Speaking Out
[ mood | 
]
[ music | Puddle of Mud - Blurry ]
I debated whether to make this post or not. Did I really care enough? All things considered, I do. And I feel I need to speak out, because this is how I feel.
You've all seen the marriage is love campaign. I see many LJ users actively participating in favour of San Fransisco's gay marriage rights. I see praise, and that's good and well, but those who dare speak the opposing argument are flamed and labelled "homophobic". This is disturbing.
Support for gay marriage rights is considered a demonstration of an open mind, acceptance, and anti-hate. There is a fundamental flaw in this. The "equality" is becoming as one-sided as those who are homophobic. It has become unacceptable to oppose gay rights marriage, even when their arguments are valid and educated. Is this not also unfair? The reason I ask is because, having studied journalism, and appreciating objectivity (as difficult as it is), I see a trend of complete subjectivity emerging here.
Granted, this cause is not one close to my heart, for the simple reason that I am not gay, nor concerned with love or marriage. These are things I'm not familiar with, but I am familiar with the importance of freedom of speech; debating both sides of an argument.
For example, in the US the KKK openly wear their "White Pride" T-shirts and engage in rascist propoganda speech. This is their First Amendment right. As much as I hate to admit it, these people have and will not be doing anything wrong apart from voicing their opinion. Unless they turn to violence.
And that's the crux of the matter. Do all "homophobic" people who voice their dissention over gay marriage rights because of faith or personal choice hate those who have a different concept of gender? Do all "homophobes" resort to violence? No. Yet they are labelled homophobic and have been told they must hate gay people if they oppose progress in the gay community.
Gay marriage in South Africa is illegal. It's not a crime, but when I say illegal I mean the state does not recognise a union between two men or two women in a court of law. Instead they have the same rights as a common law husband or wife. This has been challenged in the Constitutional Court, the highest court in our country. It has been dismissed twice. I can't speak for the US, because I'm not familiar with their law system, but the point I'm trying to make is: don't dismiss an anti gay rights marriage argument or person who opposes it as homophobic. That's tantamount to hate speech in itself and very subjective.
You may and probably will disagree with the above argument, but since we're all human we're never going to coexist in harmony. Never. So we may as well agree to disagree.
edit
Only eaten a tomato so far today. Contained 25 calories, 5 grams of carbs and 0 grams fat. Am most proud of myself. justasong_bird is my thinspiration, and it's also her birthday, so go wish her something special.
edit2
Was somewhat creative today. Made this. See, if I put my mind to it, I can make myself believe elves aren't the most wretched of Middle-earth creatures...second only to orcs.
]
[ music | Puddle of Mud - Blurry ]
I debated whether to make this post or not. Did I really care enough? All things considered, I do. And I feel I need to speak out, because this is how I feel.
You've all seen the marriage is love campaign. I see many LJ users actively participating in favour of San Fransisco's gay marriage rights. I see praise, and that's good and well, but those who dare speak the opposing argument are flamed and labelled "homophobic". This is disturbing.
Support for gay marriage rights is considered a demonstration of an open mind, acceptance, and anti-hate. There is a fundamental flaw in this. The "equality" is becoming as one-sided as those who are homophobic. It has become unacceptable to oppose gay rights marriage, even when their arguments are valid and educated. Is this not also unfair? The reason I ask is because, having studied journalism, and appreciating objectivity (as difficult as it is), I see a trend of complete subjectivity emerging here.
Granted, this cause is not one close to my heart, for the simple reason that I am not gay, nor concerned with love or marriage. These are things I'm not familiar with, but I am familiar with the importance of freedom of speech; debating both sides of an argument.
For example, in the US the KKK openly wear their "White Pride" T-shirts and engage in rascist propoganda speech. This is their First Amendment right. As much as I hate to admit it, these people have and will not be doing anything wrong apart from voicing their opinion. Unless they turn to violence.
And that's the crux of the matter. Do all "homophobic" people who voice their dissention over gay marriage rights because of faith or personal choice hate those who have a different concept of gender? Do all "homophobes" resort to violence? No. Yet they are labelled homophobic and have been told they must hate gay people if they oppose progress in the gay community.
Gay marriage in South Africa is illegal. It's not a crime, but when I say illegal I mean the state does not recognise a union between two men or two women in a court of law. Instead they have the same rights as a common law husband or wife. This has been challenged in the Constitutional Court, the highest court in our country. It has been dismissed twice. I can't speak for the US, because I'm not familiar with their law system, but the point I'm trying to make is: don't dismiss an anti gay rights marriage argument or person who opposes it as homophobic. That's tantamount to hate speech in itself and very subjective.
You may and probably will disagree with the above argument, but since we're all human we're never going to coexist in harmony. Never. So we may as well agree to disagree.
edit
Only eaten a tomato so far today. Contained 25 calories, 5 grams of carbs and 0 grams fat. Am most proud of myself. justasong_bird is my thinspiration, and it's also her birthday, so go wish her something special.
edit2
Was somewhat creative today. Made this. See, if I put my mind to it, I can make myself believe elves aren't the most wretched of Middle-earth creatures...second only to orcs.
