Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Write to marry

I was challenged to write a blog post about marriage for the Write to marry campaign. But I've already discussed my feelings about marriage, and I don't really have anything new to say.

I thought about all the Prop8 politicking and how toxic it has become to me, and then I thought there are a lot of better writers who have written things about marriage that I believe in and can agree with, things that are universal marriage-truths. What better way to celebrate the Write to Marry campaign than with real writers. And here are a few of them.

First, let's start with the political. This come from political philospher
Hannah Arendt:
The right to marry whoever one wishes is an elementary human right compared to which "the right to attend an integrated school, the right to sit where one pleases on a bus, the right to go into any hotel or recreation area or place of amusement, regardless of one's skin or color or race" are minor indeed. Even political rights, like the right to vote, and nearly all other rights enumerated in the Constitution, are secondary to the inalienable human rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence; and to this category the right to home and marriage unquestionably belongs. [Dissent, Winter 1959]
Okay, now let's get a little more literary, but with the wry view of a modern American about marriage as a promise. From playwright Thornton Wilder:
I didn't marry you because you were perfect. I didn't even marry you because I loved you. I married you because you gave me a promise. That promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage. And when our children were growing up, it wasn't a house thatprotected them; and it wasn't our love that protected them - it was that promise. The Skin of Our Teeth
And finally, for full blown Victorian sentimentality, from my favorite novelist George Eliot
What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent, unspeakable memories at the moment of the last parting. Adam Bede
I couldn't say it better myself. And fortunately, I don't need to.

11 comments:

Fran said...

Oh IT - you have chosen your quotes with the same insight that you write your own words.

Just perfect- thank you.

Frank Remkiewicz aka “Tree” said...

IT,
Done! See Off Topic.

Anonymous said...

Thanks IT. Perfect.

Anonymous said...

Thanks all. Cecilia, it's especially nice to see you here, and out and about again. :-)

IT

Anonymous said...

Here's a bizarre newspaper story about Prop. 8. It begins:

***

A man wearing a "No on 8" button was beaten with a "Yes on 8" lawn sign in Torrance this week in what police characterized as a possible hate crime.

***

The rest is here.

Марко Фризия said...

Do you think, on a personal level, it is good to refrain from patronizing businesses and business people who donated money to deprive LGBTQ persons of their civil rights? When I was in the US, I was aware that a certain funeral director and a plumber supported anti-gay causes and anti-gay politicians with substantial finanicial help and their endorsements (and the plumber had bumper stickers ridiculing gay people on his truck). I simply chose to take my business elsewhere. The funeral director did call and ask why we didn't use his service (he had handled other funerals for the family) and I told him why. Right now I would find it very difficult to support a Mormon-owned business anywhere in the world or businesses run by Republicans. I feel very hurt by the hateful things being said about same-sex couples, all the lies, and wonder if hurt and anger is clouding my judgment.

James said...

Done, see my post today at The Three Legged Stool.

I agree, Mark. I have stopped eating at McDonald's as they have bowed to the religious bigots and have stopped donating to the gay-friendly organizations.

Anonymous said...

As you may know, the California Secretary State updates, on a daily basis, who is giving what amount to each of the groups supporting or opposing California ballot measures if the amount given is $1000 or more. For Prop. 8, you can look at this here.

The ProtectMarriage.Com report shows that gargantuan amounts of money were given to them yesterday. $100,000 by both the Ahmanson and the Templeton people and a fair number of 5-digit gifts from Texas, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello.

Just so you all know. The next week promises to be really ugly.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update, Primrose.

I think.

We just donated another chunk of change. It ain't over.

IT

Anonymous said...

I just did my writing in the form of an email, to all my California family & friends (which are both considerable, as that's where I'm from), asking them to Vote NO on 8!

(Just wish I could vote against 8, myself. :-/)

James said...

JCF, you cannot know how many times I think of you. Your letter to your family is such a courageous thing to do. Blessings on you.

You have voted no, JCF. You did it by your letter and your prayers.