Friday, December 11, 2009

Same Sex Marriage

Being that I have lived most of my life in the state of New Jersey, I try to keep up-to-date with what is going on politically. I'm was raised in a family that didn't care to much about politics so therefore I lack knowledge of what's going on politically sometimes. But what I do know is that our governor, Jon Corzine, divorced his wife and has promised to back gay marriage.

Recently I came across this article that caught my attention, Two Sides Spend Big in Battle Over Same-Sex, Marriage in NJ, that explained the race between two sides on same sex marriage. I'd figure to follow up on this political situation since I haven't heard about Jon Corzine ever since I have been at BC. The supporters of gay marriage are trying to get Gov. Jon Corzine to sign a bill for same sex marriage before he leaves the office, its there only hope. His successor is a Republican, Chris Christie, is totally against the idea of gay marriage and there is no chance he will pass the bill. Chris Christie vows that if the bill is passed he will do everything in his power to veto any gay marriage rights.

What really caught my attention was the details of this article. The amount of money that both sides have spent in order to advertise there beliefs is over the top. It's not clear but its said that those who oppose same sex marriage have spent more than $1 million in order to advertise through radio and TV ads and robo-calls. They took advantage of our tremendous use of technology such as the television and radio in order to get there point across about same sex marriage. It's crazy to see how far and how much money people would spend in order to band gay marriage.

On the other hand, those who go for same sex marriage are fighting a tough battle to pass the bill. The state Senate cancelled a vote recently because they did not reach the 21 votes they needed in order to pass the Senate. They also have been advertising for there campaign through the use of technology. Through radio advertisements they revealed how a gay couple have been rejected health care coverage and other legal and social benefits in New Jersey. It seems like advertisement is vital in this race since they need the people of the state to understand what they are crying.

I feel like same sex marriage is being somewhat being accepted but not were its safe to express freely and marry the same sex. This is wrong since gay couples value and participate in family activities, are committed to making their neighborhoods a safer and better place to live in, and honor the law. One of my neighbors back home is gay and I always see him contributing to our community, serving the local schools and volunteering in charities. Through media and advertisement the gay community can expand there battle for same sex marriage. However those who oppose are doing a good job of getting there point across through media. So it comes down to a battle through media. The radio, telephone and TV are being used to get to the people not only in New Jersey but the whole nation.

To follow up on the article click here.

4 comments:

  1. Whenever same sex marriage has been brought as a vote to the people, it has always been rejected. Only five states have legalized same sex marriage, and all have done it from the bench or the legislature.

    I agree that spending on this issue is very high. In Maine, supporters of same sex marriage outspent those who opposed it by $1.5 million - and the vote still failed. When the people feel strongly about something, even money can't buy their vote.

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  2. Wow it's kind of crazy to see how much people will pay just to keep people from marrying within the same sex. People in our society definately need to focus less on same sex marriage and worry more on bigger issues that are going on in our world. Our society needs to fix the way it gets involved in others lives.

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  3. This is a very controversial issue, and I agree with my girl Shauna it is crazy how people do not want to see other people happy. It should not be anyone's business, a person can marry who ever they want even if it is a person of the same sex. Everyone is different and everyone wants to find that special person noone has the right to keep them from being happy.

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  4. I was brought up by a very conservative father on this point, and while for most of my life, i found myself agreeing with him - since moving to the US i can definitely say that my opinion has changed. I still don't particularly enjoy seeing homosexual PDA, but in general i feel like everyone has a right to be together if they wish to be. I don't see how it can still be argued that it shouldn't be allowed. Politicians who are so anti same-sex marriage need to move on to more important issues.

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