SwimFinsSF

Absurd argument

On the way to work this morning I was listening to NPR as usual and they were reporting on the Gay Marriages back east. Overall the reporting was very good and positive which was cool. The part that would have made me laugh had it not been such a serious argument came from one of the anti gay marriage protesters. He made the argument along the lines that issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples was akin to issuing counterfeit $20 bills and that every counterfeit bill there is in circulation devalues the genuine ones. This argument infuriates and baffles me. How could the marriage of a gay couple in San Francisco possibly have any effect what so ever on the strength of this man’s marriage in Phoenix or the love that he has for his wife. Its just nonsensical in my mind. Each Marriage, whether it be gay or straight, stands or falls on its own strength and through the work and the love that the couple puts into it. If his marriage in Phoenix is going to endure and weather the test of time it is going to be through the work and love that he and his wife put into it and there is nothing about marriages in Boston or San Francisco that can possibly change that.

Each time I hear these arguments it hurts more than a little – largely because I just don’t understand. I don’t understand why people completely uninvolved in the issue could spend so much time and energy attackng us in a very personal way when all we’re trying to do is live our lives… This cartoon (as goofy as it is) really hits the nail in the head

By legalizing marriage for gays and lesbians the government simply reinforces the legal constructs needed for these couples to be self sustaining that allow these couples to support themselves and reduce the burden to society that is incurred when individuals need assistance. When a single individual looses their job social welfare helps pay their bills – when part of a couple looses their job their spouse helps out instead.

Its a pretty simple concept if you ask me. But then again – that guy didn’t ask me (and probably wouldn’t cuz he doesn’t want to)

2 Comments to Absurd argument

Jeff
May 18, 2004

Exactly. As someone had put it (I forget on whose blog it was, bad me), it’s not so much a redefinition of marriage as it is an extension of that institution to more people.

Shwa
May 18, 2004

Amen, sista. That cartoon is the best!