Amendment 1

Today I voted. What a great feeling.

Another great feeling was voting NO on amendment 1.

Today I gave a speech in my Comm. 240 class on the amendment.

Here it is:

“This sort of marriage is not in the best interest of children.” “God has a plan for marriage and this isn’t it.” “Allowing this kind of marriage will pave the way for all sorts of moral depravity.” Comments from the 1960s on the interracial marriage of one man and one woman -- Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving.

“Love has many shapes and colors and is not finite. It can not be measured or defined in terms of sexual orientation." From a Quaker meeting in Aotearoa.

Marriage has always been an issue in this country. Who we can and cannot marry has changed numerous times since the founding of America. Next month, Tennessee voters will have a chance to change history. Voters will be asked to consider a referendum on an amendment to the state constitution regarding same sex marriage. By the end of this speech, I hope to educate each of you on the significance of this amendment and why we should vote no. I will do this by explaining the amendment itself, discussing arguments for the amendment, and giving arguments against it.

The Amendment: (as it appears on the ballot)

The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman, is contrary to the public policy of this state and shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state.

- would permanently deny equal marriage rights to Tennessee’s same-sex couples
- According to the 2000 US Census, are 20,378 people.
- Similar amendments in other states have been used to justify denial of domestic partner benefits at state institutions and agencies to heterosexual as well as same-sex couples
- TN Constitution- amended very few times
- 1st time it would be restricting rights instead of granting them

2. Arguments FOR the amendment (against SSM)
1. Gay marriage goes against our country’s foundation.

- When most refer to the foundation of our country, they mean the
constitution and the government
- As a nation we have made many changes to the “foundation” of our country:
- abolishment of slavery
- suffrage movement
- Without these changes, where would we be now?

2. In the past, homosexuals have not been allowed to marry.

- until a few decades ago, we did not allow people of different races to marry. Before that, in some states, we did not allow African-American slaves to marry. The institution of marriage has been in a continual state of flux for centuries.

3. The introduction of legalized gay marriages will lead inexorably to
polygamy and other alternatives to one-man, one-woman unions.

- Allowing two persons of the same sex to marry is one decision. Allowing more than two persons to marry is a separate decision. There is no cause-and-effect relationship between the two. A government could approve of neither, of both, or of one without the other. They are independent expansions to the traditional concept of marriage.

4. The implications for children in a world of decaying families are profound.

- Few studies have been done comparing homosexual couples to heterosexual couples in the area of child rearing
- (Judge Kevin Chang) Hawaii:
- “There is a diversity in the structure and configuration of families" today, including single parents, divorced parents, stepparents, adoptive parents and gay and lesbian parents. "The evidence presented establishes that the single most important factor in the development of a happy, healthy and well-adjusted child is the nurturing relationship between parent and child."

5. Marriage is a sacrament designed by God

- 1st amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
- This amendment would not force churches to allow same sex marriages. That would be up to each individual church

6. Marriage is DEFINED as a union between a man and a woman

- Definitions of marriage:
i. Socially-approved sexual and economic union, usually of a male and a female, that is assumed to be more or less permanent.
ii. A contractually committed partnership, including sexual love, cohabitation, shared economy/property and mutual childrearing
iii. A marriage is a relationship between or among individuals, usually recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religious beliefs of the participants. The fact that marriage often has the dual nature of a binding legal contract plus a moral promise can make it difficult to characterize.

7. Homosexuals choose to be gay.

- According to the American Psychological Association, when asked if
people choose to be gay:
- No, human beings cannot choose to be either gay or straight. For most people, sexual orientation emerges in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.

3. Arguments AGAINST the amendment (for SSM)

- Marriage and civil unions would be a basic human right.
- Who can argue with this?
- Ask anyone if they feel that every person in America should have the same rights, and they will most likely answer yes.
- Abbey Rubbenfeld: “I can understand why adults cannot marry children, why adults cannot marry close relatives, why adults cannot marry animals, but I cannot understand why a competent adult cannot marry another competent adult.”

- Homosexual people would be able to share in the rights and privileges that married people have now.
- According to a report given to the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. General Accounting Office, there are 1,049 benefits the United States government provides to legally married couples:

Access to Military Stores
Assumption of Spouse’s Pension
Bereavement Leave
Immigration
Insurance Breaks
Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
Social Security Survivor Benefits
Sick Leave to Care for Partner
Tax Breaks
Veteran’s Discounts
Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison

- Many people disagree with this amendment:
- Over 34 faith leaders from various churches
- Over 9 entire church congregations (Metropolitan Community Church, Knoxville)
- Over 9 newspapers (including the Nashville Tennesseean)
- Over 41 organizations and businesses around TN
- ALL have spoken out against this amendment.

- If you still are not convinced, think about this: if the amendment does not pass, same sex marriage will not be legal.

In conclusion, I would ask that everyone that is able to vote in the upcoming election on November seventh, do so. I hope that after learning about the amendment itself, hearing arguments for it, and listening to arguments against it, when you get into the voting booth and see amendment one, you will vote no.

Let’s make history in Tennessee, our nation, and the world.

