Is the pen mightier?

Chicago Tribune Article.

Last week, the Supreme Court voted to block the release of over 138,000 names of Washington State residents who were seeking to repeal a law regarding same-sex/domestic partnerships. The vote, scheduled for November 3rd, was proposed through petitions of Washington State residents to get this piece of monumental legislation on the ballot.

Gay-rights activists in Washington State have begun this latest battle by posting the results of petitions on the internet to “expose supporters of anti-gay measures.”

Aaron Toleos, co-founder of KnowThyNeighbor.org has published close to one million names online of individuals who oppose same-sex marriage legislation in Massachusetts, Florida, Arkansas and Oregon. This matter of public record has posed the question to law makers across the country: Are political petitions a matter of public record? And if so, how can we as citizens protect an individuals right to privacy once those public records are posted on the Internet for all to see?

As someone who supports Gay Marriage/Domestic Partner rights, I am personally stunned by Toleos actions. I find it appalling that someone who stands up to injustice and fights for equality would be part of something that would persecute the beliefs of another person. I do not believe that you have a right to take a petition and use to harass, intimidate or otherwise persecute the body that petition represents. Go to the website: names, addresses are posted there for all to see.

If you read the article in today's Trib, Toleos states: "We don't ask people to go confront strangers. This is about finding someone they already now ... and having a civil dialogue." What Toleos fails to understand is that where there is a cause to fight for, there will always be extremists who will not only put themselves in harms way, but will cause damage to other people and their property.

When the extremists of either side of an argument display their views irrationally, it weakens to the argument of those who are rational.  I believe that this will get resolved, and marriage will be legalized for all Americans. This country is great and this country is powerful. But you cannot win these fights through violence, harassment and other intimidating tactics that scare people.

It is no secret that the Western World was no fan of George W. Bush during his years in office for this exact reason. He went door to door across the world telling outlandish lies to start a war and when the world would not support them, he shut them out, called them terrorist supporters and started a national campaign which fortunately for us, did not take off (Freedom Fries?) He robbed America of her dignity and integrity. To those who are fighting for this distinguishable civil right, do you really want to be put in the same reputation bucket as George?

I thought not.

In short, I do not believe you can use your First Amendment freedoms to persecute others, especially those who share a different opinion. I'm not typically the first to necessarily admit when I'm wrong, but I can admit when the other party clearly has a stronger argument. Gay marriage supporters cannot stand up  equality and safety for homosexuals if they are going to cause the same violence and persecution against those that  oppose their view.


Do unto others....and it will come back to you.