If I have realized one thing about blogging it is that it is really hard to keep your mouth shut even when it is for the better good. I am sure almost everyone is aware of how popular gay marriage and the military’s don’t ask, don’t tell policy has been lately. Of course everyone has an opinion on it and many people have blogged about it. I have kept my mouth shut though as I have VERY strong opinions and a lot of what I read angers me. Blogging and anger don’t mix. So many times I have said I am going to blog about it yet each and every time I stepped away from the computer. I know it’s a touchy subject and I know I can’t argue points with someone when I find their arguments so pathetic and ignorant. I also have a huge problem with those who just won’t drop it after a good debate and just agree that we don’t agree.
Another reason I have not blogged on the subject is that I swear I am following the wrong blogs. It seems 99% of the blogs I do read have only posted on the subject if they are against it. It is rare that I find a blog that is for it. Maybe it’s because I follow more American bloggers than I do Canadian bloggers. After all these are hot American topics, not Canadian topics. For that reason these topics don’t even have anything to do with me. However as someone with gay relatives, friends and as someone who believe in equality it affects me anyways.
Today on Scary Mommy I read a post titled On Gay Marriage which was a guest post by Sara of Sara Plays House. It was a wonderfully written post that had nothing to do with politics or religion. Is was all about her opinion as a mother and should her children come to her one day and tell her she was gay.
The comments on this post were brilliant. Every time the topic comes up people start playing the bible card. You know the quotes, we have all heard them a million times. “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”, “Marriage is a religious institution” and so on. I have one question, if marriage is a religious institution then shouldn’t civil wedding ceremonies be illegal? I mean there is no blessing by God and no vows made to God in a civil ceremony. Erin from I’m Gonna Kill Him commented and said “In all seriousness, even those who feel it violates religious doctrine…how does that affect YOU?? Let them worry about their own relationship and reckoning with God. I find that if religious people exerted that energy into their own spiritual practice, instead of worrying about others, they might find more enlightenment and inspiration anyway.” If I could jump through my computer and kiss her I totally would. Though in a friendly peck on the cheek, you rock kind of way only.
Another commenter that I could kiss, Linda from Baby To Be TV says “Born and raised in the Netherlands,this is pretty much not an issue anymore. We have gay parades and celebrate. However my religion tells me that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. On the flip side, I do believe everybody should have the same rights as I have. Do I believe it is right, maybe not. But I do support the fact we all should be equal, absolutely.” Linda has her beliefs but does not force them on anyone. She believes in equality and that is what it is all about.
Then we have the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in the American military. What a stupid policy. Here you can fight for your country and defend it with your life on the line but you will be kicked out if we find out you are not straight. Seriously?? Really?? I can not grasp this mentality. People say they are worried about sexual harassment should the policy be abolished. Yes because with the policy in place sexual harassment does not exist. Only gay people are guilty of sexual harassment. Then you get the people who say they wouldn’t want to shower or share living quarters with someone who is gay. You are showering and living with them now you just don’t know it. All this policy does is allow people to be ignorant and keep those with same sex partners from having the same rights as those who are straight. Straight members can have benefits for their spouses, have their spouses live with them in married quarters, and bring their spouses to functions and promotions. Gay members can not do any of this. Right now with this policy gay members of the military are giving up so much more than their straight counterparts just to defend your freedom. Yet they do not get the same freedom as you. They are not free to marry and openly love their partners. How is this ok and how does it make sense. Some say ignorance is bliss but really it is not.
I could go on and on forever on all of this but I won’t. Instead I will leave you with this e-mail that has circulated around the internet.
10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong
- Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.
- Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.
- Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behaviour. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.
- Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.
- Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.
- Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.
- Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.
- Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.
- Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.
- Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.