merchimerch | (no subject)

(no subject)

It made me sad to see young kids in the group of "Yes on 8" protesters that were located at Hamilton and Winchester in San Jose as I ran errands in the rain today. In addition to the vile message, it seems really inappropriate to bring small kids into the political arena that way.

One of them had a sign that read: "Honk to support traditional marriage"

...no one was honking

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I'm going to try and do some phone banking tomorrow, day notwithstanding.

I've been asking everyone I know if they've voted, and how they're voting on 8.

I hope it is enough.

We are on the verge of making history.

i really hope it's enough too. oy gevalt. but, gd forbid, if it passes, we will defeat it again and this time it will stay down :)

i know when i see kids at anti war demos and stuff i'm always like 'yay!'. If I had kids they'd always be at demos. I just get grossed out seeing people raise their kids with backwards, hatefilled intolerance. :( And with this one... sheesh - how many of those kids are going to grow up queer?

I guess I see anti-war demos as less political - kids can understand peace, and IMO peace is something that most religions and political orientations can support.

When I saw kids of 8-10 yrs old waving those "yes on 8" signs, it made me sad both because of the bigotry that they're being raised with, but also because I'm REALLY doubting that their parents have fully explained the issue to them. Especially with the issue at hand, it seemed like they were being used as pawns to manipulate people's emotions.

That and, seeing kids soaking wet in the pouring rain on a Sunday afternoon, the momma in me was going "no! they'll catch cold"

FWIW, I've seen many kids waving 'NO on 8' signs and none saying yes, and it heartened me. Both groups will have plenty of time to form their own opinions... some of my own views have changed a lot since I was a kid.

Really, really hoping it fails...

see I don't know - I don't think young kids should be sign waving at all. It just kinda makes me uneasy to use kids as political pawns, and as you said -- one's views change a lot through the course of growing up.

I don't mind teenage activists, but somehow it make me really uncomfortable to see really young kids being put out there for causes that I am not sure they're capable of forming opinions on that don't match that which they are taught.

I REALLY hope it fails as well.

I was quite opinionated when I was, say, 9. I hadn't learnt how to effectively argue my opinions yet, but I was perfectly capable of forming them, hearing what others had to say (my parents and teachers often disagreed about things, and my peers definitely did) and making up my own mind. Learning how to express them respectfully, with signs or otherwise, is part of that, and if I hadn't been allowed to, I would not have learnt how to effectively argue them (or change my mind) until much later. So I say, anyone who's old enough to have an opinion ought to be allowed to express it.

And this Prop 8 thing ain't over yet! =)

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