"Yes On 8" Yard Sign Stolen in 2 hrs 15 minutes. New Record?
So Saturday afternoon, Stephanie and I said a little prayer over our "Freedom of Religion / Yes on 8" yard sign and tapped it into the front lawn. We live on a visible corner of a busy street in what's affectionately known (by all parties) as the "gayborhood." We knew we were going to stick out a little bit.
Not two hours and 15 minutes later, while I ran around the block for some groceries, somebody who really doesn't understand or appreciate democracy very well walked off w/ our sign. This is a real pattern across the State, related to this one issue in particular, for some reason.
Whatever your views on the matter, I think most adults will agree the behavior is childish.
Anyway, Sunday morning, I got up early, asked God to bless our extremely petty thief, and prayed over a fresh sign that says, "Proposition 8, Freedom of Speech." We'll see how long that one lasts.
I have no idea who took my sign, but I made my financial donation to protectmarriage.com in his or her honor.
ProtectMarriage.com could really use the funds all of a sudden to match forces against w/ a recent Tsunami of pro-gay marriage fundraising that occurred last week, with more on the way. If you haven't donated yet, I challenge you to do so now. Times are hard on everyone right now, but Proposition 8 is a watershed event, folks. You absolutely will not get another chance at this one.
The other side knows the stakes are high and are throwing everything they've got at defacing God's picture of marriage.
Now's not the time to hide it under a bushel.
Salt and light. Salt and light.
Comments
See video of Local News 8 story on increasing complaints from all over San Diego of "Yes on 8" signs being vandalized and stolen.
http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.143774.html#
Nothin' but class.
David Turney
Site Editor
Here a link to the OC Register article on Prop 8 sign Vandalism
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/signs-sign-ban-2197356-vandalism-people
Same thing happening here in the other SD (South Dakota) - "Yes on 11" (end elective abortion) signs are routinely stolen.
I took part in a Life Chain witness along one of Sioux Falls' main streets a few weeks ago - mostly positive honks and waves, but the, uh, "no" position was expressed with middle fingers and f-bombs.
As you say, "class."
Nice. I know it goes both ways, unfortunately, but there is a clear majority pattern of this stuff originating from detractors of Christian positions, at least in San Diego.
Of course, it's not all just petty theft / vandalism. This yes-on-8 supporter literally took it on the chin for getting involved in democracy.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20081013/pl_usnw/prop8_supporter_violently_...
Feel the love.
David Turney
Site Editor
I posted 30 Yes on 8 signs on the main boulevard by my house. Within 72 hours all were "removed".
Before I did that I was worried that I would be responsible to remove them after the election. I guess that is no longer a concern.
Well now, that's a different kind of record you've got claim to.
Next time, pace yourself, so you can fight another day. Put one or two signs out as bait, then hide behind a tree w/ a video camera. When the anti-democracy hoodlums take the bait, you've not only got footage, but you've got extra signs to put up the following morning.
I gotta give you credit for getting hold of 30 signs. I'm having no luck getting extras.
David Turney
Site Editor
If you put them up in public domain then why would it ever be illegal for someone to come take them down?
What's your point, exactly? Legality really isn't the issue here.
David Turney
Site Editor
It makes me a little sad to think that people are steeling these "Yes Prop 8" here in San Diego. The folks that put them up have as much right to their opinion as any racist who yells hateful slurs from their front porch.
I'm not sure why I'm spending these few minutes to write this during my busy morning since I know you won't want to post it here on your blog, but I thought maybe if there was an ounce of true Christian spirit in you, you might see that people from all the different cultures on Earth have been marry, and shouldn't be forced by a tyrranical (i.e. non-democratic) Christian majority to change how/when/who they marry just because your faith is waivering.
Amendments like this were once proposed to deny people of "races" other than white, and gender other than male, the right to vote not all that long ago; and the same hatred and discrimination is being shown here. Cover over your thoughts with gentle words all you like, your actions speak much louder.
