I read a disturbing article blaming gays and lesbians for Kerry’s defeat in Ohio. The author claimed that if gay and lesbian people had not pushed for the language of marriage, setting instead for identical rights under a different label – the language of civil union – that Kerry would have won. Shades of Brown v. Board… separate is inherently unequal.
I am of two minds on civil union and marriage. If the question is merely semantic might civil union be a step toward societal acceptance of marriage for all persons regardless of gender? But then I recall that transgendered people that have undergone sexual reassignment are legally regarded as members of their reassigned gender for purposes of marriage. Language is important. It is how we perceive reality. This is the difficulty I have with calling gay-marriage civil union. If it is a marriage, let us call it by those words.
I do not think that Mr. Kerry has been consigned to the same political limbo in which Mr. Gore finds himself. He has “juice” with the Democrats and is still a sitting senator. I foresee him as a leader of the loyal opposition. What I do find very heartening about this last election is that more Americans voted than have since 1968. I am still unhappy with the outcome, but I am getting over it.
I will support the president, as I have always done. I will be critical, as is my wont, but loyal to this country even when I am ashamed of her choices. Maybe the quote from Carl Shurz needs to be heard again:
“The Senator from Wisconsin cannot frighten me by exclaiming, ‘My country, right or wrong.’ In one sense I say so too. My country; and my country is the great American Republic. My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” [Emphasis mine]
Amen.
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