Should California Pass Prop 8?

The California Supreme Court abolished the state’s same-sex marriage ban in May, sparking public celebration in some places and angry protest in others. Now some critics of same-sex marriage are fighting back with an initiative to reinstate the ban, leaving voters once again divided. Should marriage remain between a man and a woman, or is it time to widen the aisle for same-sex couples? (Editor's Note: On November 4th, California voters passed Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage.)

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Regarding Argument

Prop 8 Will Reclaim Control of California Constitution by its Citizens

- From Focus on the Family

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The purpose of the constitution

The whole purpose of the Constitution is to put limits on what can be accomplished by the will of a majority at any given time. Any democratic government will go through periods where a majority of its citizens get upset about something and there is a call to take action because of the mood of the moment. We need the constitution to protect us from our worst instincts at such times.
To use the Constitution to enact permanent prejudice and take away people's rights because of prejudice against them is wrong.

- Roger47 October 21, 2008 1:08PM

Reply to this Recommend (1) Side: No

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Constitutional History

The amendments to the Constitution and, indeed, the record of the debate which took place before and during its writing attest to the trend of using the spirit and wording to remove prejudicial limits on liberties rather than to institute them. Certainly, that history is a bit of a mixed bag in that regard, however, in the end, U.S. culture has seen fit to reverse past mistakes and restore the greatest degree of liberty to the greatest number.

If past generations have seen fit to do what was ultimately the right thing, we earn our inheritance of their good thinking by continuing to do that same. We must use the Constitution and every constitution to enhance liberty rather than destroy it. Our children will either have to suffer our mistakes ... or correct our stupidity.

- Naumadd October 22, 2008 5:52PM

Reply to this Recommend (1) Side: No

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