The illustrious Andrea of Beanie Baby is just full of great ideas. Really, read any of her posts and just try not to find yourself thinking about it as you fall asleep at night.
Anyhow, the latest and greatest is this Blogging Across Boundaries Day, where bloggers of all talents and abilities are writing about the things they don't usually write about, encouraging people that are typically invisible to them, supporting issues they don't usually think about, considering perspectives outside of their comfort zone. (seems like every day would be a good day for this type of thing, no?)
So today we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming of cute baby pictures, ridiculous whining, and kitchen escapades, to bring you homosexual marriage!
The whole "definition of a marriage" being one man and one woman just really bugs me. What is a reese's cup if not a perfect marriage of peanut butter and chocolate? That's what I think of when I think of marriage, two complimentary beings coming together for the greater good of the world. Ok, I know that rules out polygamy, but that is another BAB post.
It's so infuriating for the USA to hold up this bleak 50% divorce rate, and then tell gays and lesbians, sorry, you can't join because you don't take marriage seriously enough. Heterosexuals really have cornered the market on long term committed monogamous relationships, eh?
It's pretty easy for me to say what's the big deal? Married, civil union, domestic partnership, it's all the same, right? Because it's so ingrained that as a wife I'll share in legal custody of children, joint accounts, social security and retirement benefits. I don't even have to think about these things. But take that away that marriage certificate, and I can tell you at least in Ireland it would have been much more difficult to get all the paperwork sorted out. What have I done to deserve that ease? At most, maybe changing my last name to my husband's.
I think there are other ways to handle most of the legal issues involved in not being able to marry, and many businesses and insurance companies, etc, now recognize domestic partnerships and offer benefits to the "spouse." So maybe it is a minor annoyance, and it's more the principle of things that gets to you.
Or maybe I am wrong.
I know I don't understand all the nuances of the issue, but I will celebrate the day when the USA joins the likes of Belgium, South Africa, and Canada, and any two committed adults can be joined in marriage.
Monday, October 02, 2006
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5 comments:
Thank you, Bridget. That's awesome, and very flattering.
NOw let's keep our fingers crossed that Canada *keeps* marriage for all orientations, because our new government is determined to put it to another vote. Damn them.
Great post Bridget. I can only echo what Andrea has said about Canada's marriage laws. I am hoping this government doesn't mess up a good thing.
Wonderful piece, Bridget! I know I agree with you wholeheartedly! I think love is rare, so when you find it -- you should hold on to it tightly, no matter whether the other person is the relationship is your same gender or not.
You are also very right that a lot of people take the institution of marriage very much for granted. People who want to take that step should be allowed to do so, without government legislating morality on the issue.
This is beautiful.
Amen, Bridget!
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