So, I really (really, really) wanted to write about my thoughts on gay marriage and the '08 Election. However, after voicing these exact same thoughts to a friend (and subsequently getting extremely riled up), I realized there's not enough space and nobody would care enough to read it all. So, I'm going to boil it down to a basic thought or two and y'all can ponder on your own.
In the '04 election, the topic of gay marriage was widely discussed because Our Fearless Leader G.W. knew he could energize his social conservatives and get 'em all fired up. This round, however, they're keeping it on the down-low (is it dorky to use "DL" these days?) even though it is more important than ever. The problem here is that both My Main Man Obama (MMMO) and Old Man McCain each need some of the other's guy's voters to clinch the seat. Obama is trying to reach out to the the evangelicals and McCain's trying to get the liberals ... and then you've got the Independents and nobody has a clue where they're going with all of this. So needless to say, neither candidate wants to talk about it. But they should.
I do understand that candidates need to move a bit more to center during this period of the campaign season and cast their nets a bit wider. I just wanna say (and not that it matters) but in my mind there is absolutely no question about this ... it is a civil rights issue period. No ifs, ands or buts ... separate but equal is not enough. It wasn't enough during the Jim Crow days and it's not enough now. In a time when more than like 50% of marriages end in divorce and broken homes, who the hell has the right to deny someone the basic right of pledging their love and life to another person? Especially if that couple has just as much of a chance as any other couple of living a delightfully happy life together. These wishy-washy stances don't cut it.
I heard a news story the other day about a lady who was working in the Pentagon on 9/11. She escaped the most tragic fate but later stated that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" along with all the other taboos associated with a same-sex lifestyle, had left her in a place where had she been killed, her partner of more than 10 years would've been the last to know ... because no one knew about her partner. That's just freaking wrong. Period.
So, I guess that's all I'm going to say. I know MMMO has to be careful but it just seems like it really should be hitting home right about now. Our country is shifting, opening up, and moving forward. Marriage should be a right everyone has. Period.
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I, like you, have a passion in seeing Obama voted as our next president. I've seen the man live at a town hall and my sister has actively campaigned for him. I would have to say that since the primary i've been both ecstatic and disappointed in many things that Obama has done, or not done, one of which being the centrist movement that's slowly been happening. I, like you, understand that it has to happen to court more voters, but at what point does it alienate those of us who enjoyed what we originally saw and heard?
Gay marriage is one of the things that he caught me off guard with so far. He's said that he believes that the civil unions should be recognized and that all benefits currently given to married people should be given to those in the civil unions. At the same time though, he's said that marriage should be handled by the state, and I understand he's walking a tight line here, but it just sorta rubs me the wrong way that he won't go the extra step and give them all the rights, including marriage itself. I'm an agnostic theist, so it really shouldn't matter to me since marriage is really a church symbol in my eyes and as such isn't really needed, but I still understand the symbolism of wanting an equal footing.
It's truly a tough spot to be in, but at least it's a start, and something that's infinitely better than what we've had the past 8 years where it's been nothing but the politics of fear shoved down our throats.
It would be nice for the lesbian couple we're good friends with who just adopted a baby to finally not have to worry about any and all situations that many others don't have to worry about for a change.
I can only hope this doesn't end up being an elephant in the corner situation if he's elected... we just can't afford to let that happen.
My opinion (and I'm right, I always am): Anyone should be allowed to marry anyone else. I don't care. People fall in love with people and should be able to enjoy the benefits and hassles of that.
Politics make me want to throw things. But, you know I'm a social type "friendly" and just want everyone to be shiny and happy - possibly to a fault. :) This is why I can't listen to NPR . . . well, that and the fact that I like to sing in my car. Off-key. Loudly.
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