I live in Oregon. It's a pretty left-of-center political millieu in the biggest cities (the news networks say we are blue) but every where else, it's a very conservative state. This dichotomy of political views makes for a lot of argument and compromise in our law making and legislative process. One such area of contention has to do with gay/lesbian marriage.
I just don't get it. If two people share a deep and abiding love, why on earth should they not be able to celebrate that love in formal, full and legal marriage? I really don't see why the gender mix needs to enter into it. I understand about the tradition of marriage in our society and I understand that some fundamentalist Christians think the idea smacks of devil worship. Well traditionalists will never be comfortable with change and the fundamentalists believe they hold the only key to God's truth, so neither demographic is ever going to consider the matter as a viable alternative. But surely anybody with a logical, objective perspective can see otherwise.
There is this notion of civil union we hear a lot about these days. This is that sort of compromise mentioned above, as if to say to the gay and lesbian community that it really isn't much different than marriage. That's bull shit. I'll bet a paycheck there is not a single state legislator who feels they can trade in their marriage for a civil union and come out of the deal on an equal footing. So it's frustrating to know that . . .
Last week my wife and I went to Toronto ON to witness the marriage of my neice. She's actually been much more like a daughter to me for over 20 years now, but that's conceptually weird considering she was born to my sister. Anyway, in a beautiful unpretentious ceremony, she married a woman with whom she is totally committed. In Canada, you can do that sort of thing. Their vows were heartfelt and deeply touching not only for them, but all of us in the room. I wept. I was overjoyed with what they were doing with each other, I was saddened for all the gay and lesbian couples in this country who are denied this experience and I was angered by all the straight couples who treat marriage as a mechanistic exercise without the level of committment and respect appropriate for a long term loving relationship.
I just don't get it. If two people share a deep and abiding love, why on earth should they not be able to celebrate that love in formal, full and legal marriage? I really don't see why the gender mix needs to enter into it. I understand about the tradition of marriage in our society and I understand that some fundamentalist Christians think the idea smacks of devil worship. Well traditionalists will never be comfortable with change and the fundamentalists believe they hold the only key to God's truth, so neither demographic is ever going to consider the matter as a viable alternative. But surely anybody with a logical, objective perspective can see otherwise.
There is this notion of civil union we hear a lot about these days. This is that sort of compromise mentioned above, as if to say to the gay and lesbian community that it really isn't much different than marriage. That's bull shit. I'll bet a paycheck there is not a single state legislator who feels they can trade in their marriage for a civil union and come out of the deal on an equal footing. So it's frustrating to know that . . .
Last week my wife and I went to Toronto ON to witness the marriage of my neice. She's actually been much more like a daughter to me for over 20 years now, but that's conceptually weird considering she was born to my sister. Anyway, in a beautiful unpretentious ceremony, she married a woman with whom she is totally committed. In Canada, you can do that sort of thing. Their vows were heartfelt and deeply touching not only for them, but all of us in the room. I wept. I was overjoyed with what they were doing with each other, I was saddened for all the gay and lesbian couples in this country who are denied this experience and I was angered by all the straight couples who treat marriage as a mechanistic exercise without the level of committment and respect appropriate for a long term loving relationship.
sweet!!