The Juice Box

And now a break from the regularly scheduled programming…

It has been an emotional ride, and thankfully, I feel I have something to be proud of in America again. I found myself getting goose bumps and shedding tears as I listened to Obama’s speech from Grant Park. The love, passion, eloquence, and overall drive to make a change in this country, is so present in this man and it impresses me. I find that when Obama smiles, I am warmed and excited, and ready to see a new beginning in our country. I also found myself impressed as much with the concession speech of McCain, often quieting his supporters and chiding them for getting restless. It was a gracious moment for him and I think his concession was with the respect an elder statesman should have. So, here we are – we did it – American made a decisive, impactful, and impressive vote for change. We finally have an educated, eloquent, and stable man headed for the oval office. Congratulations President Elect Barack Obama.

Sadly, not all changes went the way we wanted in California this week. Proposition 8, a fight for the equal rights in marriage, was passed, effectively stripping my rights to even consider marrying the person I choose to love, the person I want to spend my life with, the person who is my partner. This was done through a campaign of hatred and misleading statements about what the outcome of Proposition 8′s failure would be. Tonight, the day after seeing our hopes dashed, the gay community and many supporters gathered at San Francisco City Hall in a peaceful candlelight vigil. I too spent the evening with my partner and my life love, with a candle burning, knowing in my heart that through education and perseverance we can prevail.

Our hope should not be extinguished! This battle is not yet over! Change will come and for those that find themselves on the side of pushing their values through hatred and lies. The equation will balance back out. Some day they will have stand in judgment with the God they are fighting for and explain what they did in God’s name, and I cannot imagine that this God of the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalized, will look very favorably on what they did.

The call to action now is to vote with your wallets. Review those who funded the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign and avoid spending your money on products they represent, and send a clear message to them. Additional action you can take – If it upsets you that a church, the Mormon Church, can meddle with another state’s political statutes.

Here’s something simple you can do – report the LDS Church to the IRS:

Print out the two articles – Church’s stand on California’s Prop. 8 marginalizes Mormon Democrats and LDS Church donates to back Proposition 8.

Download, print, sign and send the form.

List the taxpayer as:
Thomas S. Monson, et al
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

List his occupation as President and the business as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Check the boxes for False Exemption and Public/Political Corruption.

In the Comments section demand that the LDS Church be fined and their tax-exempt status revoked for repeated and blatant violations of the IRS’s separate of church and state rules, and for conspiring to interfere with a state’s political process.

Check Yes under “Are books/records available?” and write in “campaign finance records.

Mail the form and the printed articles to:
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888

Another list supplied to me shows the following lists of Mormon businesses that you may want to choose to boycott:

MARRIOTT HOTELS
PRICELINE.COM
ALBERTSONS GROCERY STORES
K-SWISS SHOES
HOUSE OF FABRICS
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE INCLUDING ITS AFFILIATES SUCH AS ALLIED.
SWIFT TRANSPORTATION
EARTH SHELL
CORVIS
HUNTSMAN CHEMICAL
OAKLEY
NPS PHARMECEUTICALS
MEGAHERTZ CORPORATION
CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST
KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION (TRUCKING)
MERIT MEDICAL

Act now, act decisively, and make your voice be heard!