Prop. 8 Supporter at My House Today

[LostinRed]

I live in Santa Monica. I came home today and heard a knock at my door. It was a Prop 8 supporter asking me to support their anti-gay amendment. I asked him why he supported it and he said, "Because I'm Catholic." I asked him if he believed in separation between church and state he said, he did. I asked him to give me a non-religious reason to support the constitution ban on same-sex marriage. He had a really hard time not reverting to religious arguments. I asked him why gay people don't deserve equal protection of inheritance, of being allowed hospital visits etc...he said he agreed with all that but that marriage was "scared." I reminded him not to inject religion and then he went to say no society has ever recognized same-sex marriage. I told him there were several countries in the world that recognize gay marriage including the very catholic country of Spain. He said he was talking about "ancient" societies. I told him that most of those "ancient" society supported slavery. He said, not that old. I also asked him if he would support domestic partnerships, since they're non-religious and he said it was a slippery-slope toward marriage. In the end we agreed to disagree. I just thought I would share my experience. He was actually a really was a nice guy. I feel bad for him.

[gateley]

1. Boy, you're good!

If I'm opposing you on an issue I'm going to walk right by your door and try to sell my line to your next door neighbor.

Excellent! :headbang:

[HowHasItComeToThis]

2. CHEEZITS IS TO BLAME

[DesertFlower]

3. i'm sure many of these people

are "nice guys". they've just been so brainwashed by their churches that they can't think on their own.

[Mimosa]

4. Why does a guy go door to door on such an issue?

I'm a lapsed Catholic. I'll probably be a deathbed Catholic, a la Brideshead Revisited. I'm fairly certain the Catholic Church itself isn't backing people going door to door to mobilise anti-gay legislation. LostinRed,there is some odd psychology happening with people such as your caller. I'm getting a vibe akin to the Colonel in American Beauty. I just can't imagine wasting one's energy going door to door being freaked out because gays might get partnership rights.

[drmeow]

5. "I feel bad for him."

You have more compassion than I do. I don't feel bad for him one single bit. I hope you caused him to feel lots of conflict, doubt, and guilt - LOTS.

[stevil]

6. I live in Palm Springs.

No one would try that here!

[LostinRed]

7. I moved here last month

I lived in Westwood when I was an undergrad then I lived in Las Vegas the last six years. I just moved back to LA. Santa Monica is very liberal. I was shocked to get that kind of knock on my door. The guy was obviously out of his element. Thats one of the reasons I said I felt sorry for him.

[Bluestar]

8. One of their little weasels came to my door on Saturday

Unfortunately, I was in my nightgown and my husband was working from home so he answered the door and just got rid of the guy. I was disappointed that I didn't answer the door because I love to screw with the fundies that live around here (Irvine). I hope another one shows up and I get to mess with them. Thanks for the talking points.

[MisterP]

9. throw John Boswell at 'em n/t

[terrya]

10. Good for you!

You put the onus on HIM to explain why this is needed.

This is how the amendment can be defeated.

:yourock:

[Amimnoch]

13. Exactly, and the OP did an EXCELLENT job!

This is by and far the best way to handle people like this.

I've seen a few others say how much harsher, or attacking they would have been. I must admit when dealing with people like this door to door "salesman", it does feel good to slam them verbally right off, and go on the attack. BUT, of the 2 ways to approach it, the gentler touch has the much better chance of actually getting results, while the direct attack approach gets better personal satisfaction.

Doing as the OP did, there's a much better chance of this salesman walking away and at the very least questioning why he's doing it. Of course i'm not naive enough to believe that it's a sure shot that he'll change his actions based on it, but if there's any chance of it at all, the way the OP handled it is the best way.

Going on the offensive on someone like that.. well, while it does feel damn good to spout off on people like that.. lets face it.. he'll walk away, think of you as a perfect example to validate the work he's doing instead of walking away questioning his own actions.

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. Nicely Handled

You got him to actually think about the issue and not just regurgitate what someone else said. He took his first step into a larger world. I think we win this issue easily when they have to think about the entire issue and not just Parrot back what someone else said.

[ronnykmarshall]

12. I hope the come to my house!!

[cosmic _mind]

14. ...he agreed with all that but that marriage was "scared"

I was going to do the grammar police bit, and say that you meant "sacred", but your phrase is quite correct - these "sanctity of marriage" types are SO scared, that gays might be tolerated, thought of and treated as equal, given the respect due any decent and loving person...

[LostinRed]

16. hahaha

Yeah, I meant sacred, but your response is spot on.

[BrainStorm]

15. So the kid really didn't believe in the separation of church and state.

He just thinks he does.