Strollerderby

How Low Will They Go?

Posted by Shannon LC Cate

It was bad enough when they used their own kids to promote intolerance, but this one comes right from the department of dirty tricks:

Remember the happy-happy-joy-joy photos of the first grade teacher's wedding at San Francisco city hall?  Now those pictures--including the students who came to wish her well--have been used in a new ad promoting Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative to criminalize same-sex marriage.

Parents are outraged that their children's images are being used this way.  All parents were informed of the wedding trip in advance and given the opportunity to decline.  Two children's parents did decline and their children remained at the school for regular instruction.  But Proposition 8 supporters are claiming public schools will "teach" same-sex marriage against parents' wills if same-sex marriage remains legal in California.

Ironically then, the children present for the wedding had parents who support same-sex marriage and those parents don't want their children used to promote something they don't believe in.  Said one mom:

"You can't use children's images in political statements like this. No one asked us to use our children. No one talked to us about this. And I feel like my children are being manipulated."

So the people who claim children will be taught something against the wills of parents are using children against the wills of parents.

That's a terrific message for all our children: when you don't get your way, toss your so-called values to the wind.

 

Related Posts by this Writer:

Proposition 8 Propaganda

First Graders Surprise Lesbian Teacher at Wedding

Goin' to Connecticut, Gonna Get Married

McCain Talks to the Gays: Part One, Marriage

McCain Talks to the Gays: Part Two, Adoption

image: sfgate.com


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Posted Oct 28 2008, 08:02 AM
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Comments

 

Manjari said:

There is no limit to how low those hateful bigots will stoop.

October 28, 2008 8:47 AM
 

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) said:

Ugh, I read about the kick-ass field trip the morning after it happened and knew instantly this would appear on anti-marriage ads. Low indeed.

October 28, 2008 10:15 AM
 

StubbyDog said:

I love some of the comments on that article, saying things like "These parents should be more worried about what they are exposing their children to, than about their kids being used".  Since when did going to a wedding to celebrate love and devotion become something we shouldn't expose our children to?  I talk to my daughter (4) all the time about love.  Her only "concern" with gay marriage (male-male) is "But then who wears the princess dress?"  LOL  

Kids are naturally accepting of differences.  Its parents who teach them bigotry and intolerance of others.

October 28, 2008 11:07 AM
 

Marie Eve said:

Shock and disbelief are the only two words that come to my mind. Can you believe the "scary" music in that disgusting ad?

October 28, 2008 12:56 PM
 

brighteyes said:

It all comes down to religion. In the bible christians are taught that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is it. End of story. You can't blame people for believing in the bible and the words it teaches. It is called freedom of religion and this is what makes this country so great.

If parents choose to teach their own children about the bible, they can't pick and choose the items out of it that they want. It is all or nothing. It is either all true or not true at all.

So, don't tell me that I am a bigot or have no tolerance because I believe what the bible tells me. The bible also tells me not to judge others, so I don't. Do what you want with your life, it is your choice. But as for me and my family, I will teach them the entire bible, not just bits and pieces.

October 30, 2008 2:08 AM
 

Shannon LC Cate said:

"If parents choose to teach their own children about the bible, they can't pick and choose the items out of it that they want. It is all or nothing. It is either all true or not true at all."

Brighteyes, forgive me, but whenever someone says this (and people say it often, which is, I'm sure, why you are repeating it now), it is absolute proof positive to me that the person has not read the Bible.

I have read the ENTIRE Bible many times and I am willing to bet my right arm that you absolutely pick and choose what you follow about the Bible and what you teach your children about it.

The Bible has very, very little to say about sex between people of the same gender. It has nothing to say about same-sex marriage.  It prohibits eating all shellfish.  It prohibits wearing clothing made from more than one fiber (polyester/cotton blends, for example).  It endorses polygamy, concubinage, prostitution as part of religious observance, daughters having sex with their fathers in order to give him sons, and many other things.

On the upside, it commands the forgiveness of all debt every seventy years.

And any number of things they don't teach you in Baptist Sunday School (I went to Baptist Sunday School for the first 18 years of my life).

I truly believe you think you know what you're talking about.  But you don't.  And many, many Christians disagree with your stance on same-sex marriage.

October 30, 2008 10:26 AM
 

Lula said:

The Bible also advocates capital punishment for adultery and forbids usury, or borrowing/lending money on interest. Also, I'm pretty sure haircutting is frowned upon, at least for women. And there's that speaking-in-church thing for women, which I know some folks do follow. But the mixed-fiber clothing... now that's a tough one to uphold in our modern age.

Thanks for all the work you do on behalf of your faith, Shannon. I'm not a Christian, but I'm glad to know one like you.

November 1, 2008 1:57 PM
 

Lori said:

brighteyes.

If freedom of Religion is what makes a country great why do you support denying someone that does not agree with your interpretation of the Bible their civil right to marry?

November 3, 2008 2:57 AM

About Shannon LC Cate

Shannon LC Cate, PhD is a lesbian housewife and work-from-home mother of two girls via domestic, open, transracial adoption. They are both under five and already too brilliant and beautiful for their own good. Shannon lives, writes and assembles tricycles in Chicago, Illinois.

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