The Official Complaint Thread!

[GhostofPotvin29]

I bet a big portion of the people who are against gay marriage believe, in almost every other area, the guv'ment should just butt out of their lives.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

Come on, Sportsnet.  I don't need to see Clint Malarchuk with blood spurting from his neck while I'm eating breakfast.

don't wanna see that ever again. Ever. Saw the game. Still have nightmares.

 

[L K]

Yeah, but it was democratically voted.  Because democracy is ALWAYS the best option.  I do find it a little funny that a lot of the population of the Carolina's is black and that a good proportion of that community was voting against Gay Marriage.  Nothing says tunnel vision like perpetuating discrimination from the population that was grossly discriminated against (and still is to some extents) less than 50 years ago.

The fact that the Confederates in the American "south" vote against this stuff doesn't shock or disappoint me, but when you have populations that know first hand what it is like to be ostracized I do have to shake my head.

 

[TML fan]

Yeah, but it was democratically voted.  Because democracy is ALWAYS the best option.  I do find it a little funny that a lot of the population of the Carolina's is black and that a good proportion of that community was voting against Gay Marriage.  Nothing says tunnel vision like perpetuating discrimination from the population that was grossly discriminated against (and still is to some extents) less than 50 years ago.

The fact that the Confederates in the American "south" vote against this stuff doesn't shock or disappoint me, but when you have populations that know first hand what it is like to be ostracized I do have to shake my head.

Very good point.

 

[Kin]

Yeah, but it was democratically voted.  Because democracy is ALWAYS the best option.  I do find it a little funny that a lot of the population of the Carolina's is black and that a good proportion of that community was voting against Gay Marriage.  Nothing says tunnel vision like perpetuating discrimination from the population that was grossly discriminated against (and still is to some extents) less than 50 years ago.

Not that I'm excusing it but I think that it's more understandable when you consider that their centuries of oppression is a big part of the reason that those communities are so religious and it's that religion that's most commonly used as the rationale for an opposition to gay marriage. Those are conflicting impulses and, like you, I'm disappointed that the more progressive cause didn't win out.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, but it was democratically voted.  Because democracy is ALWAYS the best option.  I do find it a little funny that a lot of the population of the Carolina's is black and that a good proportion of that community was voting against Gay Marriage.  Nothing says tunnel vision like perpetuating discrimination from the population that was grossly discriminated against (and still is to some extents) less than 50 years ago.

The fact that the Confederates in the American "south" vote against this stuff doesn't shock or disappoint me, but when you have populations that know first hand what it is like to be ostracized I do have to shake my head.

For what it's worth, 2010 census data has North Carolina's population as 68.5% white and 21.5% black.

 

[bustaheims]

I suppose, if one were to look for a silver lining/moral victory in all of this, the fact that a fairly conservative part of the US and their governing body actually let the issue of gay marriage reach the point where the residents of the state were actually allowed to vote on it is progress. 5-10 years ago, that never would have happened in a southern state. It's not the type of victory we should all be hoping for, but, it's something, I guess.

 

[Kin]

For what it's worth, 2010 census data has North Carolina's population as 68.5% white and 21.5% black.

And South Carolina's is 27.9% black so, combined, it's probably roughly twice the national average.

 

[Kin]

I suppose, if one were to look for a silver lining/moral victory in all of this, the fact that a fairly conservative part of the US and their governing body actually let the issue of gay marriage reach the point where the residents of the state were actually allowed to vote on it is progress. 5-10 years ago, that never would have happened in a southern state. It's not the type of victory we should all be hoping for, but, it's something, I guess.

That'd be true, or truer anyway, if this were a vote on the legalization of gay marriage as opposed to a vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. While it's true that five or ten years ago this may not have come up that's because five or ten years ago other states weren't legalizing gay marriage/having courts do it for them and this sort of reactionary policy wasn't necessary.

So by that definition it's maybe a sign of the progress elsewhere, which is good, but you could argue that this actually makes things worse for gay rights in South Carolina then it was five or ten years ago.

edit: after a little bit of reading, this was a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions. So, yeah, that's pretty bad.

 

[Deebo]

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-announces-his-support-for-same-sex-marriage.html

"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,”


“It’s interesting, some of this is also generational,” the president continued. “You know when I go to college campuses, sometimes I talk to college Republicans who think that I have terrible policies on the economy, on foreign policy, but are very clear that when it comes to same sex equality or, you know,  believe in equality. They are much more comfortable with it. You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective.”

 

[Sucker Punch]

BREAKING: President Obama displays common sense.

