When you become a naturalized citizen of the United States you take an oath to defend the Constitution. I believe that the passage of Proposition 8 and CA Supreme Court decision to uphold it today weaken the very things that this country stands for. I am angry and sad but I do not despair, because I believe we already have the means necessary to win the fight for equality.
In 1982, when I was five years old, my father went to register me for kindergarden in Tehran, Iran. He had all my immunizations, forms, documents ready. When he got to the school they wouldn't let him register me. The school administrator told him that his picture of me was indecent because my hair was not covered. One year later, I celebrated my six birthday, without a hair covering, on a flight to the United States. I would never set foot in Iran again. My parents didn't make the decision to immigrate lightly or thoughtlessly. The left behind massive wealth, multiple homes and cars, all their friends, both their parents, and the only life they had ever known. Unlike many Iranians, they didn't leave because they were part of a religious minority or had ties with the previous ruler, the Shah. They left because they wanted my brother and I to be raised free. We came to America, like so many others, because we believed in its promise... the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
On September 17th, 1995 I became a United States Citizen and took an oath:
I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God
I have never taken my oath lightly. I believe I owe this country and ALL its citizens for the life I have. I have voted in every election, I have volunteered in my community my whole life, I have chosen a profession in which, hopefully, my work will benefit others. I am engaged politically and socially because I believe in America and I love the Constitution with every fiber in my body. I believe its my duty to fight for the rights and privilages that were so peacefully and graciously handed down to me the day I became a citizen.
On November 4th Californians passed the misguided Proposition 8 and today the Supreme Court ruled to uphold that proposition. I was disappointed with Californians that day and I am disappointed by the Supreme Court today, but I do not despair. I am confused and sad and full of anger but I do not despair, because while the right to marry has been taken from my GBLT friends and family, their right to vote has not. This is still America, this is still California, and this fight will go one.
I will defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will not let the voices of prejudice and bigotry and fear determine the course of this country. This is my America too, damn it!
Rights were taken away by ballot initiative, then lets take them right back! There are already petitions circulating for 2010:
An act to repeal Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution; therefore provisions to be repealed are printed in strike-through text.
Section 1. Title
This measure shall be known, and may cited, as the "California Marriage Equality Act."
Section 2. (a) Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution shall be repealed, stricken, and removed as such:
Sec. 7.5 Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California
(b) This section is not intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, modify or change the curriculum in any school.
(c) This section is not intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, mandate or require clergy of any church to perform a service or duty incongruent with their faith.
There are rallies and protests planned all around California today, so I also plan on excercising my freedom of speech in Davis, California today.
Equality California is raising funds for more field offices around California, the Courage Campaign is raising money to run ads and fund training sessions for activists, grass roots organizations all over the state are working to educate the public, to raise awareness, to take this conversation into churches and synagogues and temples.
Yes this sucks, yes its disappointing, yes I am sad, we should mourn and cry and seek comfort, but at the end of the day we still live in the United States of America and as an Americans I believe it is our duty to fight for equality for all.
I plan to continue to fight for liberty and justice for all with the two most powerful tools I have been granted as a U.S. citizen...
MY VOICE and MY VOTE.
Will you join me?