...If I Can't Change Myself?
by Lee Stranahan
There's a local story in Los Angeles about a restaurant called El Coyote. The manager and part owner there is a Mormon and she gave $100 to the Yes on 8 campaign that overturned gay marriage in California. The restaurant has a decent amount of gay customers and protests ensued. The business has suffered tremendously. Employees took up a collection and gave $500 to an effort to overturn Prop 8. Didn't help - the manager was forced to resign and the business is still in trouble. This story has been all over Firedoglake.
I relate this story because of the shoe throwing thing.
I feel strongly that if you want to promote values like peace, tolerance, and justice then these aren't actions to applaud. If you want to promote understanding and love, show some. And if you don't don't care about those values - if you think that ends of peace and justice and equality justify any means - then we don't hate Bush for the same reasons and we don't support marriage equality for the same reasons and we don't hold out hope for Barack Obama's presidency for the same reasons.