Weirding Word®

Grow Up and Vote November 2

This has been on my mind for a few weeks. I questioned whether this was the right forum and whether I even wanted to enter the fray. Well, yes and yes! I am fed up with the wafflers, whiners and civic couch potatoes of America.

"I don't like either of the candiates." "They're all crooks." "They never follow through on their promises."

Maybe, maybe not. But refusing to vote is not going to change a thing. We all know that being a grown-up is hard. If you're old enough to reproduce, you're old enough to head for the voting booth. All the rest is just excuses.

Okay. So, you're not moved. Maybe you should take a moment to think out of the box, or take a few minutes to verify your opinion. Here are some things you can do:

1. Go to Factcheck.org to see if those annoying ads are true at all then decide if that ad makes a difference.


2. Go to the website for Congress, the Senate, the state house, the candidate, etc. to see what types of policies your favorite candidate (or the two "equally bad" choices) supports. Maybe you'll be surprised. Maybe you'll be encouraged. Either way, at least you'll have some facts and know if their views are in line with your interests.


3. Just about every election includes propositions, ballot questions or some sort of binding vote about community programs. By not going to the polls, you're allowing everyone else to speak for you on where your taxes should be spent.


4. Use the write-in option -- and I don't mean for something stupid like "Superman" or "None of the above". Pick someone. Pick a civic, community, business or government leader who has impressed you with their knowledge, skills and abilities. Then, write his or her name on the ballot. If everyone who didn't like the listed candidates did this, we might be surprised to actually discover the up and coming leaders of our communities and the nation. Just 100 people picking one person could make the news.


5. Get clear on whether you're upset with all politicians or just one politician, and why. Is it because she compromised and didn't establish the exact policy you wanted or she targetd going in? Or, is it because he just failed to accomplish something? We don't usually get exactly what we want -- not in life; not in politics.

The annual election cycle is dramatic and crazily active, and we say we're tired of it and don't want to see this mess anymore, but we're not really doing the things that would make it go away -- learning about the issues, becoming informed about candidates, and going to the polls to VOTE FOR SOMEONE. In fact we're so wimpy, that all the political campaigns need to do is run a few negative ads, and we run off crying about how it's all such a disgusting process.

Grow up, do your own research, and vote like Americans should.

 

Gaea Honeycutt
blog at WeirdingWord.com

 

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2007-2010 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

Two Black Pastors on Same-Sex marriage in DC

While reading the morning paper (virtually on this snowy Sunday), I came across "Why two black D.C. pastors support gay marriage" in The Washington Post.  Through their eloquent support of same-sex marriage in the District, Dennis W. Wiley and Christine Y. Wiley illustrate the power and purpose of words, and their importance in pursuing social justice:

A final piece that shapes black attitudes toward same-sex marriage is the preoccupation with racism in the black community. This obsession, although justifiable, has led to a failure to appreciate how racism is inextricably connected to all other forms of oppression. Those who fail to see this connection may resent the comparison of gay rights with civil rights. But as Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

It's this point that reminds me of the primary meaning behind Weirding Word® -- words are powerful.  And, the ways we connect them serve to frame and define the assumptions on which we base opinions.  Those words we use to oppress or divide only play into hate, intolerance and bigotry.  Read the entire article.  The words are thought-provoking, causing one to reflect on how to define justice -- not only what it is, but who is allowed to receive it.

Gaea Honeycutt
blog@weirdingword.com

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2007-2009 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

The Debate Over Same-Sex Marriage

This article by Gaea L. Honeycutt was originally published in Average Girl Magazine

May 15, 2008, brought a historic shift in the debate over same-sex marriage. The conservative California State Supreme Court ruled (4-3) that same-sex couples have the right marry, overturning a state law that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and effectively banning same-sex marriages.

In 2004, the City of San Francisco challenged state law by conducting wedding ceremonies and issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which were later nullified by the State Supreme Court. The same year, 61% of Californians agreed that marriage is between a man and a woman through a statewide ballot referendum. This resulted in a move by the state legislature to pass a strong domestic partnership law, granting most rights enjoyed by married couples.

