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I was working on a commentary about the same-sex marriage legislation here in Canada, but I'd forgotten about it and it currently sits resting in my laptop, secure in a locker and thus, far away from an upload opportunity on the Internet. On Saturday or Sunday, I encountered a large group of -primarily Asian- people walking around the downtown core in red t-shirts and white trousers. At first, I thought it was a band of people on a walking tour, but then approached a gathering full of these people holding up signs decrying sodomy and how they condemn the Liberal Party (thus the red t-shirts) for supporting same-sex marriage. There are thousands of these people lining the streets. And what's even more frustrating is that these adult protestors bring their children to help them hold the signs. I am outraged. I am outraged that people think they can raise children and then go ahead and force these opinions on the most vulnerable: children. I, myself, am wearing a red t-shirt and I, myself, am Asian. I run away from the area lest others believe I am a part of this entourage. I know I have discussed this before, but I cringe at the idea of people who purport to be of faith, yet condemn people for being who they want to be. Condemning people for whom an act comes naturally. Condemning people and making them hide and be ashamed. As a friend said to me, "If it is religion that stipulates the banning of homosexuality, then those who commit adultery should be persecuted as well. At least adultery is included in the ten commandments." And if that was the case, the whole sorry lot of the world would be in a right disaster, wouldn't it? To top it off, this inane comment by Solicitor-General Wayne Easter infuriated me: "There is a difference between heterosexual couples when they get married; it's procreation. That can't happen with same-sex couples." (Globe and Mail, Liberals planning revolt on same-sex issue, August 7) Ahem. What if, as a heterosexual, I voluntarily choose to not have children? What if, as a heterosexual, I am diagnosed infertile, or my husband is diagnosed infertile? What if, as a heterosexual, I only find my life partner when I am 48, way past the stage of being able to procreate? Will my marriage, then, not be recognized by the Canadian government? Peh.
And I feel fine....... - 2004-02-23 |