Yesterday my husband and I attended the Yes on 8 rally that was held in Fullerton at Eastside Christian Church. Most of these pictures were taken before the rally started, more supporters were there later.

Now according to The Liberal OC blog, they are claiming that there were more NO on 8 Supporters, but that simply isn’t true. But you can read their coverage here. What is true is that there were more No supporters on the street picketing, because the majority of the Yes on 8 supporters were at the rally, which was in Eastside’s parking lot.

My husband and I were able to have a few very cordial conversations with people on both sides of the issue and we had a great time. I also spoke to a peace officer and he was thankful that there were no problems with the rally.

I felt both sides were respectful towards the other, and if anything negative happened on either side, I didn’t hear about it.

Here are a few photos of the event, and I apologize for the quality of them because I don’t have an expensive camera.

Yes on 8

Ron Prentice addressing the crowd

More Yes on 8 supporters

Part of the crowd listening to the Yes on 8 speakers

A small group of No on 8 Supporters, mixed in with some Yes on 8 supporters

This young lady told me her roommate made this rainbow eagle

More Yes on 8 supporters

More Yes on 8 supporters

Another view of Yes on 8 Supporters

Yesterday I was thrilled to receive my copy of Crossway Publishers brand new outstanding ESV Study Bible. And what I want to tell you is that if you are in the market for an awesome study bible and study resource for yourself, then this is the bible you want to get.

The website I linked above has all the information you need to know about this outstanding resource. However, since video is a great way to share the message I have put below their introductory video so you can watch it and see for yourself.

And with Christmas coming up, what better gift to get for someone you love!

For those of you who still don’t believe that the homosexual activists don’t want to indoctrinate your children. Read on…

City: Hayward, CA
October 22, 2008
Parents at a K-8 charter school in Hayward were shocked to learn this week the extent to which their school is promoting gay and lesbian ideals to their daughter in kindergarten.

The parents were shocked to see a poster announcing that “Coming Out Day” will be celebrated at the school this coming Thursday, October 23. The school, Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science, chose not to tell parents ahead of time, but it is in the midst of celebrating “Ally Week,” a pro-homosexual push typically aimed at high school students. When one mother asked her daughter earlier this week what she was learning in kindergarten at the school, the 5-year-old replied, “We’re learning to be allies.” The mother also learned that her daughter’s kindergarten classroom is regularly used during lunchtime for meetings of a Gay Straight Alliance club.

Later this week, the school is slated to talk about families. The parents have noticed several posters promoting families, all of which depict only homosexual families. More controversial discussions can be expected through next week, as the elementary school continues to celebrate Gay and Lesbian History Month. On November 20, the school will host TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud, where students will hear adapted tales such as “Jane and the Beanstalk.”

These parents are being advised by attorneys from Pacific Justice Institute. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, “Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible? Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools.”

Any other parents whose elementary-age children have been subjected to pro-homosexual propaganda should contact Pacific Justice Institute for counsel and possible representation.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.
P.O. Box 276600 Sacramento, CA 95827-6600
Phone: (916) 857-6900 Fax: (916

If the name Mara McWilliams doesn’t quite ring a bell for you yet, let me remind you who she is. She is the person whose name was registered to the white “bigot mobile” that she and her partner (she says wife) Renee Mangrum parked in front of a home who supported proposition 8.

I decided to do some research to find out what we could learn about Mara since she was so passionate about stating her beliefs that this pro-prop-8 family were bigots. Turns out that at the time of this posting, Mara (or someone) has taken her website offline and also according to some other news reports she isn’t available for comment.

I did find a very interesting article however, that she wrote in 2003 titled I Am Bipolar by Mara McWilliams. Here are a few passages that I thought might help explain to you her behavior.

I have lived with this illness all of my life. I can look back at my childhood now and see the waves so high, then crashing down so low. I have lived with awareness of my illness for 14 years. Those 14 years were some of the most difficult times in my life. There definitely were times where I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. Death was literally right outside my door, waiting for me, urging me to take the FINAL plunge. The realization that my brain chemistry really is different than the majority of people did not sit well with me. I fought that fact for years.

