Re: Steven R. Snow - Still the Same Country
(Originally printed in Laconia Citizen 11/22/04)
It's still the same country? Unfortunately it is...we still have the same &^%$& president, we still have a republican dominated house and senate, we still have a republican majority of governors and the Supreme Court? It's just too depressing to bring up... Yes, you're right. Nothing much has changed. I think that was my point. It's one thing to have an election decided by the Supreme Court, it's another thing to have just barely half of the American people 'rubber stamp' the mess that is this once and future administration.
I couldn't see how the American public, given the overwhelming facts, could still vote for this guy. And after a bit of reflection, what I've decided is that the American public was ill informed. We, as a people, need to reach out and get our news from anywhere other than the TV and political ads. My father in law just said to me the other day; "what's the difference? The TV and the papers have the same news." Well that's the problem. The newspaper can spend several columns or even pages discussing the (new four letter word) 'nuance' of a given topic. The TV gives you, at best, a sixty second summery. We can’t survive on news bites...we need a meal.
Mr. Snow said in his response to my letter "Why did Mr. McBrian call people homophobes, just because they reaffirmed what nearly everyone has understood since time immemorial, that marriage can only be between a man and a woman?"
Nearly everyone? Time immemorial? Oh! Ok, I see...then we should bring back the prohibition of interracial marriages, outlaw divorce, and generally turn back the clock on all things regarding marriage? And while we're at it, let's take away women's right to own property and to vote too! And yes, those who oppose gay marriage are homophobes. Tell me I'm wrong! It's like saying "I'm not prejudiced against black people, I just don't think they should be able to marry". The only reason I can see for this attitude is as I said before: they're homophobes. The whole 'gay marriage' issue ends up just being a 'safe' or, dare I say, 'chic' way of expressing it. What is the problem? Is it 'the church'? Gay marriage has nothing to do with 'the church' in any way shape or form. For that matter, if the church marries you and you don't get a state marriage license, that marriage isn't legal. There is nothing telling the church that they have to marry gays, any more than there is a law telling me I must get married in a church. Oh, and as for the Bible (Leviticus 18:22 I think...), if you buy the 'homosexuality is against the law of god' thing, then you better take the rest of Leviticus at face value too. It says that eating shellfish is a big no-no too. So, looks like a whole bunch of you will be sharing a Jacuzzi with a gay man in hell! I ask you all, once again, what is it that bothers you all so much about two dudes or two gals kissing? They're in love and want the same legal protection we take for granted. And yes, we take it for granted. We must if the divorce rate is climbing to 50%. So get over it! No one is going to make you go to 'gay school' or something. (And no, I'm not gay...or am I? Heh, heh...)
Furthermore, you point out that the defeat of Roe V. Wade would simply put the onus back on the states. Well, then how can you support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage when, as we've unfortunately seen, the states already have the power to ban it themselves? You can't have it both ways...
As I said at the beginning of this decade, 'tolerance' should be out new motto...apparently it's actually in-tolerance. And it's too bad really, because Americans really are a nice bunch of folks...once ya get to know most of us. Oh, and by the way, no I'm not moving to Canada. And it's not because it's not a nice place. I like it right here. And as so many conservatives like to say: 'America, love it or leave it...' but they forget the rest of the quote (and I'm paraphrasing) '...but give me the courage to stay and change it for the better...'
It's still the same country? Unfortunately it is...we still have the same &^%$& president, we still have a republican dominated house and senate, we still have a republican majority of governors and the Supreme Court? It's just too depressing to bring up... Yes, you're right. Nothing much has changed. I think that was my point. It's one thing to have an election decided by the Supreme Court, it's another thing to have just barely half of the American people 'rubber stamp' the mess that is this once and future administration.
I couldn't see how the American public, given the overwhelming facts, could still vote for this guy. And after a bit of reflection, what I've decided is that the American public was ill informed. We, as a people, need to reach out and get our news from anywhere other than the TV and political ads. My father in law just said to me the other day; "what's the difference? The TV and the papers have the same news." Well that's the problem. The newspaper can spend several columns or even pages discussing the (new four letter word) 'nuance' of a given topic. The TV gives you, at best, a sixty second summery. We can’t survive on news bites...we need a meal.
Mr. Snow said in his response to my letter "Why did Mr. McBrian call people homophobes, just because they reaffirmed what nearly everyone has understood since time immemorial, that marriage can only be between a man and a woman?"
Nearly everyone? Time immemorial? Oh! Ok, I see...then we should bring back the prohibition of interracial marriages, outlaw divorce, and generally turn back the clock on all things regarding marriage? And while we're at it, let's take away women's right to own property and to vote too! And yes, those who oppose gay marriage are homophobes. Tell me I'm wrong! It's like saying "I'm not prejudiced against black people, I just don't think they should be able to marry". The only reason I can see for this attitude is as I said before: they're homophobes. The whole 'gay marriage' issue ends up just being a 'safe' or, dare I say, 'chic' way of expressing it. What is the problem? Is it 'the church'? Gay marriage has nothing to do with 'the church' in any way shape or form. For that matter, if the church marries you and you don't get a state marriage license, that marriage isn't legal. There is nothing telling the church that they have to marry gays, any more than there is a law telling me I must get married in a church. Oh, and as for the Bible (Leviticus 18:22 I think...), if you buy the 'homosexuality is against the law of god' thing, then you better take the rest of Leviticus at face value too. It says that eating shellfish is a big no-no too. So, looks like a whole bunch of you will be sharing a Jacuzzi with a gay man in hell! I ask you all, once again, what is it that bothers you all so much about two dudes or two gals kissing? They're in love and want the same legal protection we take for granted. And yes, we take it for granted. We must if the divorce rate is climbing to 50%. So get over it! No one is going to make you go to 'gay school' or something. (And no, I'm not gay...or am I? Heh, heh...)
Furthermore, you point out that the defeat of Roe V. Wade would simply put the onus back on the states. Well, then how can you support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage when, as we've unfortunately seen, the states already have the power to ban it themselves? You can't have it both ways...
As I said at the beginning of this decade, 'tolerance' should be out new motto...apparently it's actually in-tolerance. And it's too bad really, because Americans really are a nice bunch of folks...once ya get to know most of us. Oh, and by the way, no I'm not moving to Canada. And it's not because it's not a nice place. I like it right here. And as so many conservatives like to say: 'America, love it or leave it...' but they forget the rest of the quote (and I'm paraphrasing) '...but give me the courage to stay and change it for the better...'
posted by M.C. Steve | 2:11 PM
1 Comments:
Perhaps Mr. Snow should join the Christain Reconstructivism movement-Dominionism where they believe; homosexuals and women who are unchaste before marriage are to be executed, that slavery ought to be brought back, women are first owned by their father, then their husbands, oh yeah the women are the slaves. Constitution Restorative Act- prayer brought back into schools, etc. Check out the book Kingdom Coming, by Michelle Goldberg.
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