I'm happy to say that I have no tolerance left for this way of thinking, and that I will teach my soon-to-be-born son to judge people by their hearts and actions, and to show compassion.
If a person wants to show the strength of their faith in Christ, they should follow his teachings and put down their stones. I think that when they do, they can finally see that when people love each other, whether straight or not, it's a blessing and should be blessed.
Thanks for stopping by. You can see your comment is published. I take down some comments because they are irrelevant or obscenely rude, but there's nothing in your comment like that.
So, which other "cultures on Earth" are you thinking of?
Ours is the first major world society (government actually, not the majority of people) to propose that two people of the same sex living together is the same as marriage.
I think you'll find that most supporters of this blog are ok w/ adults living together and receiving benefits from the state. You'll find that we generally draw the line at calling that the same as marriage.
I think you'll find that no other world religion or society in history thinks much differently than that.
All throughout history and even in contemporary American, Muslim, and African cultures you will find a good bit of polygamous marriage in the margins. Do you recognize those marriages as valid, where no abuse or under-age manipulation is ocurring, etc? Will you stand up for their rights? Why? Why not?
David Turney
Site Editor
Dear Guest -
As a supporter of Prop. 8, I can tell you I have neither hatred in my heart nor stones in my hand. I am simply saying yes to what I believe is a greater truth, that God created us male and female for a reason.
As a supporter of prop. 8, I am saying no to a redefinition of the ages old tradition of marriage to fit homosexual relationships.
God did create us male and female. He also created us black, white, gay and straight, all in the image of God.
Since civil unions are law and will remain so with or without Prop 8, what the Prop 8 fight is over is simply the word "marriage." My definition of it may differ from other people's, but I strongly believe that all should be treated equally under the law. The Supreme Court decision granting same sex couples the right to marry also specifically upholds religious freedom to abstain or grant their blessings to any marriage they wish (read the actual ruling if you are unsure). It's right there in the first paragraph on page 116 of the decision, you can download it here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-ca-supreme-court-gay-ruling-pdf,0,6...
"Finally, affording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge
upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other person; NO RELIGIOUS
OFFICIANT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SOLEMNIZE AMARRIAGE IN CONTRAVENTION OF HIS OR HER
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS."
We've tried seperate but equal in this country and it simply doesn't work. My marriage will not be threatened by prop 8 one way or the other. It will remain the same. However, withholding the legal rights of marriage from any group, and withholding the protections of marriage from children in same sex households strikes me as vicious and beyond wrong.
Marriage has both a civil and a religious context. You can and should hold and protect your religious views of marriage. That is not hatred or stone throwing. I would urge you to reconsider whether denying civil rights to any other group you disagree with is congruent with the Greatest Christian commandment, to Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Prop 8 will also cost the state money, i.e. We, as a state, will either pay more taxes or go into debt for what? To withhold the word marriage from same sex couples. That's just silly, in my opinion.
Question for you: do you love your polygamist neighbor as yourself? Why? Why not?
Why deny them the rights to marry as they see fit? Are you a "two-ist?" A "two-ist" is like a racist except that a "two-ist" hates people who want to have multiple wives....like King David in the Bible.
David Turney
Site Editor
RE:"My definition of it may differ from other people's, but I strongly believe that all should be treated equally under the law."
That's the main point...anyone can marry under the law...what the court has thrust upon us is a change in the very definition of marriage, which heretofore has meant one man, one woman.
More tolerance from the no-on-8 folks:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Prop_8_Fight_Gets_Ugly.html
David Turney
Site Editor
Oh yeah, and my second "yes on 8" sign's been stolen from my yard in as many weeks. Irony is this one read, "Proposition 8 = Free Speech." Don'tcha love it?
It's a sign (ha ha) of how desperate these folks are to prove something to society that society just isn't really buying.
Hey Clint. I'm gonna need some more signs soon.
David Turney
Site Editor