My Views

What's a post without a picture?

It has been a while since I have made any comments on Proposition 8, or any comments for that matter. This is actually because we have been heavily engaged in the work. As it gets closer to the election, there is a great need of time to be put in by walking precincts (I didn't know what that meant until I was doing it). We will be contacting people in person for the next two weeks, and then the work is going to change to phone calls and encouraging and registering people to vote.

To share a personal experience: last weekend on our way to walk Prop 8 in Mira Mesa I finally broke down to Jared. Mind you, this was after a morning filled with four hours of General Conference and little sleep the night before. I had finally hit a point in my life where I was beginning to understand what I had only heard many others talk about. I was feeling the pressure of the many responsibilities I was to be fulfilling- walking for Prop 8, preparing a great Super Saturday for Enrichment, playing with Corban and being a great mother for him, taking care of my husband, and taking care of myself- and it was too much. I was feeling like I couldn't reach a point where I could say "I am doing what I can." I kept feeling like I should be doing more, but didn't seem to have the time to do so. I was upset when Jared's answer was to pray about it- not because I didn't agree with him, but because that seemed like too simple of an answer, and I also think I wanted to hear him say he was feeling the same in regards to our efforts for Prop 8. What I wanted to hear was validation for what I was accomplishing and that I really was doing all that I could do. When I told him that I was feeling like I didn't have time to take care of myself, he posed the question (not these exact words), "doesn't doing your responsibilities help you take care of you?" I negatively took this to mean I wasn't doing enough and I should be putting in more on Prop 8. Holding back tears, we got out to join others in the walk, Jared only joining us for an hour since he still had the Priesthood session to attend.

I arrived home from walking a little after Jared did feeling great! We finished a bunch of streets in those three hours, came across a lot of grateful individuals that are willing to help in some way, contacted a Priest that was looking for a way he could inform his congregation about this so we gave him sign/flyers/bumper stickers, and it didn't start raining until we knocked the last door! Miracles do happen. Jared came in and told me that he learned some great things in the Priesthood session, one being that he needed to attend to my needs and listen to me more. He always seems to find a way to take the blame. The truth of the matter, I really did need to pray and look at what I could do differently to have a different attitude. Not thinking much of it until today, I realized those feelings went away. I attribute that to being that we more clearly planned out our Prop 8 walking for the week, guaranteeing we put in at least 4 hours (this being the new goal given from the apostles). I wrote it on a sticky note and we have stuck to it the entire week. Not only have we got in the walk, but knowing when Jared would be home, I also cooked him meals this week. Additionally, we were able to take the Ryan's walking with us today to show them the ropes so they can go out on their own.

I think I was having those feelings because I really wasn't giving Prop 8 the attention I knew I should and could give it. Greater blessings have attended us this week as we have been out walking- it is easier to talk to people, more information comes to mind that I can share on an individual basis, and we have made new friends in the neighborhood. We have even got people asking us if they can get a sign or a bumper sticker. Oh, and we came across a young family where the husband is a baptized member, who became inactive before he got married. They have casually talked about maybe getting involved in the church because it is very family oriented.

As if this post isn't long enough, here is my introspection on how Prop 8 and the general presidential election have much in common. This came to me as I was watching Dr. Dobson, who I am not necessarily an advocate of, but I get weekly parenting tips from him on email (need all I can get) and this video interview came today. It is in support of everything I strongly believe in, namely marriage and family.

Here in California we are heavily involved in fighting for the preservation of marriage and family. This is the most I have ever been involved in any politics, though we do consider our fight more of a moral question rather than a political view. I have learned a lot (have a whole lot more to learn), met a lot of people that have been willing to share their views that both support and contradict my views, and have gained a stronger conviction of patriotism for our country.
One of the many answers we get in opposition to Prop 8 is that it is “discriminatory” to not allow them this “right”. I have been wanting to have an explanation for this, not that I would have the chance to share it with them, because they rarely give an opportunity to hear our side, but because I know that we are not discriminating. I found the answer in my understanding of the word “tolerance”. I believe tolerance to be a love and respect for all people as individuals, not to be a disregard and acceptance of all their behaviors. I believe there is a right and a wrong and we need to stand up for what right. The world seems to be changing the definition to be “accept everything”, therefore making things neither right nor wrong; however, there is an inevitable double standard to this definition, summed up in this oxymoronic bumper sticker that read: “Intolerance will not be tolerated”. We have personally felt this double standard in our campaign.
In this country where we are given the right of freedom of speech, I have to keep a careful watch over my sign for “Yes on Prop 8” because signs and bumper stickers have been removed in less than 2 hours after being placed. This was a portion of an email we received today:
“I was informed that beginning this weekend, 10/10/08, Democrat union activists will be dispatched statewide to collect and remove as many political signs as possible for Republican candidates and Propositions that they do not support. This includes any "Yes on 8" materials or yard signs that they can get their hands on. Since "Yes on 8" yard signs are due to arrive any day and to be delivered to voters, we want to be aware that signs which are unattended or are not brought in at night will most likely disappear, especially this weekend.(Derrick W. Roach, Candidate for California Assembly)”
Though this is very disheartening to hear, I still stand true to my belief that tolerance is a love and respect for others and I will continue to try to have that for all the mean and kind people we encounter during this campaign.
Dr. Dobson’s letter brought to light for me even more issues that are standing on this election. I wasn’t aware of the Supreme Court Judges that would/could be resigning in the following years, therefore being filled by the president at that time. If Obama is to choose those judges, we are up for a liberal reign of the land, which will have a great impact on the family unit, making Prop 8 in California something the entire nation is going to face in the next 4 years.
As we come down to the last weeks before the election, I hope that we are not passive in our efforts. Even if you are not involved in Prop 8, there is a similar battle being fought for the presidential seat. I use to be one of the many that figured I shouldn’t vote because I wasn’t well enough informed. I am definitely not allowing that to happen this time.
(Click here for additional information from the church on how we have been counseled and prepared for Prop 8 efforts. This was a great broadcast, I only wish it was the entire thing!)