Reply #40: Thanks. When it comes to reality, sometimes I like to define my own. [View All]

[Tigress DEM]

IF as you say the "nitty gritty" is about equality, then you really have 2 battles that at this moment you are fighting as one un-winnable campaign.

People who can't see shades of grey only see winners or losers, all or nothing. I see a whole rainbow of colors as hope and I do not accept that the world is black and white because any fool can look outside and see that is pure bullshit.

This is NOT about with you or against you, because I would happily see gays get their rights through civil marriage.

It's about strategy and compromise that doesn't deprive anyone of their rights.

1) The government has no business marrying people because it's not the church.
2) The church has no business legislating people's rights because it's not the government.

It's about calling a truce and redefining the battle ground(s) and appropriately waging the war for rights and seeing if the deal with marriage and the church resolves itself. (I know you're seeing red right now, be patient.)

I don't remember my up-thread because I've been posting on this topic a lot, and I've said this before;

IF civil marriage is off the table, the fundies can't use it as a tool to deprive gays of their rights.

IF the sacrament of marriage is left in the hands of the church, each church can decide on it's own whether gays can receive that blessing. Some churches already do.

There WILL be heartache, I know, because some churches NEVER will cede this word. And saying, "find another church" is no solace.

BUT there is a HUGE groundswell of support for gay rights especially in terms of being at a loved one's side in the hospital and even the fundies point to civil unions as the way to go. So I say "go with the flow" and get a federal law that defines family partnerships in such a way that it is possible to have equal rights for every type of family in all 50 states. The Roe V Wade of gay rights IS POSSIBLE in our lifetime.

IF you try to get this with Civil Marriage it will just be turned over again and again. Lose the word to win the war.

I've got more, but have a hubby to feed. Be back later.


Peace.