Four years ago, when our wedding went off as planned without a hitch — nay, exceeded expections, the Red Sox swept the World Series, and Bush inexplicably got returned to the White House for another term, I tried to be philosophical about it. Still, I was unjustifiably pleased when the Red Sox didn't make it this time, telling my husband that if we had to pick one thing to go wrong, better the Red Sox than our marriage or the election. So by last night, I wasn't just gleeful, I was manic. We drove home from my parents' election night party yelling "WOOOOOOO!" out the window until our sleepy toddler joined in on the fun, even mustering a rousing chant of "USA! USA! USA!" which I have not once wanted to do in eight years, if ever.
This morning, though, I'm sad. My fellow Californians decided to amend the state Constitution to take away people's rights. To enshrine their religious beliefs — and the religious beliefs of people who don't even live here — in our Constitution. Beliefs that many of us, including myself, don't share.
The sad truth is that I didn't do as much as I should have. I tried making calls, but got too anxious, so I tried to buy off my guilt with donations to No on Proposition 8. And it wasn't enough.
I am trying to make myself feel better by telling myself that ultimately, this issue is going to have to be dealt with on a national level. It's crazy for people to have rights in some states that they don't have in others, and marriage is one of the most fundamental rights of all. There will be legal challenges; they will wend their way through the courts up to the Supreme Court. That Court, thanks to Obama, may look very different in a few years.
In the meantime, I just feel very, very sorry and angry.
This too shall pass, and one day we'll look back on this time and marvel that people could be so very stupid about civil rights.