 

[TheMightyOdin]

I heard an interesting perspective that if you are for gay marriage but are not gay yourself than you should not get married. Then you really are supporting gay marriage by not joining the discriminating club.

 

[bustaheims]

Someone was shot in the park around the corner from my apartment last night. Not cool, guys. Not cool at all.

 

[maplesyrup]

Not good at all busta. Man, I'm so glad to be in the 905... and here I was pissed that one  my kid's friends who lives down the street had their bike stolen a couple nights ago. - I'm sure we'll catch the creep. 

 

[Bullfrog]

I heard an interesting perspective that if you are for gay marriage but are not gay yourself than you should not get married. Then you really are supporting gay marriage by not joining the discriminating club.

I don't understand that perspective. How does me being married put me in the discriminating club? I don't think it's quite the same as me abstaining from taking a bus because it's segregated.

 

[Tigger]

Should start a 'get divorced to support equal rights' campaign, probably get quite a few takers.

 

[L K]

I heard an interesting perspective that if you are for gay marriage but are not gay yourself than you should not get married. Then you really are supporting gay marriage by not joining the discriminating club.

I don't really get the point of the message that gets sent by this.  Usually when you withdraw from something it is done to get the attention of the larger masses.  When teachers go on strike, it sends a message because you have to find daycare for your kids.  It then kind of puts you right in the middle of the issue and you can then choose to side with the teachers, or side with government and voice your displeasure.

By not getting married you aren't sending a message other than fewer marriage license fees/divorce fees. 

What they really should do is round up every single person who voted 'Yes' to ban gay marriage and then uphold them to the values of the Bible (that they have used to justify banning this 'sinful' practice).  If any of them are divorced, undo the divorce - that's not allowed.  If any of them have committed adultery - stone them.  Etc. etc. etc. 

The sanctity of marriage died long ago, but hey, the customs of 5000BC said not to, so lets follow them.  Now excuse me while I go talk about how backwards the customs of Sharia Law are while mispronouncing America as Mehrika.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Yeah, I'm not sure how boycotting marriage will really send a message.

 

[Kin]

Dan Savage got asked about the idea of boycotting marriage a while back and I liked his answer:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=2418343

Here's what I think straight couples should do in the meantime, HTRC: Get married, make a donation to the fight for marriage equality, and encourage your guests to do the same. And, hey, are you guys getting married in the next four weeks? Because there's a ballot measure in Maine that would strip same-sex couples in that state of their newly won right to wed. Help protect marriage equality in Maine by making a donation?right now?at www.protectmaineequality.org. And religious bigots in Washington State, where I live, are attempting to repeal a domestic-partnership law at the ballot box. Protect the rights of same-sex couples in Washington by making a donation?right now?at www.approvereferendum71.org.

And in addition to throwing some money around, HTRC, I think you should consider lifting one of the readings from my friends' ceremony.

"Marriage is a vital social institution," the reading began. "The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support. Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family. Because it fulfills yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life's momentous acts of self-definition."

So touching, so true, and so universal?who could argue with those sentiments? Everyone at the wedding was nodding. And the reading continued...

"It is undoubtedly for these concrete reasons, as well as for its intimately personal significance, that civil marriage has long been termed a 'civil right.' Without the right to choose to marry, one is excluded from the full range of human experience."

After the reading?which was done by a gay friend of the couple?the officiant identified the source: It was from the 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in that state. It was a lovely gesture: The gay couples at the wedding were touched and the hetero couples were reminded of the injustice that gay couples face. It would be wonderful if this passage from the Massachusetts court's ruling on marriage equality caught on as a wedding reading, HTRC.

 

[Manson]

I don't really get the point of the message that gets sent by this.  Usually when you withdraw from something it is done to get the attention of the larger masses.  When teachers go on strike, it sends a message because you have to find daycare for your kids.  It then kind of puts you right in the middle of the issue and you can then choose to side with the teachers, or side with government and voice your displeasure.

By not getting married you aren't sending a message other than fewer marriage license fees/divorce fees. 

What they really should do is round up every single person who voted 'Yes' to ban gay marriage and then uphold them to the values of the Bible (that they have used to justify banning this 'sinful' practice).  If any of them are divorced, undo the divorce - that's not allowed.  If any of them have committed adultery - stone them.  Etc. etc. etc. 

The sanctity of marriage died long ago, but hey, the customs of 5000BC said not to, so lets follow them.  Now excuse me while I go talk about how backwards the customs of Sharia Law are while mispronouncing America as Mehrika.

Yes!