Bittersweet indeed...

Anti-gay marriage leader dies
Matthew Benson The Arizona Republic Jul. 4, 2006 12:00 AM

The head of the ballot effort to prohibit gay marriage and define traditional unions in Arizona was killed in a car wreck early Monday. Lynn Stanley, chairwoman of the Protect Marriage Arizona Coalition, died in a crash on Interstate 40 while returning to Phoenix from Las Vegas. A state Department of Public Safety official said Stanley, 58, was killed in a single-car rollover about 6:30 a.m. outside Seligman. Stanley was driving east when her car went into the median and she tried to correct but the car flipped several times, the official said.

Stanley's death cast a pall over what was to be a joyous time for the Protect Marriage coalition. The group collected roughly 300,000 signatures to place its measure on the November ballot. Amending the state Constitution, as the Protect Marriage coalition intends, requires at least 183,917 valid signatures(which is now referred to as a bittersweet "victory" in the movement).

In an opinion piece written for The Arizona Republic in 2005, Stanley said the intent of the ballot initiative is to preserve "the special status of marriage by enshrining the definition of marriage in the state Constitution and preventing any part of Arizona's government from undermining that definition by creating or recognizing marriage counterfeits."

Stanley was a wife of 38 years and longtime Arizona resident, daughter Tracie said. Lynn also was an artist and published author, and taught Bible study classes at Scottsdale Bible Church.
"She was just a good friend to everybody," Tracie said. "She loved my dad more than anything, and her kids."

I posted this because as I read this I was somewhat troubled with my own feelings over the matter. I'm not a sympathetic sort to begin with; if I don't know or didn't know someone, I'm not likely if at all to get emotional over something like this. What disturbed me was a bit of judgment I guess?, that I felt reading this. Like she wasn't a good person anyway to head such a hateful drive over something that in reality shouldn't concern her as it doesn't affect her life. I didn't like that about myself. I feel bad for her family and husband, which fortunately for her, she was able to have and enjoy and love freely and openly. The same life she wanted to void for others...and the last statement of her being a friend to everybody and the bible thumping well, it just seems an obvious contradiction to what she should have represented. I was angry with her.

I don't take issue with someone so much for not agreeing to gay marriage; but to expel the energy to combat something that has no real part in affecting your life; and to claim to be a devout christian to boot - something's wrong.

Anyway, I welcome all feedback. I have no intention of debating this matter and so will not likely respond for argument sake. Just needed to share as my reaction to this sort of left me puzzled and just dark in general, I suppose. Needed to shed it - so, done.

Thanks.