Today is the 4th of July, the day when the sovereign state of the United States of America celebrates shrugging off the rule of an oppressive power and striking out boldly on its own.
As befitted a new young state, the men in charge wanted to lay everything out clearly so everyone could see where they stood and wrote it all down in a constitution. One of the most cherished tenets of the Constitution is that all men are equal and deserving of the same rights under law, the same consideration from the state and the right to lead their lives in happiness and fulfilment.
Unfortunately the good intentions expressed in this Constitution were blurred by definitions. What is a man? Could a man who is not white, or is not heterosexual, or for that matter is female, be allowed the same freedoms? Slowly, slowly the initial ‘noes’ have become yesses. There’s still a way to go but every decade, every year, we creep closer to the ideal of life, love and liberty for all.
I live in the UK, which is quietly tying itself in knots over the same-sex marriage question. For a country where church and state are widely divided we sure are getting in a pother about it. This is where a Constitution would be very useful. We don’t have one, you see. Instead we have Common Law, formed in courtrooms and in Parliaments dating back to the 12th century, where things are tested to destruction again and again until a workable compromise is reached. Then and only then it goes on the law books. Does anyone else find it odd that a country that prides itself on fair play is still looking at the fundamental rights of its citizens through a legal magnifying glass formed 500 years ago?
Equality means equality – no ifs, buts or maybes – and I sincerely hope that soon it will be possible for all human beings, both sides of the pond, to plight their troths to each other in the way that pleases them both best, or not if they would sooner not, and their rights as spouses be recognised equally with the rights of people like me and my husband, married for 35 years and counting. For two young people who love each other to marry does not affect my marriage one bit, but to deny them that right on my behalf diminishes me as a civilised human being.
Please comment to show your support for equality across the board and I’ll do a draw at the end of the hop and send the winner a $10 gift card. If you want to have a chance of winning some of the terrific prizes being offered by Queer Town Abbey, don’t forget to add your email addy to your comment.
What a great post Elin! I completely agree that equality should be across the board not based on race, gender, sexuality. Heck we can’t discriminate in the workplace based on that why should we anywhere else.
Thanks for commenting Stacey. In the UK we can’t discriminate in the workplace on grounds of sexual orientation but I believe they still can in some states in the US. Time for a bit of a shake up, I think.
Beautifully said, all of it, but my favorite part has to be:
For two young people who love each other to marry does not affect my marriage one bit, but to deny them that right on my behalf diminishes me as a civilised human being.
So very true.
Thanks a bunch, Molly. 🙂
It’s been a very enlightening and inspiring hop already!
So many super posts!! Thanks for commenting Trix.
Here in Canada we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Through this document, in the courts, we have no laws governing abortion and since 2005 same sex marriage is recognized. I wish the same for the rest of the world.
If I couldn’t live here I’d like to live in Canada. It seems such a civilised place. thanks for commenting
“For two young people who love each other to marry does not affect my marriage one bit, but to deny them that right on my behalf diminishes me as a civilised human being.”
Very well said. Lovely post, as always. *hugs*
Thanks sweetie.
I bought my copy of Directing Traffic today. Looking forward to reading it.
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Wonderful post. Love is love nothing should get in the way of it, not gender, race or sexuality. Thanks so much for taking part in the hop.
Thanks for commenting HB
Thanks for the post and hop. Equalitty is for all.
Thanks for dropping by Cornelia.
Although I’m glad that the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for gay marriage in California last week, I wish equality were nationwide instead of state-by-state.
It will come, slowly but surely. When I was a kid homosexuality was completely illegal and punished by a very nasty prison sentence and/or ‘re-education’. So glad those days are long gone, but there’s still a way to go.
Hi Elin! happy to see you here.
lena.grey.iam@gmail.com
Hi Lena. Thanks for dropping by. There have been some super posts on this hop. Good luck in the draw.
I’m curious what the reaction was in the UK over the US Supreme Court ruling of DOMA and California’s Prop 8. Did it make the news there or nary a wave?
It was on the BBC radio, then on late news with film of people celebrating, and the decent radio and tv stations had news about it the following morning as well. Generally the Brits are pretty apathetic and something that doesn’t directly affect us isn’t taken much notice of but we all keep our eye on what’s happening in the states because it tends to happen here, sort of, later.
Thanks for commenting.
“For two young people who love each other to marry does not affect my marriage one bit…” I couldn’t have said it better. I told a niece that if it destroyed my marriage–then the marriage needed to be destroyed! I believe that people should be treated as you would treat yourself or as your best friend.
romanczukc@yahoo.com
Do as you would be done by is a pretty good rule of thumb for almost any situation. 🙂 Thanks for commenting Cathy.
I’m really enjoying and learning a lot from this hop.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
Thanks for dropping by Sherry.
Love this post. Thanks for being part of the hop
Wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Thank YOU, Lisa, for dropping by and commenting.
A very thought provoking post. Amazing how embarrassing writing things down can be in hindsight. I still can’t believe how much ridiculous blather the marriage thing is generating over here. I have been married for just as long as you and if anything diminishes my marriage it would be the incredibly high divorce rate not other people getting married (and I’m not against divorce in case that reads wrong).
Mara.Ismine “at” gmail.com
I knew a young couple who borrowed my 3 yr old son – small blond lovely – to be a page boy at their wedding. They had a carriage with cream coloured ponies, 6 bridesmaids, £2k worth of frock and a honeymoon in the Maldives, but she left him as soon as they got home – she’d wanted to be Princess Diana for a day, not a wife. Now THAT is the kind of thing that makes marriage a fiasco, as well as making my blood boil on the poor lad’s behalf.
Thanks for commenting and good luck in the draw.
Thank you for your great blog post and for participating in the hop!
Thanks for commenting, Marie.
Elin, you’ve spoken so eloquently and this has especially touched me: “For two young people who love each other to marry does not affect my marriage one bit, but to deny them that right on my behalf diminishes me as a civilised human being.” Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you so much for being part of the hop and sharing with us.
What a beautiful post–you really have a way with words! Thank you for sharing them with us!
akasarahmadison[at]gmail[dot]com
“For two young people who love each other to marry does not affect my marriage one bit, but to deny them that right on my behalf diminishes me as a civilised human being”
Yes. This. Everybody should read mark and inwardly digest that statement!
I’m a straight guy and believe in equality for ALL! – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Thank you so much for sharing and participating. You are so right. Equality is equality no matter the issue.
Thanks so much for sharing and participating!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for participating! Seeing how both of out countries are reacting to the equal rights movement is both heartening and also very discouraging. There always seems to be a group of loud voices filled with hate in the discussion.
OceanAkers @ aol.com