That’s “our” word…
North Carolina overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday defining marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman, becoming the latest of 29 states to effectively slam the door shut on same-sex marriages. (Only 6 states recognize gay marriage.)
And I think that’s wonderful. I believe same-sex couples need and deserve a marriage-equivalent institution. But they can’t call it marriage. That’s our word.
It’s not from any religious conviction, moral outrage or gay-bashing. It’s simply the fact that the term "marriage" needs a real definition. It doesn’t say you can’t have other arrangements, just don’t call it marriage. Two men, two women or a man and a woman living together as domestic partners is NOT the same as my marriage. (For one thing, anywhere in the world we travel, our marriage is recognized as valid. Cross state lines in the US and your arrangement is invalidated.) A polygamy or polyandry situation would be equally another thing entirely. It doesn’t make these other arrangements WRONG, but it does make them DIFFERENT.
This does NOT preclude other arrangements. A power of attorney is available to just about anyone in any situation for healthcare, childcare or financial decisions. I can just about grant any legal right to anyone outside of marriage. I (as do most reasonable people) support same-sex unions with all the rights and benefits being equal to those of heterosexual couples. (That includes the right to a divorce, and the fun things, like alimony, that come with it, by the way.)
But it’s still not a marriage. Words are important, and maybe someone needs to come up with a term for the marriage-equivalent state between same-sex partners. Surely there is a marketing/advertising guru somewhere who can manage this?
I agree.
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I would suggest you Google the It Gets Better Project and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. They were both established, in part, because of indifference, and largely because of hate. I appreciate that you are not “hating” here, but I see a big helping of “I don’t really care, but I’m going to vote FOR anyway because I can afford to play with words.”
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(cont’d) I passed a yard the other day with THREE signs that read, “Stop the Gay and Lesbian Agenda By Voting For The Amendment. How you can possibly think this whole thing was only about a definition is beyond me. Even dictionary.com includes us:
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(cont’d) mar·riage noun 1. a. the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc. b. a similar institution involving partners of the same gender: gay marriage.
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Dictionary.com even describes it in terms of the “legal committments” of which you speak. And thanks bunches for supporting my right to a POA, but it’s not enough for me. I don’t want to pretend to marry my partner. I want the whole shebang, and-despite what you believe-I deserve all that you do and, respectfully, for you to keep your nose out of my civil and human rights.
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I think you’re the first non-religious person I’ve seen support this, heh.
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ryn: Interesting about your snakes. One day a huge black snake was in our evergreen eating the robin’s eggs. Everything has to eat. I’d prefer not hearing the mother robin screech though. Survival.
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So,let me get this straight? Because people have two penises or two vaginas they should not be allowed to marry? Whatever,we will win the right to marry in the end. Love knows NO GENDER.
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ryn: What’s the huge difference?
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I think you make a very good point. I hope that you’re doing well.
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Language develops and reflects society. A word cannot be appropriated, its meaning is fluid.
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RYN: I wasnt directing my comments toward you,rather at this stupid offensive Legislation. Everyone deserves the right to be happy and pay alimoney.
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Spooky: this was EXACTLY the same argument my older brother used when we talked about this a while back. And it, too, was the only argument he had. Words change their meaning. “Marriage” itself has changed its meaning regularly over time. If that’s the best argument you’ve got, then the gay marriage advocates have already won. It’s just a matter of time.
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I think so too ! I totally support anyone being legally connected to anyone they want to but using a different word to describe it suits me .
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