Marriage, Marriage, quite contrary...
Feb. 25th, 2004 07:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
illusionofjoyWhen I picked up my copy of the Post-Gazette this morning, I was confronted with quite possibly the most offensive headline I had even seen on the front page of a newspaper: Bush Backs Ban on Gay Marriage. Granted, I had already heard the story on NPR less than an hour prior, but that didn't lessen the taste of bile welling at the back of my throat, nor did it do anything to comfort me from the fact that the United States, indeed, is going down the shitter.
With several moments to ponder this latest piece of conservative (more accurately: regressive) road kill, I began musing on what headlines I'd be reading if the newspaper were being published throughout different times in history and Bush were president. The 1960s would have given us, "Bush Upholds Separate But Equal." At the turn of the 20th century, we would have read such gems as, "Bush Backs Ban on Women's Suffrage," followed by a subhead which would have probably read something like, "The Fair-Sex Has No Business In Politics."
In the Bush cabinet, apparently homosexuals have no right to pursue happiness. It does make one wonder what kind of relationship Dick Cheney has with his daughter. More importantly, it makes one wonder what other nefarious schemes the Bush White House is cooking up while the media jumps all over the gay marriage "issue" - but more on that later...
To me, gay marriage and gay rights, for that matter, are not issues - or at least they shouldn't be as they should fall under the mantra of human rights. It's not rocket science: every human being is endowed by his (or her) creator (whom or whatever that may be) with certain inalienable rights...gee, where have I heard that one before? Among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While the right wing screwballs in this nation seem content to let homosexuals continue living (for the most part), those whole liberty and pursuit of happiness things tend to get their panties twisted.
I am going to be very blunt: I am not a fan of marriage. Personally, I think that it’s a bad idea to get married and I am disgusted by the thought that marriage is effectively the most grievous example of the separation of church and state thrown asunder. A marriage, in one way or another, has always been a contract. It began as a church-sanctioned contract and for the most part remains so, except that a government document (i.e.: a marriage license) is involved. With said government document, the happy couple is showered with tax cuts, more employee benefits, etc. It is almost as if people are being bribed to pair up and make it "official."
While the political implications of marriage are obvious, the social implications are just as stomach-churning. To say that marriage equals love is laughable. While two people can use the ceremony as a way to symbolise their love for each other, the simple act of getting married does not in of itself create love. People get married for many other reasons besides love, among them: money, power and fear. It is telling that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce (this being a heterosexual statistic, obviously - I would love to see what would happen to this curve is homosexuals were included).
At this juncture, you are likely saying to yourself, "damn, if you hate the concept of marriage so much, why are you so supportive of allowing gays to marry?" It's simple, really: no gay people are forcing me to get married. Why should I begrudge any of the homosexual community the right to do what they want to do when they aren't begrudging me the right to not do what I don't want to do? If I were to oppose gay marriage, I may as well be inviting myself into arranged matrimony. In a civil and enlightened society, one can not make different sets of rules for different sets of people. There is a name for societies who do change the rules depending on race, gender or sexual orientation: segregationists. These societies are certainly not equal and certainly not free.
As I mentioned in my parody headlines above, this shouldn't be an issue, but it would appear that this nation has a severe lack of historical awareness. I've yet to hear or see media outlets reference The Civil Rights movement or Women's Suffrage. Homosexuals truly are considered second-class citizens in this nation; sad but true.
Still, the conservatives continue their shrill about how gay marriage would destroy the "sanctity of marriage" (a sanctity which can only exist when people create it, not when the government deems it) and furthermore, destroy this great nation. Senator lube-shit - I mean, Rick Santorum has been most vocal on this issue, even citing Scandinavia as an example of what could happen when same-sex unions are allowed. I mean, really: Scandinavia? Where is this guy getting his info and how much spin can he put on it? Are there any Scandinavians out there who would like to comment?
It is interesting that the issue of gay marriage has popped up and overtaken the airwaves at this particular point in time. It is an election year and the Bush campaign machine recently geared up to go out and reap (rape?) the fields of voters. While I think that it is commendable that officials in San Francisco are basically giving the middle finger to unfair laws, the media seems alarmingly distracted by the proceedings. In fact, in saying that an Amendment to the Constitution is needed to stop the "scourge" of gay marriage, Bush is only encouraging the media to focus on the issue. In fact, he's pushing as hard as he fucking can to keep their eyes on it.
Don't get me wrong - I think this deserves media coverage, however I wonder what news items are being pushed off of the airwaves as the media jumps on every hair of this beast. I'm wondering what Bush and company are cooking up behind the scenes as the gay marriage issue gets blown way out of proportion into a gargantuan.
The last time I checked, Bush and his goons hadn't cancelled their policies of polluting the planet, making the rich richer and starting unneeded wars in addition to their desire to keep homosexuals down. All this and a trip to Mars...
I think the best way to support gay rights and just simple human rights is to help vote Bush out of office this November. Then again, Bill Clinton did sign the Defense of Marriage Act, so a mainstream party switch will likely do next to nothing for the homosexual community...
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate what's happening in this country sometimes?
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more sad news
Date: 2004-02-25 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-26 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-26 05:25 pm (UTC)As for your point of view on marriage, I find it to be rather fasinating. While I see validity in many of your viewpoints, I do like the idea of marriage if it is entered with care, thought, and the right reasons. I agree that too many couples marry for reasons other than love in this day and age. According to a recent statistic, 60% of marriages which occure between the ages of 19-25 end in divorce. I could go on about this subject but I have things I need to get done before I head off to sleepville. We'll talk more when we finally iron something out as far as hanging out goes. I should know my schedule tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-26 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-26 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-27 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-27 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-27 04:26 pm (UTC)