any say in whether or not a gay couple can "marry" or be in a "marriage." This is to be determined by religions the world over. I voted no to leave this issue up with the churches around the globe.

I know I probably haven't explained myself as well as I could. It's difficult at times to convey a point online in regards to various aspects of politics and viewpoints. If anybody has any questions or comments about what I have written above I would be more than happy and willing to address them. However, please try to understand that I will not respond to rude or demeaning messages. They will be overlooked. To those of you who want to learn why I feel the way I feel and ask about it in a respectful manner I'm all for it.

 

Simply know that I do see both sides of the fence on this issue. I don't feel anybody is worse or better than me because of their view on proposition 8 or any other political issue.

 

- Joe

 

Ok, I have a question. If marriage is a church-only thing, and that's why gay people shouldn't be allowed to marry, how come nobody is opposed to atheists getting married?

 

The question I would have to that is why would an atheist want to get married when typically a religious figure is present? In order to be married someone must be married via an ordained person. Granted nowadays this can obtained via the Internet. Comedian, Kathy Griffin, proved this on an episode of her Bravo show, My Life On The D-List.

 

With that said I'll answer your question. I would say the reason that the majority of people aren't opposed to it is because there is always a hope to get an Ahteist to believe in God. However, if a person is gay they're gay. As time has progressed it has been documented and proven that homosexuality is not a disease, nor a genetic defect. We are each born differently. With Atheism that's, so far, not been proven to be a way someone is born. Of course this could eventually be proven differently. (I'm always open to new possibilities.)

 

This leads me into my next comment. One of, if not THE, biggest issue that tends to get brought up all the time in regards to gay marriage is that it goes against the Bible. Yet again another example of bringing religion into the picture.

 

I hope this made sense. LOL

 

- Joe

[Jacqui]

I think athiests want to get married for similar reasons to why most Christians do- for love and committment. Even if Jesus, or whoever else you believe in, is not part of their lives. They still care about one another and want to spend their lives together.

Like you said, there are non-religious celebrants, and people who are even ordained via the internet- I think a lot of athiests who get married would use those people to officiate their weddings. And it doesn't make their love any less real or their marriage any less legal.

I do understand your point, but I'm still 1000% for gay marriage- and I'm a Christian. People say it ruins the sanctity of marriage? 50% of marriages end in divorce. I think the sanctity is already ruined! Why not let people live as they want? It's not hurting anyone.

 

But something else I'm not clear on- is this Prop 8 thing only in California? Or is legal gay marriage a possibilty all over America?

[SuperLove4Celine]

I think athiests want to get married for similar reasons to why most Christians do- for love and committment. Even if Jesus, or whoever else you believe in, is not part of their lives. They still care about one another and want to spend their lives together.

Like you said, there are non-religious celebrants, and people who are even ordained via the internet- I think a lot of athiests who get married would use those people to officiate their weddings. And it doesn't make their love any less real or their marriage any less legal.

I do understand your point, but I'm still 1000% for gay marriage- and I'm a Christian. People say it ruins the sanctity of marriage? 50% of marriages end in divorce. I think the sanctity is already ruined! Why not let people live as they want? It's not hurting anyone.

 

But something else I'm not clear on- is this Prop 8 thing only in California? Or is legal gay marriage a possibilty all over America?

 

Oh, I totally agree that the reasons for people getting together in a union, whatever it may be called, are for love and passion for their partner. (At least I hope that's the reason.) And I agree with letting people live their lives as long as it's not hurting anybody. (Although one could argue what the meaning of the word "hurting" is.)

 

As for the legality of gay marriage in America - it is only legal in Massachussets and California (so far). It was legal in Hawai'i, but that got repealed. I may be a bit off on my facts, but gay marriage is not acknowledged by all of the U.S.

 

- Joe

[SuperLove4Celine]

According to CNN and MSNBC Obama is now our new president!

 

- Joe

[Love,]

h e l l o

p r e s i d e n t

b a r a c k

o b a m a !!!

