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From the Other Side

by: BurtCohen

Fri May 15, 2009 at 22:40:42 PM EDT
This is from Brian Brown of National Organization for Marriage:

I wish nobody had to do what I do for a living: fight gay marriage. You and I didn't decide that now is the time to impose gay marriage on unsuspecting voters in the Northeast. But let me tell you something: The people who did are in for an unexpected fight!

In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch is trying to weasel his way out of his repeated commitment to the people of New Hampshire, by saying he'll sign a gay marriage bill if they go back and put in some religious-liberty protections. I mean, don't get me wrong: It's nice that Gov. Lynch personally at least doesn't want to use same-sex marriage to go after churches (unlike some of the base in his party). But politicians who get elected saying one thing are supposed to keep their word. Our press release says it best:

"Governor John Lynch has repeatedly promised voters that he opposes same-sex marriage. When he signed the civil union legislation into law, he told people, 'I still think marriage is between a man and a woman.' Voters believed him, but now he claims that he must look at the issue through a broader 'lens' than being a man of his word. This so-called lens is really just weasel words to explain away why he is breaking his word to voters. It is really unfortunate that he is proving himself to be just another politician who cannot keep his promises. Unfortunately, New Hampshire children and families will pay the price for this betrayal." (We will need your help to defend marriage, in New Hampshire and around the country--can you possibly help us out today?)

His language does nothing to stop schools from taking young children to celebrate a lesbian wedding, as happened in California.

Back to me now.
They add that they're gearing for a fight in Maine, but it sounds like they surrender NH.
I emailed him back, asking sincerely what they're afraid of. It's been a baffling mystery. The best guess I heard from someone today: they're afraid their wives will leave them for another woman. Best guess I've heard yet! Other guesses?
BurtCohen :: From the Other Side
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From the Other Side | 9 comments
I think (4.00 / 1)
that men who are vehemently opposed to gay marriage/homosexuality are afraid that a man will pursue them as relentlessly as they themselves have pursued women who had no interest in them.  

sanctimonious purist/professional lefty
The other side (0.00 / 0)
...and won't take "no!" for an answer, either?
[ Parent ]
Again a request from left field for advise. (0.00 / 0)
Maybe I just live in left field. Here goes any way. Last night, my wife and I watched Harvey - not the one about the rabbit with Jimmy Stewart but the confused Dustin Hoffman one. Now I have never been a terribly romantic date maker in anyone's stretch but it seems to me that this woman, Emma Thompson, said no to Dustin in every way that those words can be put together. And what happens? In the end, he gets the girl. Talk about torture, I would be willing to make an exception for anyone that makes my life miserable like this. I thought that it was generally agreed that no means no. That doesn't just mean as you are about to rape someone, but all the time. Silly me. Evidently, if you are Dustin Hoffman, or Robert Redford, or McConahey or whoever, there is some other set of rules. Maybe no woman ever could say no to them. Doesn't that worry any of you?  
[ Parent ]
Don't mistake the actors for the creators of the characters and story line. (0.00 / 0)
For the most part, movies are an example of wishful thinking and what lots of males still seem to wish for is being loved and cherished and taken care of by some woman without too much effort on their part.
Personally, I think many males are disadvantaged by the fact that the males who participated in their creation weren't really thinking about the result (without a calendar and accurate record keeping, how's a male to even know his part in the process?)  and, if those who mated actually stuck around, the arrival of another mouth to feed was not a happy event.  That's why we have all these social blandishments attendant to a birth.  The survival of the clan depends on new life being treated well. And that depends on some natural resentments being quelled.
As children, we all want to be wanted by the people who made us.  But, the fact remains that many people don't like "other people's children" and some don't like their own and only put up with them in the expectation of getting something in return.
People who actually like the obligations of matrimony and volunteer to look after children who aren't even their own are a rebuke to the traditional male.

I find it of interest that African cultures seem to have "solved" the problem of the jealous mate by assigning responsibility for the care and nurture of any off-spring to the mother's brother.

[ Parent ]
I'd really like a response about the saying no means no or maybe or possibly or.... (0.00 / 0)
Some of us (men) actually try to be responsible, and caring and helpful courteous kind obedient cheerful brave clean and reverent and it turns out that those behaviors often characterize losers. I've had conversations with prostitutes (actually one that I was helping to move) who said that they thought that their pimps didn't like them if they didn't beat them. No that is not in the movies that was on Commonwealth Ave. in Boston. This isn't funny. This is a problem. I'm rather beyond it now but the puzzlement lingers.
[ Parent ]
The golden rule says, (0.00 / 0)
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  It doesn't take into account that people like different things and might not want to be done to at all.
Prostitutes probably aren't the best source of information about women or men being treated with respect.
Perhaps, if it starts early enough, abusive behavior is considered the norm.  Also, the victims of abuse often come to terms with their experience with the rationalization that "if I could survive, so can you."
Finally, the impulse to subordinate isn't restricted by gender.  Women can be just as domineering as men.
[ Parent ]
They like their gender roles neat and orderly. (4.00 / 1)
What many of these folks experienced growing up were relentless jokes at the expense of what were perceived as effeminate men and masculine women. Men were especially comfortable with misogyny. Call a man a "Nancy boy" or "light in the loafers" or say he "throws like a girl" if you really wanted to insult him. I was the first woman in my High School to play competition chess and I never met another during the three years I remained undefeated. The men/boys that I defeated were always mocked by their teammates, and in one case they inscribed the back of the chess board that so-and-so had been beaten by a freshman girl and the date. So, in the case of male homophobia I think it is fear that they will catch "the gay" and a fear and distrust of the feminine.  
"Weasel word"? (0.00 / 0)
They must know a lot about weasels considering they see one everytime they look at a mirror.
I agree (4.00 / 7)
I wish nobody had to do what I do for a living: fight gay marriage

I couldn't agree more.

From the Other Side | 9 comments

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