This weekend, I read about the supporters of Proposition 8 calling (but not officially) for a recall effort against the Supreme Court judges who vote to overturn Proposition 8. I was appalled, of course, but I honestly thought that it was just a case of "the sky is falling". I didn't truly believe that any citizen of California would believe that doing the job given them by the Constitution would be reason for their recall. I mean, they tried to recall Rose Bird twice, and neither time were they successful. Yes, they can vote the judges out - but truthfully, I think that is where the vote is used in a constitutionally protected way. Then, I woke up this morning to find this in my newspaper:
Overturning Proposition 8?
I have read the articles regarding the Supreme Court and the overturning of Propostion 8. I am of a firm mind that, should that happen, the entire court must be recalled.
If that is not possible, those who support this must be recalled.
The majority of voters in this great state have voted — twice — and the answer is clear. I am appalled that there is not only our governor, who I voted for, but 44 other lawmakers who have petitioned the court to overturn the law.
Where does this end? Why did we vote?
If this is overturned again, I will be in favor of asking people not to waste their time on voting. Why? If the court, a group of people, can overturn the majority of voters, why vote?
It is an outrage to see this, and to see it seriously discussed. We, the people, have spoken. Let it be.
What???? This was in my little hometown newspaper, posted by a man who is no stranger to conservative policy or letters to the editor. This is the beginning of the grassroots effort to threaten and coerce our California Supreme Court justices into bending to the "will of the people" rather than the constitutionality of the law. It is the way the churches (they shall remain nameless, in order to keep from being flamed for hating on religion) brought forth their lies in order to get the proposition passed. They started small - with letters to the editors in small town papers, scaring the conservative masses with the "gay agenda" to enter schools and recruit their children. This is my own reproduction of the checklist they have used against us:
THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS GUIDE TO BRAINWASHING YOUR WAY TO POLITICAL SUCCESS:
- Identify the enemy - CHECK - Those pesky gays and lesbians who won't follow the rules by just keeping their lifestyle private. We can't have those people giving others ideas about thinking for themselves, now can we?
- Identify the message - CHECK - Let's see...what's sacred to all god-fearing conservatives? God and the children. So, what's the worst thing that could happen? Disregard god and teach children how to be gay...no, that's not bad enough...Let's say, Take away god and recruit children to be gay...no...I've got it...the hatred of god, the complete downfall of family values and children who think that being gay is "normal"...perfect.
- Identify the audience - CHECK - Well, Rush is always good for getting it out there...but we need something bigger, flashier...let's see...that's IT...we'll get the biggest christian church in the world involved...they're always good with the abortion thing...and they have had enough of the gay thing, especially after the last few years...but they have to think about the potential fallout...hey - what about those Utah people? They have wanted to be a part of us for a long time, but we all know that they are a little strange...but we could make this a test...an initiation. See how much money we can get from them, how many people they can get to...and then we can decide if they can join us or not. Great idea!
- Marginalize the enemy - CHECK - we sure did a good job of putting down THAT idea...same sex marriage, indeed. Those people were just getting too big for their britches, thinking that they were the same as god-fearing conservatives. Just leave it to us, we have the best...wait a minute...what are THEY protesting about...we WON...the PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN...oh, great...we gotta do it again...
- Threaten those who side with the enemy - IN PROCESS - okay, so we gotta do something about those activist judges who actually read the Constitution...don't they know that they have to answer to us...EXACTLY...that is what we will do...start the rumbling now, and let it get back to them...quietly...just with those we already have under our control...
We can't let them do this!!! They have already brainwashed a small majority of the California citizenry into believing that the job of the state Supreme Court is to rule according to the "will of the people". They have already taken away rights that were given to a protected group through the Constitution of California. They have already spent out of state money to pass an amendment affecting only citizens of California.
Write, email and call...let's get out our own grassroots effort to get out the real story. Talk to everyone you know about writing letters to the editors of local newspapers, refuting the idea that the supreme court is not supposed to interpret the constitutionality of laws. Don't let this ignorance go unchecked. Write letters of support for the members of the state Supreme Court - but let them also know that we hope that they will rule with their conscience, not their job security. Remember - protesting is nice, and it shows solidarity, but it is not the only way to be an activist. We let them use the grassroots effort against us once - let's take back the process, because Progressives were the ones who perfected it!!!!!!!!