I viewed my illness as a personal weakness. It has only been over the past few years that I have discovered the unique beauty of this illness. It was then that I decided to share my art and poetry with the world, hoping above all hopes that one person would be able to relate, and it would help them. The goal: share the beauty of our illness with society, so maybe we can come together and build a bridge of health. As a society, we need to focus on the beautiful unique differences between us, rather than continually be fearful of other’s differences and view them as a threat to one’s stability or safety.

She goes on to say,

It too often seems in the movies and on TV, or in the news that when a bipolar individual is mentioned it has to do with some negative activity done by the bipolar person. Well, where are the stories about the bipolar people who are MAKING IT? I know where I am at: I’m riding that daily bipolar roller coaster, sticking my arms up in the air, enjoying the ride because it only lasts so long and when I get off, I am willing and ready to love and teach.

And we do know that moving her vehicle in front of a Yes on 8 house and painting on her car Bigots Live here” she probably doesn’t consider “negative” behavior.

And she continues…

If I feel anger, I can paint the anger onto the canvas, using whatever colors feel angry at that moment. I firmly believe that art therapy, journal-ing, any form of self-expression is key in the recovery process. All feelings must find a way to be vented, especially for an individual with a mental illness. It is much easier to find ways to vent happy emotions. But when the intense negativity rolls in and begins to engulf one’s life, the afflicted MUST find a constructive way to release those emotions or the individual could end up in a suicidal depression.

I’m guessing her canvas in this case was her car.

She was also diagnosed Major Recurrent Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as being Bi Polar. This is a very serious diagnosis and very difficult to recover from. It usually takes many years of therapy, being consistent and remaining faithful to taking ones medication. We have no idea at this time if Mara is taking her medication.

Some of her poetry also reveals that she was a self mutilator, formerly drug addicted, self described Pagan, anorexic, delusional, rape survivor, abuse survivor, lonely and so much more.

This woman is in some serious pain, and even though I do not agree with her egregious behavior or political tactics, understanding that she is mentally ill and is and/or has dealt with so many traumatic issues, gives me some compassion for her.

My hope and prayer is that she will eventually find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And next time, simply stick to painting her feelings on some canvas and not her vehicle.

Yesterday I received an email from a fellow activist. Here it is with all the photos. The follow up to this unbelievable intolerance from the No on 8 campaign follows today. Mercury News is reporting that the vehicle was moved today. And yes, dear reader, the SUV belonged to two lesbians. From the article:

The SUV is registered to Mara McWilliams and Renee Mangrum, who married in 2004 when San Francisco began performing gay marriages. Neither could be reached for comment.

This is where yesterday’s email comes into play…read the before story.

In response to having lawn signs stolen on a regular basis in our area, we decided to display our position on Prop 8 with a large banner.

This afternoon a couple of women pulled up in front of our home and started painting on the windows of their car. I guess they disagreed with us.

As they were painting these messages, my husband came out and asked them if they would like to have a conversation. The “conversation” consisted of them calling us bigots, promoters of hate & prejudice, parents who didn’t protect their children and un-Christian (this last comment causing my 11 year old son to cry because he IS a Christian and is so very proud of it!) My husband and children tried to engage in conversation to share our concerns and point of view and were met with increased intensity and anger. Their entire message was that we were closed-minded, motivated by hate and prejudice. In the end, we left them to their project…knowing that sharing and trying to understand one another’s point of view was NOT something they were interested in.

Here’s what we were left with in front of our home. By the way…we live across the street from a kindergarten playground…what a nice thing the kids will be able to see at recess and as they walk to and from home.

Now for the good news…since this happened this afternoon we’ve had all kinds of people drive by taking pictures, talking with us and expressing support. In fact, a wonderful family from our school stopped by to tell us how sorry they were. They are voting No on 8 and long ago we decided that we would be that balancing force for each other in the universe. I was impressed by the way they went out of their way to make sure all was well with us and to let us know that they supported us even though we disgree on this issue. THIS is the American way… I wish this whole election process would be designed to promote these types of feelings among neighbors instead of the hate and intolerance that seems to be becoming such a prevalent part of our daily lives.

Well, that’s what’s happening at our house this weekend. Hope all is well with you and…don’t forget to VOTE!!!

Michele