Comments on: Prop 8: An Exclusive Practice in An Inclusive-Promising Nation

By: Melissa Karnaze

Melissa Karnaze — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:52:37 +0000

@Little Cog- Yes, this separation of powers may be the only thing we can do at a large scale to counter othering, for now at least. The good news is that individually — right now, we can turn any othering lingerings *we* may have, into compassion and understanding.

@StayWoke – You’re welcome, thanks for reading!

@Mellisa –

Change rarely occurs without upset.

Mm, so true. You bring up some sad points, but they speak for many people. I think the biggest problem with othering is that it creates a “threat” when really, none exists (except in the mind).

I’m eager to get my hands on the transcripts for the hearings about the Prop 8 repeal that are underway, and see if California will uphold the constitution or sanction othering…

By: Mellisa

Mellisa — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:44:40 +0000

Change rarely occurs without upset. No matter how progressive our state may be (or seem, in this case), it is still made up of individual people. They will fight change that they cannot understand or blindly cling to change that offers them an easy return for little or no sacrifice on their part. And we all know that isn’t real change.

If people are told they stand to lose something, anything, they will funnel their energies into protecting that something even if the threat is only a perceived one. This only stands as yet another reminder of how permeating ignorance can be.

By: StayWoke

StayWoke — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:54:31 +0000

Thank you!

By: Little Cog

Little Cog — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:35:46 +0000

Sadly, othering seems to be a persistent human trait. The best we can do is set up a system that corrects for it. Much in the same way that the federal government assume politicians will become corrupt and so it uses the separation of powers to play them off each other. Great, well thought out post.