Postcards From The 8

Dear David,

I've been thinking about writing this email to you for a long time. Well, since November 4, specifically.

The passing of Proposition 8 in California shook me to the core. I had initially been shocked to even hear of its existence, since we live in a time that seems to be trying to move towards equal rights for all of its citizens. This year, we took a giant step backwards. It really disgusts me that Americans would pass a law that BANS other Americans from doing something they can rightfully do.

Every American has the right to believe whatever they want to. I've tried to be understanding of your bigotry for many years. However, now that I know that you actively supported discriminatory laws against other Americans, as an American, I cannot consider you a friend.

I hope you realize that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who love each other and only wanted something that other millions of Americans, including yourself, enjoy. This is about LOVE. I'm sorry that it is different from your community, but there are millions of people who grow up to believe that they will marry the person they fall in love with when they become adults. It is cultural for them, and may have a different definition than you have in your community.

I thought we lived in a country that was accepting of the differences between our communities?

So, while I can no longer tolerate your bigotry in a friendship, I have to thank you, because this experience has been an eye-opener for me. I really took for granted that this sort of intolerance was outdated and that despite our differences, most Americans believed that our laws should support equal rights for all Americans. Now that I see that even people who consider themselves artists feel comfortable legislating hate against other Americans, I have become very impassioned to become involved to see what I can do to help fight this injustice.

I'm very excited that our governor in New York is outspoken in his support of equal rights for all Americans and am already participating in efforts to bring tolerance to New York. It was a highlight of my fall to get to speak to Marc Shaiman, an artist who helped bring together artists against the bigots who worked together to pass this discriminatory law. As an American who does not share the same civil rights that you and I do, he was able to deal with his alienation with humor and pride.

Some people lashed out against him for making a stink over this issue...but I guess those people would have told Rosa Parks to just sit down in the back of the bus and write a letter to her congressman.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Little Canfield