I participated in the democratic process

The BBQ Pit
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And I got fucked for it.

So yesterday, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, I arrived at my local polling place around 8:30 AM eastern time. Once there I placed my vote for Kerry, Clooney, Robisch (city council) and No on the constitutional amendment.

Feeling proud to have done my civic duty, I then head down into Covington, KY to help out with the No on the Amendment campaign. Once there, I was able to see the democratic process in action! Between answering phones, database entry, and standing outside in the rain waving signs I learned three major things.

  1. Some polling place workers need to be slapped hard. Just from reports our volunteers gave, two need it most especially. The first was a lady roaming up and down the lines in Erlanger telling people how “the amendment language is really confusing, so if you want to keep marriage like it is then you should vote Yes”. The second was another lady informing prospective voters that they “should vote for Bush because of our boys in Iraq”.

Look, I realize you’ve taken time out of your day to do a largely thankless job for a small sum of money but did you miss the part of the training that mentioned being non-partisan?!??! Either get the point or don’t bother.

  1. Local clerks suck. Due to a late-night ruling by a court, the distance regulation stating how far you had to stand from the polling place to lobby for an issue was removed. Except in northern Kentucky. There, it appeared, they were taking a “whatever we feel like” approach. Not only did they vary the distance for the flags, they also called the police on us even when no flags were posted at all and we had asked poll workers inside beforehand. When contacted for clarification on the subject, the clerk (named Bob and who hung up before we could acquire his last name) informed us that “you people shouldn’t be at polling places anyway.”

  2. We’re in so much danger now. This piece has only been reaffirmed by my experience on the board. Not only do we have enemies from within and without, but we’re near attacking each other on sight. A house can not stand divided, red vs blue, both armed with the absolute belief in their moral correctness. Senator Kerry, President Bush, Mr. Moore, FOX News, CNN… heal thyselves. You have spent the past few years chopping us down the middle, trying to fog the air until facts become as so much illusion. Here in Kentucky it was done quite effectively by the Yes on the Amendment people. Do you not recognize the fatality of such moves? When facts become eternally suspect, democracies tremble. For how are we supposed to have an educated electorate in this Age of Spin? We are blindfolded ignorami steering the ship of state (myself included).

Another thing I learned was that sometimes, even when you’re right, the battle is lost. The Kentucky amendment is unjustifiable on any grounds of logic or reason, regardless of your stance on gay marriage. It is redundant to the existing DOMA law, sweeping in its potential ramifications for all unmarried couples, and delivers no real benefit to anyone. Yet people did not vote with their minds, or even their hearts, in this election. They voted with their fear. And so, once more, I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s quote about a house divided. My fellow Kentuckians who voted Yes on the amendment? Your state is now divided. This divide is not one of color, but one of the heart. It is a divide between those whose love is deemed “first class” and therefore defensible, and those whose love is deemed “second class” and therefore exploitable whenever you need a wedge issue.

The chasm is opened and those of us you cast down look across with horror and pain at those who we deemed equal citizens, those who now have made it very clear they do not feel the same way in return.

Kentucky’s motto, for those of you who do not know it, is “United we stand, Divided we fall”. Divided we are and so we are falling into a pit of hate and misunderstanding. My heart, and the hearts of those you spurned, bleeds tonight. As the leaves outside turn brown and drift ever downward, let us be the phoenix. Let us bridge the gap, heal the wounds.

*There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sickening soul.

Some times I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.*

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I hope that your words don’t fall on deaf ears, Priam. Beyond that I don’t think I’m eloquent enough to express my support properly right now.

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*Is there–is there balm in Gilead?–tell me–tell me I implore!"
Quoth the raven, “Nevermore.”
[/quote]

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Is there-- is there balm in Gilead?–tell me–tell me I implore!"
Quoth the raven, “Nevermore.”

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Thanks Johnny. That’s not actually funny right now.

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I suppose you interviewed them all to find out why they voted the way they did?

Jesus said it first.

No, really.

Divided would mean that the thing barely passed and the state is in uproar. Something being defeated 3:1 isn’t division, it’s a huge majority.

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Well how’s about you propose a logical reason for this amendment to even exist, a logical reason for anyone to have voted for it? DOMA has existed in this state for several years without challenge of any sort, state constitutions are still trumped by federal law and rulings AFAIK, there has been not one whiff of a court going anywhere near the issue, the state constitution contains no Equal Rights amendment as used to a large extent in the Mass. rulings… shall I go on?

And so? Whoever said it first, it’s a good quote. Were you expecting me to recoil in horror at the thought of accidentally quoting Jesus Christ? The man who demanded equality and love for the spurned and rejected?

Actually it is a division, Abbie. See perhaps the definition?

If this is all you can pick apart from my little rant then I feel quite secure in my position.