There are more important issues than gay marriage

omega minimo

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Sat Oct-28-06 09:09 PM
Original message

There are more important issues than gay marriage

There are more important issues than gay marriage

IMHO

Those would be (in no particular order):

*An illegal, immoral, preemptive war of choice and profit that resulted in the destruction of a sovereign nation and its people, created a quagmire occupation, broke the military and destroyed countless American lives; that increased the terrorist threat for the entire planet and decreased the civil liberties of the American people.

*A twice appointed corporate power administration with no checks and balances and a rubber stamp Congress.

*An upcoming national election that has no guarantee of being free and fair, even after proof of fraud and disenfranchisement in the elections of 2000 and 2004.

*A toxic level of media consolidation that has supported, promoted and enabled the illegal, immoral, preemptive war of choice/profit, the twice appointed corporate power administration and the fraud and disenfranchisement in the elections of 2000 and 2004.

*A Constitutional crisis

However, if one is gay or lesbian, the marriage issue might eclipse other larger issues, if it is seen as another sort of disenfranchisement and a threat to one’s (and one’s family’s) very existence.

Comparisons are made to the civil rights movements of African Americans, who had to fight to abolish slavery, gain the right to vote and end segregation. Women too have had to fight for the right to vote and other equal rights under the law. The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by the Congress, but not enough states ratified it in time to make it law.

There was powerful cooperation between early “First Wave” feminists and the Abolitionists. What kind of coalition do we have now? Where is the cooperation between gays and lesbians who righteously challenge the gender status quo and the women who challenge it from a different angle? Would a successful Equal Rights Amendment lead to more equality for homosexuals? Would civil rights for gays and lesbians lead to more equality for women?

Gays and lesbians insist on equal treatment for civil rights and marriages; they insist that it is really very simple. But it isn’t simple at all. The supposed “protection” of marriage between a man and a woman is a mechanism to preserve a male/female gender (im)balance that underlies every aspect of our culture, our society, our religions, our politics and our economy.

So no-- it’s not simple. But by barging ahead as if it is, by skipping that step, gays and lesbians are demanding their right to simply exist. Some may look at the bigger picture. Some may not. They just want the right to live whatever’s left of The American Dream like everybody else.

So when the Republicans-- in their desperation-- trot out the Gay&Lesbian Frankenstein for Halloween, let’s not get too scared by their smoke and mirrors.

If some Democrats respond with concern that gay rights could hurt the outcome of the November election, let’s question the manipulative and skanky tactics of the Republicans rather than dispute the claim of homosexuals to equal treatment under the law. Let's question that compliant, complacent corporate media as it supports and broadcasts the hatemongers lies. Let's not buy into using "strategery" that we don't believe in but think is necessary anyway.

If some gays and lesbians appear frightened or angered by the attacks of the Republicans and the lack of support within their own party, let’s look for where we can build coalitions that will lead to success for the rights of all. So we can all use our time and energy to look at more “important” issues.