With the California Supreme Court hearing opposition to Proposition 8 starting March 5, United States citizens–particularly Californians–should be asking themselves whether or not passing the amendment banning same sex unions was the right decision.

Proposition 8, which passed in November of 2008 with a 52 percent majority for the amendment, effectively banned same sex marriage in the state of California–something same sex couples had gained rights to only last year. Despite the state’s majority for Proposition 8, many of the state’s politicians, including Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who has vetoed numerous bills to legalize same-sex marriage, have openly come out against the amendment, proving that there is something immoral about Proposition 8.

This leads us, the citizens of the United States, to question the morality of this amendment. Isn’t the United States supposed to be a place where everyone is created equal and where every citizen is guaranteed equal rights regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation? By stripping United States’ citizens of the right to marry their partner, we are essentially going against the doctrine that our country was founded upon.

Our country’s doctrine can also be used in the argument that marriage between same sex couples is against the Bible’s teachings. Maybe same sex unions aren’t promoted in the Bible, but whether they are or aren’t shouldn’t factor into the debate over Proposition 8. Our country was founded on the principle of the separation of church and state. Basing arguments about gay marriage on the Bible is invalid because of this principle.

However, what people who supported Proposition 8 should be thinking about is why they even care about whether same sex couples can marry or not. Even if same sex marriage is deemed sinful in their religion, or they simply think marriage should be between a man and a woman, chances are that two people of the same gender marrying isn’t even going to affect them.

In the past, the California Supreme Court has voted in favor of gay rights. We can only hope that they will invalidate Proposition 8 so that these United States citizens will once again be entitled to the same rights we enjoy.