dagblog - Comments for "Free Advice for Hate-Mongers (About those Gay Troops)"

The topic of two atheists

Elusive Trope — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:50:38 +0000

In reply to She's all for civil unions,

The topic of two atheists getting married never came up. My guess she it would resonate with her in a positive way. I would add that she wouldn't not vote for a candidate who supported marriage for both atheists and homosexuals. Nor would she turn her back on a homosexual couple who informed her that they were married in some other state that allowed it. Nor would she think it would be the end of the world if her state granted the right to these folks. It is just, as I mentioned earlier, doesn't resonate with her as being proper. Something nags at her that it is somehow not aligned with the way things ought to be, in such a way that she can't quite articulate it.

And this is how so many people I believe encounter the issues surrounding gay rights, or gender, or race, etc. Their response is one arising from the years of immersion in a culture, largely unexamined. I am no different. Distilling out the assumptions and connections and understandings that seeped in as life washed over us is a life long process. A key facet of this is that it isn't something that can be easily addressed through logical/rational debate.

She's all for civil unions,

Verified Atheist — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:23:16 +0000

In reply to Gay marriage is a whole

She's all for civil unions, which provide the same rights as a "married" couple, but she can't get past her religious views of marriage as religious ceremony before the eyes of God, and whether she likes it or not, God does not approve of a marriage between a man and man or between a woman and a woman.

I realize that (a) it can be difficult to talk about these things with one's relatives, and (b) you're paraphrasing what your mother said, but I'm curious to know if you asked her what she thought about two atheists getting married?

Gay marriage is a whole

Elusive Trope — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:03:57 +0000

In reply to Bravo! Couldn't have said it

Gay marriage is a whole another ball of wax, which only highlights the complexity of gay rights in this country. My mother who sounds like Mr. DDay when you get her talking about Dick Cheney, spends her free time volunteering to help the poor and downtrodden locally and globally, and would never vote for a Republican, "draws the line" at gay marriage. She's all for civil unions, which provide the same rights as a "married" couple, but she can't get past her religious views of marriage as religious ceremony before the eyes of God, and whether she likes it or not, God does not approve of a marriage between a man and man or between a woman and a woman.

It is this uneasiness and discomfort with homosexuality (and sexuality in general) felt by so many Americans (especially older Americans, who are more likely to actually vote) that keeps the Republican politicians and their strategists coming back to this particular trough. Nixon won in part because people were seeing all the chaos of the 60s and felt that America (along with the rest of the world) was coming apart at the seams. The old social fabric in tatters, and the chaos was at their doorsteps. Gay marriage taps into the fear. People want order. They want security. Not just financially, but in the larger "way things are," imperfect as they are.

Gays now openly serve in the military and the sun still comes up and life goes on just about the same as it always did. It is a big step in undermining the attitudes of heterosexuals in this country. But for the time being, especially those of the older generations, old attitudes still remain.

Whether Ricky actually believes what he says or is just using it to create some press and kick start support in his floundering campaign, I don't know. But I seriously doubt his marriage comments will hurt him in any way that going after the gays serving in the military would.

Bravo! Couldn't have said it

CVille Dem — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:25:41 +0000

In reply to Free Advice for Hate-Mongers (About those Gay Troops)

Bravo! Couldn't have said it better myself.

(But your message will go right over their heads -- see Rick Santorum's statements about gay marriage actually killing our country!!)