By Alejandro Honeker - Conservative USA

Since Proposition 8 was passed by California voters on November 4^th, hundreds of demonstrations, many of them with a violent nature, have taken place throughout the Golden State. We understand the divisive nature of this issue and the passions it generates among both sides of the aisle, but nothing justifies the kind of intimidation and, in some cases, persecution that many pro-gay marriage advocates are carrying out right now. Make no mistake, we would say the exact same thing if this kind of intimidation would come from the other side. We totally support the right of anybody, whether fighting for gay marriage or against it, to peacefully demonstrate. However, to persecute individuals that supported Proposition 8, to create black lists with the names of individuals, organizations and businesses that supported the proposition, to be fired just because of being a supporter of traditional marriage, to attack people and churches, has nothing to do with the right to demonstrate. It is nothing more than a form of persecution against those who have a different idea.

We are not saying here that all those demonstrating against the passage of Proposition 8 are acting in this way. In fact, there have been numerous peaceful demonstrations in many places that we totally support (even when we do not agree with the motive). Living in a democratic society means respecting the decisions of the majority, whether we agree with them or not. For instance, when the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage last May, people on the other side did not start intimidating the judges who decided in favor of gay marriage nor did they demonstrate in a violent way like we are seeing in the last days. Again, we are not saying that the other side hasn’t behaved in a violent way in the past. It has, and we do not agree with that kind of behavior. Also, we are not seeing pro-life advocates doing the same thing in South Dakota or Colorado after the defeat of the propositions which intended to make abortion illegal. They respected the will of voters. And that’s what everybody should do, whether it’s something we support or something we oppose.

Tolerance is one of the most important aspects of liberal democracy, if not the most important, and everyone should abide by it. If supporters of gay marriage do not agree with what the majority of Californians decided on the polls, they should start right now a campaign to get a new ballot measure in the next election. That’s their right in a democratic society. But they shouldn’t intimidate those who just have a different view of how marriage should be defined.

We must always practice tolerance, not just when we win. That’s what democracy is all about, to respect the will of voters.