Chief Justice Ronald M. George wrote for the majority, “Our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibility to care for and raise children does not depend on the individual’s sexual orientation.” He also stated, “An individual’s sexual orientation – like a person’s race or gender – does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.”

The court found that the domestic partnership law amounted to separate and unequal treatment, and that this resulted in damage to the children and families of same-sex couples. Also, part of what influenced the decision was the history of court decisions from across the nation striking down prohibitions on interracial marriage.

It was the fight over same-sex marriage in Hawaii beginning in 1993, and passage of the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 that began the latest series of battles. DOMA defines marriage as a union between a man and woman under Federal law, and allows states to refuse to recognize marriages from other states. There is disagreement over its constitutionality, but DOMA remains unchanged more than 10 years later. Attempts to adopt a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage have been unsuccessful.

Most states (41) have laws or constitutional amendments defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont allow civil unions. Massachusetts allows same-sex marriages, and recognizes same-sex marriages from states where the unions are also legal.

California’s debate isn’t quite over. Opponents plan to place a new referendum on the November ballot that would amend the state Constitution, defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, the next battleground may very well be New York, where Governor David A. Patterson has directed state agencies to revise policies in order to honor same-sex marriages from other states.

Gaea Honeycutt
blog@weirdingword.com

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2008 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.

Writing To Congress: Tips for Getting Your Voice Heard

This article by Gaea L. Honeycutt was originally published in Average Girl Magazine

For many people, it’s hard to know the best way to contact a U.S. senator or representative and then feel confident that the message has gotten through. Is anyone listening? Do those e-mails from advocacy groups really count for anything? Are some types of contact more effective than others?

The answer to all of these questions is "yes". And, you may be relieved to know that the old fashioned rules of correspondence still apply in today’s high tech world -- take the time to tailor your letter to the recipient and be polite. Whether you use snail mail, send an e-mail message or make a phone call, these time-tested principles combined with relevant, persuasive arguments will bring attention to the issues that concern you most.

According to Jenny B. Levy, a former staffer on Capitol Hill and the manager of Grassroots Advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, "If you want a response, you have to take a little more time than just hitting ‘send’ or ‘reply’. You have to think about how to address your member of Congress."

For correspondence, be sure to include your contact information so that the official’s staff knows where to reach you. In the first sentence, state why you are sending the letter or e-mail message. For example, "Millions of Americans are suffering from laughing sickness, and I urge you to vote in support of HR-0000: Laughing Sickness Research Funding."

The paragraphs that follow should provide personalized examples of why the issue is important to you. In the case of laughing sickness, has it affected you or your family? What’s been the impact on your community? How will a vote in favor of the bill help the community? What will happen if the official takes no action at all? If you have them, share data, facts or figures. End the letter stating the purpose again and summarizing why this action is important.

These tips apply to phone calls as well. State the reason for your call and then say why that is important to you. And, keep a level head no matter how passionate you are about the topic. "One of the biggest mistakes constituents make is being really angry and shouting," says Levy.

However, she notes, "The most effective way to have your voice heard is to actually go to Capitol Hill or the district office. We encourage our members to send a fax requesting a meeting and follow-up with a phone call." If the matter is more personal, Levy recommends visiting the district office.

Another effective way to draw the attention is using the newspaper. "They pay attention to the news from back home and keep clips." Submit a letter to the editor of your local paper or contribute an opinion/editorial article.

And, what about those form letters that advocacy groups encourage members to send en mass? "They tally the numbers to present on The Hill," explains Levy. But, your letter won’t get read unless you personalize it. Again, take that well-written frame and edit it to convey your interest in the issue.

If nothing changes after the first letter or phone call, don’t give up. "Democracy only works if we all speak," says Levy. "And, it takes persistence."

Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol

Gaea Honeycutt
blog@weirdingword.com

Weirding Word®, a division of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting, LLC, is a virtual publication department that provides editing, freelance writing, and publication and web design services.

Copyright 2008 Gaea L. Honeycutt. All rights reserved.