The status is not quo.

[ladyfalcon]

So, I'm still really, really happy about Obama's victory. I'm glad for everyone else who's happy, too.

But I woke up this morning and my first thought was, "What the fuck, California?"

I don't mean to be harder on California than anyone else: Arizona, Florida, Arkansas, and Oklahoma all passed legislation or elected officials who they should be ashamed of.

But what really gets me, what really gets right up my left nostril, is California.

Because their fucking farm animal proposition, which provides for the comfort of animals being raised for food, passed with 63% of the vote, while the comfort and rights of actual human beings who are their friends and family and neighbors couldn't muster the extra 4% needed to continue to exist.

Who are these people? There are people out there who decided that they needed happy food animals more than they needed human rights, who ticked a box for yes on Prop 2 and also yes on Prop 8. Who the fuck are you, you people who couldn't live with sad meat but actively desired the continued second-class status of people?

Euphoria is an emotion that by its very nature is short-lived. I was euphoric last night. Today, it's time to wake up and look at what needs to be done now. Am I still hopeful? Do I still believe that "we can"? Obviously, or I'd have to kill myself. I just wish that we had gotten more of the work done en masse last night, and saved ourselves the continuing months and years of continued fighting. We had an opportunity, and we only partially grasped it, which is always a somber situation.

ETA: They're saying now that with only 400,000 votes between Yes and No on Prop 8, and from 3-4 million provisional and absentee ballots yet to be counted, the issue is officially still too close to call. My point that there's no way an animal rights issue should have a landslide victory while human beings have to struggle for their own happiness still stands, but I'm hanging on to hope until all the votes have been counted.

Comments

[ladyfalcon.livejournal.com]

I'm a libertarian. I don't think that animals have rights, in the sense of inviolable rights like life liberty &c., and I really don't think it falls under the government's purview to protect them. Animal cruelty horrifies and saddens me, yes, as it does any person who isn't a sociopath, but I can't bring myself to see increased government control as any kind of a victory.

And I want names of those people who voted Yes on both 2 and 8. I want to call them up and ask them what the fuck they were thinking. If you believe animals have rights and want to protect them, that is a position I can understand and respect if not support. It's when you want to protect the rights of your next hamburger while shitting all over the rights of your next-door neighbor that I want to get What the Fuck on your ass.

[lostsailors.livejournal.com]

I'm a human being and I totally disagree with you and your first paragraph, but ILU anyhow, so maybe we should just agree that we disagree? Animal rights is very important to me and since individual places can't see fit to let animals be able to turn around or sit once in their life before slaughter, I have no problem with the government mandating it. Not even from an animal rights perspective, it makes for better food industries and healthier meat/etc for the public to consume. I see this as a win for any one who respects animal rights and anyone who eats meat or animal byproducts and completely separate from human rights issues.

Again, you will never, ever convince me otherwise so we should just probably not discuss that topic any more.

I would rather go after the faith-based organizations (see: mormons in my home state UT) who felt the need to shove their religious beliefs into law. Also am more concerned where they are coming from and again, that LA county is counted among Yes people.

[lostsailors.livejournal.com]

Ha, my last sentence totally answers the quote Skadi pulled out. Faith-based organizations on a crusade. That's who they are. The Mormon church piled resources into that cause. There were also huge evangelical bases in Irvine. And to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Scientology had a mandate against it. The animals won because I don't think the churches decried against them, if they had it would have been no on 2 as well. It's depressing, people have no minds or consciences of their own.

[ladyfalcon.livejournal.com]

I just want to make sure you know that I'm not actually angry that Prop 2 passed. If I was a California voter, I would have voted against it, and been out-voted by a considerable margin, and got on with my life. I would be concerned about what it would do to already-rising food costs, but enough people have clearly taken this into consideration and decided that they can afford it, so that's fine. I like animals a lot and want them to be happy. That's not why I'm angry at all.

I am glad, however, to see that it doesn't seem like you'll be defriending me over this. There've been times over the last couple days when I've seriously considered taking people off my flist for tickling my annoyance, but that seems like an immature reaction in the face of other people being able to deal and move on.

[lostsailors.livejournal.com]

Ha, no way! We all get to believe what we want to believe! And you're coming from a logical stand point. I would never, ever defriend you (unless you voted yes on 8...).

I just want to say I also TOTALLY understand what you are saying, how can CA be so on top of animal rights and not human rights. To me, they are just so different I cannot compare the two them and must just be happy one thing came through.

I am also glad you are not mad at me! Sometimes I get hot headed, but don't know if I come off badly or not.

[ladyfalcon.livejournal.com]

I've tried writing this like four ways and it doesn't seem to be coming out right.

I'm not mad at you. I worry that instituting Prop 2 is going to hurt some people, and my concern is with people first, which is why I would have voted against it. But I also don't think there's a very large risk or towards very many people, so it's not something I feel so strongly against that it would change my opinion of a person. And you're awesome enough that it would take a LOT to make me reconsider that assessment.

Also I have to go make a reply to your last post so I'm going to cut this short with a virtual high-five because despite everything else Obama won and that's a great thing!

[lostsailors.livejournal.com]

It is!!

And yeah no worries, I understand everything you said and do actually agree with you! 2 was also just really important to me so if I think for like .0000000000000005 someone is saying, "that's not important" I am like OMG PUSH THE RED PANIC BUTTON, haha.
I was overjoyed that was able make it, but also see the huge disconnect that people were so moved by the plight of chickens, but not by a huge part of our own human community.

So yes, like you said- VIRTUAL HIGH FIVE. You too are awesome, Obama won, one step at a time, we'll all get there (and get married!).