tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692956.post1907709110899315582..comments2023-10-30T08:17:55.757-05:00Comments on Pictures on Silence: Proposition 8Donhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239910727443310811noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692956.post-83791390534835319512008-11-09T08:40:00.000-06:002008-11-09T08:40:00.000-06:00My pleasure as always Zaine!My pleasure as always Zaine!Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04239910727443310811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692956.post-55264611017704287732008-11-09T07:43:00.000-06:002008-11-09T07:43:00.000-06:00Completely agree. It is unnerving that Florida, Ar...Completely agree. It is unnerving that Florida, Arizona, and California will allow gays to get married... just not to each other! How f-ed up is that?<BR/><BR/>While every black face I see on my TeeVee is crying and jubilant and "finally proud" of their country, they need to be slapped upside the head and reminded that <B>SEPARATE BUT EQUAL IS NOT EQUAL</B>. And even if it were, civil unions are simply not equal to marriage. Check the IRS code in any situation and you'll see how unfair this denial is.<BR/><BR/>That blacks cannot see how the same laws that oppressed them are now used to oppress gays is disturbing. Blacks did not reach their civil rights' goals alone, nor should gays have to reach theirs without the help of blacks, who should plainly be able to identify with Prop 8-like struggles.<BR/><BR/>Gays aren't asking for the blessing of others' gods, or to force churches to alter their doctrine or come to their weddings. With a few denominational exceptions, Christianity is doctrinal homophobia. Heteros have long known that <B>marriage is an economic unit</B>, subject to contract law, which brings some direct legal benefits regarding property. (Ask anyone who's suffered through a divorce if you think marriage is not about economics and property.)<BR/><BR/>I proudly did not vote for Obama. I don't consider the man very smart, not the least eloquent, and although he loves to hear himself talk, his ascent reminds me so much of G.W. Bush's. I can't point to a single accomplishment except that he had written two autobiographies before he was 40 years old, which is megalomaniacal in the least. Worse, his supporters will be deeply disappointed when he only gives just enough lip service to gay rights in order to gain votes, much like the GOP has teased quadrennial abortion bans in front of evangelicals. If Obama really wants to be transformative, to go beyond Will Smith and Oprah's crying and fainting and ongoing promotion, then <B>this is the issue</B> he can tackle right off the bat.<BR/><BR/>In other words, if gays want to gain the right to marry, they need to directly pressure the one guy who currently has the clout to put it into law ASAP -- Obama himself. This issue will let his supporters know where he stands and whether he has to guts for a fight. He could easily bring the Congress along during his first two years, and why not? It's a very small (legal) step to go from institutionalizing civil unions across the land to gay marriage, or put simply, the right to marry whomever <B>you</B> want, not whom the government allows you.<BR/><BR/>Here's a nice site for starters where people can share their stories:<BR/>http://gaydadsusa.typepad.com/our_voices_for_marriage/<BR/><BR/>___________<BR/><I>As usual Don, thank you to tolerating my rants!</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com