O O Ø O O O O
Honestly Ralph, Change is Good
Allow us to introduce a long-time reader, and now part-time guest ranter: Tamara. Don’t be too hard on her. She’s a good cat, even if she did use the words “pleasantly” and “Liberal” in the same paragraph...
It was a historic day when Ontario’s highest court shot down Ontario’s definition of marriage, and the federal government decided not to appeal the decision, but actually rewrite the definition of marriage and table it. Wow. I am pleasantly shocked. Now I’ve always been one that feels seeing as the Liberals are running the show, they should be, um, liberal. Something up to now they haven’t really been doing. Although, if smoking up a joint and getting high will no longer be criminal soon, legalizing same sex marriages seems to be the next logical step. Now if only the liberals would see fit to ban SUVs from Canada’s roads...
Seeing as the Liberals are running the show, they should be, um, liberal.
Certainly groundbreaking things are going on in Canada right now, but King Ralph will have none of it. I am disappointed, yet not surprised, by his reaction to the idea of legalizing same sex marriages. I’m sick of hearing the Government of Alberta’s official tagline that marriage is for a man, a woman and procreation, and that definition is steeped in cultural, moral, religious and historical meaning. Some people argue, Ralph included, that homosexuals already have enough rights, the leap to marriage isn’t even necessary. Well, if that’s the case, why do any of us get married? There’s many a wedding happening this summer—an expensive way to fulfil what can really be accomplished by common law statutes and a well written contract.
The term “life partner” is the coldest thing I have ever heard.
The reason we get married is because there is some sort of emotional phenomenon that occurs in most of us to make us crave that kind of bond with someone we love. Marriage is a strongly ingrained symbol. For me, a very important part of getting married was finally being able to refer to my spouse as “my husband.” Calling him “my boyfriend” made me feel like we were 16 and going to the prom. The term “life partner” is the coldest thing I have ever heard and makes me think of a business deal. “That guy I live with” lacked warmth as well. It sounds small and stupid, but it means we are joined to the rest of the world. It’s a powerful thing. I completely understand why gay and lesbian couples want the same rights. Not only will it validate their sexual preferences in the eyes of the heterosexual public, but reinforce their own personal bond with another person.
Besides, if we think big picture, same sex marriage seems like the least of our problems: SARS, terrorism, pedophiles in children’s neighbourhoods. These are issues that require great thought and concern on our part. Next to that list, the idea of same sex marriages seems like the happy news story. Legalizing same sex marriages is momentous, no doubt. But it’s a good and right thing to do, and when the dust settles, I think even King Ralph will come around.
And then hell will freeze over.
Tamara McDougall
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
PD DCV