The Infamous Party Hoppers

Friday night I attended 2 parties in one night. Last night... I actually stayed awake for FOUR. Goodness. Poor Ben, though. His party was the last so I was a zombie by then. Since I didn't drink, I was soooooo tired. Heh. The parties were fun, though. Here are some exciting costumes I saw over the course of the 2 evenings:

- Frida Kahlo
- June Carter Cash & Johnny
- The Black Dahlia
- Flamingo Rancher
- Fat Elvis
- Flava-Flav (spelling? who knows)
- Ursula
- A guy who works at Abercrombie & Fitch
- A priest and a nun
- Whitney Houston
- Bill Cosby (the kid was going to paint his face... I tried to deter him from that...)
- A poacher and a zebra
- A Communist leader (haha)
- A sluttly ladybug (that one was nice... not)
- BORAT
- A lobotomist
- A fortune teller

Anywho- all the costumes were great. Katie and my joint costumes were, of course, the best. She was a priest, complete with Holy Fanny Pack. Inside the pack was a salt shaker labeled "Holy Water" that actually had some in it, a brown glow-in-the-dark crucifix and a puff-painted glow-in-the-dark crucifix. She wore a blue stole with glow-in-the-dark crosses on it. I wore a muddy, long, flannel nightgown and my hair was wet. I had dark circles under my eyes and scratches all over my face. What could we possibly have been? Drumroll please...

The collective Exorcism of Emily Rose

:) It was fun. So- now I'm off to sing at church. Fun!

Mari

Better Late than Early

To a type A personality, "You will finish college in two semesters" is a terrifying statement to hear. When you thought you had a year and a half before you had to think about entering the real world and it is suddenly cut down to just a year, your mind starts to spin ... or at least mine did. Here is my tentative life plan:

1. Finish this semester
2. Enjoy Christmas break and eat lots of gingerbread
3. Take about 13 hours or so next semester (Spring 07')
4. Intern at Arrowmont over summer
5. Take about 13 hours or so in Fall of 2008 (apply to grad school)
6. Enjoy another Christmas break
8. (A) Already graduated... get a job or do something else
(B) Take 3 hours (be a part time student) and study abroad or do an internship
9. ??? over summer
10. GRAD SCHOOL (Fall of 2009)

Why must it all be so daunting? Life would have been so much simpler if I had that semester filled with classes. I know how to go to school. It's comfortable.

Ugh.

Any suggestions from anyone?

A confused, yet excited,

Mari

Let's go Back to the Future

Life is complicated. We all know that. I realize it is nothing new. But, it doesn't make it any easier when that mack truck hits us in the side of the head and says "hey- let's shake things up."

There is a common myth circulating about people: they can't change. This, ladies & gentlemen, is false. People can change... if they are willing. I am a firm believer that when someone says "That's just how I am" it is a cop-out. It may not be easy to change, but it is possible. If people couldn't change we would all still have our 6-year-old-don't-cut-me-in-line personalities. Some people haven't gotten past that stage, but most of us have.

You know when people say "You really don't have to pick a career now. Just work a little and figure it out."? Well, I don't like those people. Hah. Just kidding. What I don't like is the fact that it is a lie. Well, it's improbable if you are going to grad school in a year and half. What degree will I get? You can't do undecided in grad school. (damn - wouldn't that be nice?) Bollocks.

Clarissa, if you read this- I miss you. I know I wouldn't be seeing you right now, personally, but I could at least call you on the phone. I miss our long, silly phone conversations. :) They always ground me if that makes sense. I hope you are having an amazing time, though. I'm sure you are. ;)

Well, I'm going to try to think about some homework, but I'm just not in the mood. We'll see what actually happens.

Night

Mari

It's been a long time

I would like to apologize to the one person who reads this blog. Hah. Now there may be no one since I've been such a terrible updater. I don't blame you.

Life has been CRAZY since the return from Italia.
Here are some updates:

1.) France was amazing. Jillian, Mom, Dad, Aunt Ruth, and I stayed with my cousins in the South of France (where Johnny Depp lives... WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THIS BEFORE I LEFT? I would have found his amazing villa and stolen a geranium) for the last week we were overseas. It was amazing. Talk about the good life! :) I was so happy to finally meet my cousins and their house was fabulous.

2.) School is... almost over. I found out this week that I will be finished with school in ... TWO SEMESTERS. That scares me. I have to get a job or go to grad school or... eek! It's quite daunting. I can't believe I will actually graduate early when I changed majors midstream. Who knows...

3.) I'm a political activist now. Heh. Well, at least technically. I went to my first protest. I'm in the Progressive Student Alliance and we marched in the homecoming parade for Living Wage for UT workers. I feel like a better person when I try to help others. Doesn't everyone? I have a difficult time knowing something is wrong and that people are being treated unfairly (esp. so close to home) without wanting to do something. Now I can.

4.) I am completely Anti-war - especially this one. Watch "The Ground Truth" and you'll understand. America is doing things in Iraq that are very very very illegal. No wonder so many countries hate us. We need to mind our own business and take care of the problems here at home. We have homeless and starving people. We have unfair laws and inequality.

5.) VOTE. Everyone should vote November 7th. If you don't know about the Vote No on No. 1 campaign, here's a link: http://votenoon1tn.com/issues.html
Everyone in our country should have equal rights and on November 7th, in Tennessee, we have the power to make that happen. Sacred marriage can be up the individual churches, but civil unions are up to the government and NO ONE should be denied. Thank God for Massachusetts.

That's all I have to say right now, and I promise I will be better about updating this thing.

"The people should not be afraid of their government;
the government should be afraid of its people."

Mari