From Glenn Greenwald:
The contrast with the U.S. is quite instructive and depressing. Not only is the U.S. not close to nationally recognizing same-sex marriage, but we have a law -- the Defense of Marriage Act -- that explicitly bars the granting of any and all federal spousal rights whatsoever (including immigration rights) to same-sex couples. Despite the election of a President who campaigned on a pledge to overturn that law, and overwhelming Democratic control of Congress, repeal of that law isn't even on the table. ....
It's worthwhile now and then to take stock of the vast disparity between how we like to think of ourselves and reality. When a country with Argentina's history and background becomes but the latest country to legally recognize same-sex marriage -- largely as the result of a population which demanded it -- that disparity becomes quite clear.
10 comments:
ahhh - -- yes
It's so depressing to watch a conservative country like Argentina take such a flying leap forward while we sit paralyzed by the fear and resentment of a shrinking few.
Counterlight it's what you said on your blog--old angry white people.
And the fact that Argentina's capital city, Buenos Aires, is a lot more 'progressive' than its hinterland and holds disproportionate power. Had this been put to a national referendum, it's unlikely that it would have passed.
But who cares if they're even more backwards in terms of education, literacy rates, corruption and the rest if they allow gays to marry, right?
Don't pretend that Latin America is better than the US; the thousands trying to cross the border every day because Latin America is a disaster area is proof that that's wrong.
We don't pretend it's "better", but in many regards a country that recognizes the equality of all its citizens is better than one that doesn't.
It's useful to remember that in the US, it took till the '90s for the plurality of Americans to approve of inter-racial marriage, even tho' Loving v. Virginia was in 1967.
The majority does not make "right".
Who said all of "Latin America"? We're talking Argentina here!
(C'mon, Brave Anon, VERY few Argentines "cross the border everyday" into the US. I'm sure some immigrate to the US, but it's probably on a par w/ other developed nations---y'know, those wot have same-sex marriage or at least civil unions)
IT and Counterlight, I think it's more than just old white males. I think it is FRIGHTENED people, many of whom are old and white and therefore feel they have the most to lose by the eradication of the last vestiges of the patriarchal form of rule.
Now, if I had read the whole thread, I'd not have needed to post that comment. I must learn to read all the comments before I type!
Don't pretend that Latin America is better than the US; the thousands trying to cross the border every day because Latin America is a disaster area is proof that that's wrong.
The policies of the US for Latin America ensured that it was a disaster and has remained so Anon/Coward. So now we want a piece of the Statesonian pie. I think that we also have a right to it. But I do not want to get bogged down with smug, right-wing Statesonians!
I keep returning and watching this video. And every time I still end with tears of joy blinding me.
That´s how it is folks. That´s how it is at this time. We have come such a long way (breaking the ice, facing the music, taking a stand, not cowering, stepping up and OUT, moving accross the barriers one by one)...I love who we are and who we are becoming and who we ARE...it seems, at least to me, that we are gaining on great depths of improved character as WE march forward...many of our friends, loved ones, coworkers are gaining on integrity too as they support us in most all that we do.
I remember when we hid. When I crawled out of my Fraternity House window to run off to the bars in San Francisco looking for someone to love...I knew self-loathing and sometimes shame and I couldn´t drink it away...not NOW, thanks to many of you who I´ve met along the way...we are somebodies, we are taller now, we have become full fledged PEOPLE and there is no going back.
Do you really think doubletalking, gagging and grasping haters are feeling good about themselves? I think the angry clumps of LGBT and RACIAL phobes are fighting as hard as they can just to survive themselves and their inability to face their very own fears and hate...IT knows, soon there will be no place left to hide...they are terrorfied...it might get uglier.
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