I have been an Apple Macintosh user since 1997 when I purchased my first Mac Plus, with 1 MB of RAM and a 20MB serial hard drive, a dot matrix printer and some software for about $3,500. I love the company’s products, design sense and innovation. There is literally no other computer or operating system that I would rather use. Apple is clearly a leader in our world of technology and communication.
However, when it comes to issues outside of their core competency, Apple seems to lose its way.
Today, Apple posted this on their Apple Hot News feed:
No on Prop 8
October 24, 2008 12:18 PM
Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.
Perhaps Apple is not aware of the fact that virtually ANYONE in California already has “the right to marry!” In fact, this is the case throughout the United States! Any person, no matter if they are male or female, as long as they are sane, of legal age, and meet the health requirements of the marriage license, can get married! Even if a person is confused about their sexual orientation they can still get married. You don’t have to declare your sexual orientation to get a marriage license!
So why is Apple touting their spending of $100,000 on a a non-issue?
I just don’t get it.
I note that even with Apple’s $100,000 investment to defeat Prop 8, the numbers are leading for Prop 8 with 52% as I write this comment. According to the exit polls, African-Americans provided some of the strongest support for the marriage amendment in California, supporting Proposition 8 by a margin of 70%-to-30%. Hmmmmm.