Ooh. PDA. How exciting! Do we have to kiss only the one we came with?
Once again I find myself thinking this thing through from the standpoint of the leader of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts (or in this case the nationwide DNC). Is this really a good idea? What are they thinking?
Look. The President has come down in favor of gay marriage. Governor Romney has expressed support for traditional marriage. Romney doesn't say much about it and Obama does everything he can to run away from it completely. There's only this shallow, indiscernible line in the sand between them. But to many gays, that line is like the crack of the rising sun to the rooster. It is blinding! There is nothing else in their world.
Likewise, those who strongly oppose gay marriage are acutely conscious of that line. As things stand that line is going to make a lot of difference in the coming election. It will make all the more difference if events continue to call attention to that line.
Let's take a working class couple, white, not especially aware of economic ideology. They know the economy is bad but they don't really know if Bush is more to blame than Obama. They don't like the way things are, but who is better for fixing it, Obama or Romney? Who knows?
But, let's suppose, these people don't want their children to grow up gay and they think that children learning traditional roles of man and woman from their parents is part of what makes children grow up straight.
Now, let's have our happy and hardworking (we can assume they are hardworking, and let's give them a name: Roger and Marie) couple at the Burlington Mall, meeting for lunch, around noon tomorrow. Marie has brought the two kids with them. They love Chick-fil-A's deluxe chicken sandwich (though face it, Marie would be better off with a salad...but then so would Roger). But I digress.
Now, half a dozen gay couples come prancing in, calling as much attention to themselves as possible (they are not in need of fireworks to achieve this) and start, you know, doing that.
How are those waffle fries now, Marie?
Not so tasty anymore? Marie is unhappy. The kids are puzzled. And Roger is looking for a way to get his family out of here.
Roger and Marie's reaction to this scene is called, by the gay folks, "homophobia." It is not a phobia. Heterosexual people, whose reaction to displays of homosexuality can be summed up in one word: "eewww!" do not feel fear. What they feel is revulsion. There is a difference.
Let us further stipulate that Roger and Marie are basically open minded. In their opinion it would be just fine if these people took their passion to the nearest hotel and went wild. They just don't want to have to see it and they really don't want their children exposed to it.
Roger and Marie are not haters of gays - they just don't want their children to grow up to be that way. Roger and Marie know gay people whom they are fond of. They go to church, but the priest or minister has never brought up anything in the sermon about gays and the bible. Roger and Marie are extremely typical.
Roger and Marie have just had a memorable experience.
Roger and Marie will not be voting for President Obama this time around.
If you are near a Chick-fil-A tomorrow, bring a camera and post the pictures everywhere that people can see. |
