must talk about this

[pennie_dreadful]

Apparently a ban on gay marriage was passed in California 2 days ago.  The reason being that the ban's supporters managed to turn the campaign from being about basic civil rights to some lunatic mush about children being indoctrinated to accept gay marriage against their parents' wishes.  Meanwhile a portion of the population is being denied their civil rights.

If they really want to create more bigots they can always homeschool their kids.  Hell, they aren't up in arms anymore about evolution being taught in schools; while they're at it why don't they try and pass a ban on that, too?  Aren't science teachers "indoctrinating" their children to believe in evolution instead of creation? 

As far as marriage goes, while it's not something I want for myself, I don't see why it should bug anybody if someone else wants to, be they an opposite sex or same sex couple.

One thing that struck a chord in me, and made me pissed off and feel the need to rant about it, is what a woman said; "The people of California stood up for traditional marriage and reclaimed this great institution."

Great institution?

As far as I can figure, marriage was invented for one reason: to control women.  It was not about falling in love and wanting to be with someone forever.  Back in the day a husband was well within his rights to murder his wife for the slightest percieved insult.   Even as recently as 150 years ago, a woman was essentially the property of her husband; all her assets and property became his as soon as she said I Do.  So while I do not pass judgement on married friends or people who want to be married, and I know that marriage's meaning has evolved through the millenia, I really do not see how it is a "great institution".

Comments

[sacredmime.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this. Similar things were passed in Florida and Arizona. What a dark shadow it cast upon on otherwise happy election day.

Hope, work, enlightenment. A lot of people need to wake up.

[kat-nic.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I heard in Arizona that it's now only possible for married couples to adopt, no more single parent adoptions, even if the person in question is hetero, just so they can "protect" children from the gays. What bullshit. And in Florida gay people can foster children, but not adopt them. ??? And that makes sense how, exactly?

[aurillia.livejournal.com]

I love your rants :)

It would amuse me, that people feel so threatened by gay marriage, except that it's too important an issue and makes me mad instead.

I don't think marriage is a "great institution" either - a relationship it is what you make it, in a way, but being married has little to do with it. These people must also be against common-law unions as well, by their logic. Again: where is the threat? How many fucked-up people come out of "normal" marriages??!

In some countries today, women are still being killed by their husbands for crimes such as having an affair. Daughters too. The death penalty is given out by the family patriarch and usually performed by male family members. Tragic. Utterly appalling. How are these marriages great?

[chinasparrow.livejournal.com]

I do feel I must stick up for marriage at least a little - but the idea that there is one 'correct' way to see marriage is a falacy (sp?). Marriage has been around a lot longer than evangelical Christianity, and the traditions they seem to hold on to. Some of the really bad stuff about marriage - ie the ownership/obey issues are not Biblical - they are societal, nothing more. Seeing as men couldn't guarantee that children would be theirs any other way, she became his property...

But in defence of marriage - if two people want to stand up in front of their friends and family and say 'yes, I commit to just being with you' I do think it is a great institution. But one that should be open to anyone who feels that that is what they want to do.

The idea that allowing same sex couples to marry would somehow 'devalue' hetero marriage is just stupid - in fact, it is placing enormous value on the concept.

Yet another case of narrow-minded people dictating their world view on the rest of the population - when it is really NONE of their business.

Okay, I'll get off my soap-box now. At least I am not the only one who likes to rant!

[kat-nic.livejournal.com]

If marriage was only a religious institution there would be no issue--but there are something like 400 civil rights (in America) that go along with being married. Tax benefits, rights of inheritance, health insurance benefits, Social Sercurity, on and on. It is NOT RIGHT to deny ANYONE who wants these civil rights just because so many people are hanging on to their petty prejudices.

[kat-nic.livejournal.com]

I can see your viewpoint, but I can be pretty positive that woman I quoted would not exactly appreciate your "support".

It just boggles my mind that the same people who voted for Obama--who supports abortion, by the way--voted against same sex marriage because of their religious values. So what they were saying is it's okay to vote for a president who thinks it's okay to kill babies, but two chicks or two dudes can't stand before a justice of the peace and say I Do? What kind of logic is that?!