Well Behaved and Feeling Really Good About It!

Wow, right now I am truly exhausted! On May 15th, the State that I live in - California, overturned the ban on gay marriage. Back in 2000, I actually went door to door collecting signatures to get Prop. 22 on the ballot. After a lot of effort by many people who value traditional marriage, Prop. 22 passed! Hooray:-)

That victory has turned out to be short-lived. After a match of tennis with members of government, who have a lot of authority - only eight years passing by, brought this truly Un-constitutional action by the California State Supreme Court! So very disappointing really.

Well, when I feel passionate about a thing, I have found that I enjoy writing about it, and that is precisely what I did next... I published the article "California Gay Marriage Ban - Overturned..." on HubPages.com. This is where I write about Mormonism, as LdsNana-AskMormon!

I knew that I would be putting myself out on a limb - by writing about what had happened with the Voters overturn in California - regarding the ban on gay marriage.

You see I have worked really hard over on Hubpages, with my desire to share the Gospel with as many over there, who were willing to allow me to do so. After a bit of a bumpy start, I feel that I have developed a very nice relationship with many of my fellow-hubbers over there. I really do like the people who write on Hubpages.

So, of course I knew that although many had been kind enough to allow me to write about Mormonism - I really wasn't so sure how my writing about such a controversial subject would pan out? Yes, politics is more volatile than even religion...

I published this hub on the 15th, in the afternoon. In the space of three days, I have accumulated about 50 comments from my fellow-hubbers on Hubpages. Most of the comments that I received were from those who were very supportive of this overturn on gay marriage in California.

The comments were posted and I did my best to respond in a way, which would help facilitate constructive dialogue and hopefully not inflame or offend. I was very fortunate to have a few people who posted, post comments that were supportive of my same position of defending traditional marriage.

As the comments began to pile up, there was a brief moment that I felt personally overwhelmed. I think it was because I felt that I needed to personally respond to each and every posters comments. Thankfully, I soon recognized that this was really almost impossible. It was kind of a strange experience though... thinking that this was my sole responsibility.

So, what did I do? Well, I decided to simply "thank" those who commented and engaged with me in such a positive and informative discussion. I acknowledged that it was a very difficult subject to do so and requested a desire from all - to find understanding. I wasn't sure how this would go over with some who had made some very strong "presentations" on the thread.

After I gave a comment summarizing these feelings, one of the posters came on to the thread right away and also expressed his pleasure in the dialogue we had engaged in, when normally "reasonable" people have a difficult time doing such a thing!

Well, as you can imagine - that has made my day today! Perhaps this is a silly thing to some? I mean, why should being able to "communicate" on a topic such as gay marriage be something to celebrate?

Because, people today are feeling that they must defend at all cost their positions on this topic, as it is so important. Problems is - it is the judging and sensationalism which will immediately inflame a conversation, thus putting an abrupt stop on seeking communication and understanding with another individual.

No one is the devil here.

As a Mormon Christian women, speaking out on gay marriage and the desire to defend traditional marriage, one is most often not met with the kindest of responses... Often times, the conversation will immediately turn to a judgement of one or the other and never a show of true respect for differences, which we all have a right to have.

Whether one person presumes to interpret the other, the situation soon arises and unfortunately - the assumption is usually wrong. Based on these wrong assumptions, it is difficult to press forward and just discuss the differences without all the personal "stuff".

I have blogged on threads in the past, where positive communication can become difficult, because of the fact that people are telling other people what is right and what is wrong about what and how they are choosing to live. I am convinced, that this type basis for a conversation - will never create a respectful climate between people, therefore - no understanding nor respect will be gained or given.

I was really proud of all the posters that commented on this thread over on HubPages.com. Although strong opinions were offered and honest disagreement was returned - I believe that all felt that they were able to both give and receive during this discussion.

Personally, I never want to blog ever again - unless others truly want to see what or how they can help find understanding with those they are engaging in conversation with - lest we all just are wasting away our time.

tDMg

LdsNana-AskMormon