I see that Google has filed an amicus brief in support of legal challenges to California’s just-passed Proposition 8, which defines marriage in that state as being between one man and one woman

I support gay marriage, but I have two problems with Google’s actions:

First, I don’t like Google’s justification for the brief.  While people should be free to associate themselves with whoever they want, the reason for that should be freedom not business advantage.  True seekers of freedom should want the government out of marriage and an end to government policies that have so encroached upon our personal lives that we are treated differently depending on whether or not we’ve chosen to be married or single

Second, I’d have been impressed with Google if they’d matched the signing of this amicus brief with a condemnation of the use of one of their products (Google maps) to target and intimidate contributors to the Proposition 8 campaign

Intimidation and violence have no a place in a free society than restrictions on free association such as marriage bans do, and if Google wants to be taken seriously as an advocate for freedom they’d match their support for one form of freedom with a condemnation of political thuggery.  And perhaps an end to their involvement in it

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