“‘Ach,’ says Oliver James, the clinical psychologist. ‘I was too depressed to even speak this morning. I thought of my late mother, who read Mein Kampf when it came out in the 1930s and thought, ‘Why doesn’t anyone see where this is leading?”” – from the Guardian today.
ANOTHER EMAIL: An important point:
We are often caught up in a moment to see how good we really have it. I am one who believes that civil marriage is the ONLY way to have equal rights for gay Americans in the US. That said I am not the least bit surprised with the losses in all 11 states — I expected it!
We live in a wonderfully diverse country, and I know that some do not appreciate my “lifestyle”, but that has not hindered me from having a satisfying life. There are many forms of bigotry and hatred, we just can not allow those fears to blind the path to success. I am now 45 years old — If you would have told me back in college (1980) that I would be living openly as a gay American, with a successful career and a wonderful partner of over eleven years – I do not think that I would have thought that possible.
Social change is a gradual process– different in every society – push too hard and you get “don’t ask don’t tell” – or the hateful “Defense of Marriage Act” – and now the the current losses. John Kerry or the Democratic party is not the place that gay America should be placing all their faith in the future — they will surely be disappointed. Bill Clinton signed ‘don’t ask don’t tell” twelve years ago! – A huge setback.
I for one, am very grateful for the social freedoms that I have, and look forward to the expansion of them that will naturally come in the future. I have nothing but optimism on this front, and fully except to see civil marriage in my lifetime.”
I agree with much of this. We have to strike a balance. We should not minimize or excuse the base appeals that the GOP have been making. But we should also realize how far we’ve come. Even this emailer understates it: We do have civil marriage in his lifetime. Gay couples married today in Massachusetts are, under state law, as married as any heterosexual couple. Even this president has now broken with his social conservative base and endorsed civil unions for gay couples. Rather than demonize him, we have to hold him to his word. The world is not evenly divided between those who totally accept gay relationships and those who “hate” us. It’s far more complicated, and many, many voters for Bush do not share the loathing of the far right. We cannot and should not alienate these people. That’s what Bill Bennett wants. Most fair-minded people are on our side in the end. Yes, this is painful. Yes, it is frightening. But the broader truth is far more hopeful. I’ve said it before; and it’s worth repeating: This is America. Equality will win in the end. If we keep the faith. If we refuse to accept the cynicism of those who would use our differences to win power. In the end, they have power. But we have the truth. And that’s all that really matters in the end.
LETTERS BONANZA: Don’t miss today’s Letters Page – full of some of the smartest feedback on the web.
The Dish 