 

 

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[Edwin]

He is our president-elect

 

[SuperLove4Celine]

He is our president-elect

 

 

Nice one! Ha ha!

[Jacqui]

Ok, thanks for answering that.

I just don't see how it would "hurt" anyone. It's not really anyone's business who his or her neighbour, colleague, etc, loves- or marries. At the end of the day, even if you believe it's wrong, we'll all have to answer to God, not each other.

 

Edit: Ooh they announced it? Well congratulations to him.

Edited November 5, 2008 at 04:12 AM by Jacqui

[Nmj]

Barack Obama is Our President!!!!

 

Where's PrincesseJen!!!

[Lou555]

Congrats to you U.S. friends! You should be proud to have elected B. Obama who's the best leader at this time in history for change IMO to unite the world, change perceptions and rebuild bridges with others and help keep the peace around the world.

That's how I feel about this great news tonight as someone who's not from U.S.A. but has followed this with much interest. I think this is a wonderful day in your country's history. It's an historical day for U.S.A. for sure and for every people around the world!

 

P.S. John McCain is a fine man and was very gracious on his speech.

[autumnskies00]

I'm not sure how I feel about this....but I'm glad I can expect to get some health insurance. It benefits me, but my dad for example is on the other end of the spectrum where it will be bad for him taxes wise. So I'm okay with it now, because I don't have a job and I don't have taxes to pay, but I can still expect to get some health insurance, but I don't know how I'll feel about it once I do have taxes to pay. I would like to think I'd be happy to pay taxes to help out the people who are in my position right now when I am able to but who knows. I'm sort of scared of all the change though. BUT I didn't want four more years of bush. Ethier way, I'm still nervous for our country. We are in such a deep hole right now, it's going to take a lot to get us out. Besides, I want to move to Canada anyway Not because of the president, but because I luuurves it

[celineyouaremygirl]

ALL i can say is thank god obama won ! in the words of donald trump bush your fired !

[incognito]

Where's PrincesseJen!!!

 

[dj4celine]

John McCain's speech was very gracious and generous and I'm sure he'll work along with Pressident-elect Barack Obama But the subtle yet clear-cut, humble yet powerful speech by Barack Obama was just phenomenal. Loved every second of it

 

Congrats and all the best to Barack Obama

 

Hope for the promised change to fruition soon

[EDWIGE]

Congratulation for Mr Obama.

[Timster]

I'm so glad Obama won!

[amyja89]

Obama's speech was amazing, I've just seen it on the news and it was so powerful!

[Davey84]

YAY!! I'm happy that Obama won!! this really is a day of change for the USA!!

[pepillo90]

Finally!!!

 

Congratulations to each member on this forum who is from US and voted for Obama! I'm so glad for you and I'm even glad for me!

 

I loved his Speech!

[destin139]

Congrats to you U.S. friends! You should be proud to have elected B. Obama who's the best leader at this time in history for change IMO to unite the world, change perceptions and rebuild bridges with others and help keep the peace around the world.

That's how I feel about this great news tonight as someone who's not from U.S.A. but has followed this with much interest. I think this is a wonderful day in your country's history. It's an historical day for U.S.A. for sure and for every people around the world!

 

P.S. John McCain is a fine man and was very gracious on his speech.

 

Couldnt have put it better myself! I completely agree! Im so glad Obama won (and I think pretty much all of England is too although that is quite a generalisation!)

[Flicka]

Congratulations to the USA...today is a historic date, I'm so proud to live this moment!! I stayed tuned all the night long to see it! The change is on the way!!!

 

Obama rocks!

 

 

 

Greetings from france

[sayyed]

I new it. I'm very glad. He has a mountain of work before him. I wish him luck.

[bkitt]

My husband and I stayed up past midnight watching President Elect Obama's acceptance speech, and now here I am......up for work at 5:15!!! I know I'll be tired today, but this was a wonderful and historic moment for our nation, and I hope that everyone was able to witness it. This was our oldest son's first time to vote....a day I'm sure he will remember forever as a moment of great change for our country. I am hoping for a brighter future and peace for us all!