When I was in college I saved up enough to buy my self a PowerMac G3. I have then bought a PowerBook G3, a PowerBook G4 (which I recently sold for about $500 five years after I got it!), and most recently a MacBook for my wife. I also bought one of the very first iPods, back when it was only supported on a Mac and had a black and white screen. And you wouldn't believe how much money I have spent on the iTunes music store over the years.
All my support of Apple products made me that much more disappointed when I learned that Apple has publicly taken a political position in opposition of Proposition 8 in California. Proposition 8 would amend the constitution to state the following: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California".
I went to Apple's website and submitted the following letter:
To whom it may concern:
I have been an avid Apple user since I was in grade school and a shareholder for close to ten years. I was very disappointed to learn that Apple Inc. has taken a public position to oppose Proposition 8.
Apple Inc. claims that it is a civil rights issue, however Proposition 8 does not infringe on the civil rights of California citizens. In fact, California's domestic partner law already protects the same rights of gay couples that are afforded to married couples.
By taking a position on Proposition 8, Apple Inc. is supporting a redefinition of marriage. Apple Inc., should allow the people of California to decide the definition of marriage.
Additionally, by taking a corporate position, Apple Inc. is creating a hostile working environment for it's own employees who support proposition 8. Finally, Apple Inc. is also incurring unnecessary business risk by taking a political position that is not in support of a business interest.
Sincerely,
Gerardo Garcia
6 comments:
Well written. I would like to write a similar comment to apple as I am very upset at this disdain for shareholders and customers like myself. Where do I go to write them?
however Proposition 8 does not infringe on the civil rights of California citizens.
Proposition 8 eliminates the right to marry from all lesbian and gay Californians. Of course it infringes on their civil rights: marriage is a civil right.
Apple Inc. is creating a hostile working environment for it's own employees who support proposition 8.
If you can provide the slightest evidence that Apple has made any attempt to find out how its employees are voting, on Prop 8 or any other issue, and treated them differently thereby, you have a point. If you're simply upset that they've decided to protect the civil rights of all their employees, regardless of sexual orientation, then you are the one potentially creating a hostile environment.
Why stop here? Why not protect the rights of all people meaning why can't men marry little boys? Why not sell our girls to the highest bidder. This is a very broad path that we are walking down.
riggins - I submitted the letter through apple's website http://www.apple.com/contact/feedback.html.
Jesurgislac - I'm writing a post to respond to your comments.
Why not protect the rights of all people meaning why can't men marry little boys?
Wow. An anonymous commenter ever so bravely associates gay men with paedophiles, and ever so intelligently claims that equal marriage for all regardless of sexual orientation, means ending the lower age limit on marriage.
And someone this brave and smart obviously isn't going to have the guts to sign a name, either.
Gerard: I'm writing a post to respond to your comments.
Appreciated.
The logic used to justify same-sex marriage is also used to justify pedophile, incestuous, and polygamous marriage. The bottom line: If an existing definition or long-accepted practice off marriage can be redefined to accommodate the sexual orientation of one group (in this case, homosexuals), then there is no reason why it should not be extended to accommodate the sexual orientations of other groups.
Take note that there is only one major difference between same-sex and heterosexual marriages: sexual orientation. So that is clearly the contentious factor here.
Of course some will argue that pedophile and incestuous marriages are different. But that is arbitrary. The differences cited (such as need for adult consent, health risks) are precisely contested by these other groups -- just as homosexuals contested similar claims about themselves!
Marriage is a civil right, and gays already have that right. What is NOT a civil right is being able to redefine marriage to suit one's sexual orientation.
By the way, heterosexual marriage is NOT simply to accommodate the sexual orientation of the majority. It goes to a more fundamental level than that. Heterosexual marriage is essential for the survival of the human race. Same-sex marriage is NOT. We need stable families that bear offspring and nurture them. Same-sex marriages do not bear children. They are not necessary at all.
It's a good thing the author wrote a letter to Apple. I encourage everyone else to do so and tell Apple that its decision was wrong. Google too.
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