This thing in Maine where people are asking voters for same-sex couples' right to marry strikes me as wholly different from what we usually see. Instead of arguing against voting on rights, they're asking for a vote on rights. If beautiful ads alone led to victory, they'd already be there.
The news-news is that, lovely ads or no, they appear to be winning, not just with the direct referendum in Maine but also in Maryland and Washington, where the legislatures passed laws for marriage-equality that got put up for repeal.
(H/t America Blog)
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If I can get over my own initial "disgust" of two men kissing then anyone has hope. I will never forget the day in Germany at a concert. Waiting for the gates to open I looked up and saw a tall drink of water kiss his short boyfriend smack on his bald head. Being a typical American soldier I was sickened by the display. I realized even then that I was the one with a problem though.
People are people and when we allow ourselves to see anyone as being less then we lose the one thing we should cherish most--our sense of humanity.
I am glad to see that young people today are beginning to turn their backs on hate and intolerance.Now excuse me ,I have the urge to pull the wings off a fly.
Paul - i had the exact same type of experience, and came to the same conclusion. The whole world would be better off if we quit trying to come up with 'natural divisions' (race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, etc...) and just looked at each other as humans. i don't think we'll eliminate prejudice in my lifetime, but i hope that my sons' generation might...
The great thing about the universe is that if what you are currently looking at isn't to your liking, there are plenty of other things to look at.
Watching the Evolution of Marriage Equality has its own satisfaction. Because I remember not that long ago, being gay was something that was seldom discussed. And even less seldom discussed in the Political World. When most of the country was so homophobic, that the AIDS crises in it's infancy, was labeled the Gay Cancer. And it was all but acceptable to refer to it that way, for years.
That being fired for being Gay was no big deal, and wasn't seen as discrimination. We as a country have come along way since the 80's, alone. Social change is a slow process, and last generations to become noticeable. But when it does, and you can remember how things use to be. It is an incredible sight to behold.
We need John Lennon singing Imagine right now...
How about Tiny Tim and "tip toe through the Tulips?
Sorry 'bout that.
You should be. :)
There are as many ways to love as there are moments in time. Who am I to judge someone else's love and their expression of that love for each other. And who am I to say to someone that doesn't "love" the way that I want them too that their love is wrong.
I can't imagine not having the right to marry my husband — plus, why should us heterosexuals not share the *joy* of marriage (just kidding). Seriously, I just don't understand anyone who has a problem with gay marriage and never did.
If you haven't seen this yet, it shares Mitt's view...
http://www.upworthy.com/mitt-romney-accidentally-confronts-a-gay-veteran-awesomeness-ensues?g=3
Thanks for sharing that Laura, incredibly effective ad.
As a gay-married individual in a state where it is not legal to be gay-married, but we were grandfathered in so our marriage is legal, I can say that:
A.) The ad is beautiful.
B.) That there are many more progressive areas than California.
C.) California should be completely ashamed of itself.
Ask anyone under 20, heck, even under 30, gay marriage is a non-issue. The anxiety around the family breaking down has never made a lick of sense to me. Domestic abuse, economic disparity, racial oppressions--they deserve serious attentions.
The so called "disgust" often shared by straight men when dealing with seeing two men kissing is tiresome, especially as they have no problem with two women together. Good for you for looking past it. Now, get over it. It's your own internal stuff that's freaking you out.
Seriously.
If you believe in rights and freedoms--yeah, you right-wing extremists--you cannot vilify people for expressing them, like it or not. The hypocrisy is shameful.
One more reason I love this state. Vote yes on 1!
Chase Whiteside and Erick Stoll at New Left Media consistently put out thoughtful, relevant and evocative videos. At the very least, they deserve credit for the video on this blog. Ideally, I'd love to see their work featured on-air, possibly in a segment about The Four 2012 .
I'm going to find it informative to see what happens in Maine. I'm betting Maine will vote for marriage equality, when 2008 saw California said no, those marriages that were legislated as legal must stop.
I still think some people were voting yes for Prop 8, when No meant Pro marriage equality and Yes meant No marriage equality.
I recommend reading the wording on the ballot very carefully, just to be sure.