Well, isn't that a coincidence? Just after thinking about slavery puts the marriage ban in perspective, I open the newspaper and see this
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Yeah, I think the ones who really believe it's an 'assault on the foundation of marriage' are deluding themselves. However, I do think they've hit on something real here: if we get the right to marry, it makes us much more acceptable-- and those who don't accept us much more marginal.
Honestly, I'm not sure how fair that is. I think they're being silly, but then, I'm very liberal. I guess... if it's kids getting bullied in school or people being fired from their jobs, that's one thing and I'd love to see it condemned. But if it's just people who feel that the *behavior* is wrong, and they're relatively civilized about it, I don't think they deserve to be marginalized, any more than any other group with weird ideas about how other people ought to live.
I met a man at college who was a conservative Christian, totally opposed to gay marriage. We ended up talking quite a bit. When I asked him how he felt about being surrounded by liberals, he basically said that he felt comfortable enough in his beliefs not to be threatened by it. When he started talking about homosexuality, I told him I was a lesbian, and he said, quote: "Well, we're all sinners," and didn't treat me any differently afterward. I guess that's the sort of thing I'm thinking about-- I don't think it deserves the same kind of condemnation as racism, or the nastier forms of sexism. I don't know if that even counts as a reply to your post. It was more like a ramble. But I guess the short version is that gay marriage does present a threat to fundamentalists, and I actually have some sympathy for the civilized ones who know how to act like Christians.
Unfortunately, I think your characterization fits more of them. I think that's what I'd call genuine homophobes: people who can't react rationally or behave civilly because they're so flipped out about it. People who are so full of themselves that they can't see us as human. Those I wouldn't mind seeing marginalized.
Well, my response was kind of a ramble anyway, so we're even. *grin*
I think you're right. While I'm often uncomfortable around Christians of all sorts, I have a great deal of respect for those who live and let live unconditionally. Unfortunately, too often "I don't have anything against gays" seems to come with a 'but' attached. My personal favorite is 'But I don't want them to act gay around me'. My sadistic pleasure is to respond, "Really, so if they can't act gay around you, what gives you the right to act heterosexual around them?" and watch them fumble for a response. ;)
I do see your point about how gay marriage is a threat to fundamentalists. I guess I just really find it hard to have sympathy for them not only because they want to put discrimination into the Constitution, but because on my list of global concerns gay marriage is so far down the list it's not even funny. Global warming, world hunger, child abuse...those are so much bigger then "preserving the sanctity of marriage", and it makes me so angry that some conservatives would rather focus on this then the serious issues we're faced with. I envy you your perspective, honestly.
Honestly, I'm not sure how fair that is. I think they're being silly, but then, I'm very liberal. I guess... if it's kids getting bullied in school or people being fired from their jobs, that's one thing and I'd love to see it condemned. But if it's just people who feel that the *behavior* is wrong, and they're relatively civilized about it, I don't think they deserve to be marginalized, any more than any other group with weird ideas about how other people ought to live.
I met a man at college who was a conservative Christian, totally opposed to gay marriage. We ended up talking quite a bit. When I asked him how he felt about being surrounded by liberals, he basically said that he felt comfortable enough in his beliefs not to be threatened by it. When he started talking about homosexuality, I told him I was a lesbian, and he said, quote: "Well, we're all sinners," and didn't treat me any differently afterward. I guess that's the sort of thing I'm thinking about-- I don't think it deserves the same kind of condemnation as racism, or the nastier forms of sexism.
I don't know if that even counts as a reply to your post. It was more like a ramble. But I guess the short version is that gay marriage does present a threat to fundamentalists, and I actually have some sympathy for the civilized ones who know how to act like Christians.
Unfortunately, I think your characterization fits more of them. I think that's what I'd call genuine homophobes: people who can't react rationally or behave civilly because they're so flipped out about it. People who are so full of themselves that they can't see us as human. Those I wouldn't mind seeing marginalized.
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I think you're right. While I'm often uncomfortable around Christians of all sorts, I have a great deal of respect for those who live and let live unconditionally. Unfortunately, too often "I don't have anything against gays" seems to come with a 'but' attached. My personal favorite is 'But I don't want them to act gay around me'. My sadistic pleasure is to respond, "Really, so if they can't act gay around you, what gives you the right to act heterosexual around them?" and watch them fumble for a response. ;)
I do see your point about how gay marriage is a threat to fundamentalists. I guess I just really find it hard to have sympathy for them not only because they want to put discrimination into the Constitution, but because on my list of global concerns gay marriage is so far down the list it's not even funny. Global warming, world hunger, child abuse...those are so much bigger then "preserving the sanctity of marriage", and it makes me so angry that some conservatives would rather focus on this then the serious issues we're faced with. I envy you your perspective, honestly.
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