Let's talk about the distractions going on elsewhere

Alright...I'm going to try this political thing, again. I kinda suck when it comes to political matters :P and we know this. But to get you in the mood, let me share with you an old Irish folk tune.

Are we really sure
That a love that lasted for so long
Still endures?
Do I really care?
Hey hey,
Let's talk about the distractions going on elsewhere

I keep hearing footsteps, baby
in the dark, oh in the dark
Why? I keep hearing footsteps baby
In the dark
Oh in the dark, hoo

My mind,
Drifts now and then,
Looking down dark corridors and wonders what might have been
Something's up ahead,
Hey, should I keep this same direction,
Or go back instead?

I keep hearing footsteps baby
in the dark, oh in the dark
Why? I keep hearing footsteps baby
In the dark
Oh in the dark, hoo

Honey, let's stop walking around
When there's love lost to be found
Aah, you know I still care, I still care
What's the sense in going elsewhere?

Who feels really sure?
Can I really guarantee your happiness shall endure?
Do we really care?
Hey hey,
Let's look at what's been happening and try to be more aware

I keep hearing footsteps baby
in the dark, oh in the dark
Why? I keep hearing footsteps baby
In the dark
Oh in the dark, hoo

Let's stop walking around
Well when there's love, lost to be found
Oh baby, you know, I still care, I still care
What's the sense in going elsewhere?

Let's stop walking around
Well when there's love, lost to be found
Oh baby, you know, I still care, I still care
What's the sense in going elsewhere?

Alright, obviously that was the Isley Brothers, "Footsteps In The Dark". Why the hell did I pick this song to open up a political post? This song isn't political at all, it's about a relationship breaking down. And no, I don't intend to twist it to be political to suit my needs because the lyrics are pretty open. No, I chose it because the lyrics have always felt so lost to me. This man has discovered his wife cheating and he's just like, "Well...what's the point in me leaving?" Can he keep her happy? Will they be able to overcome this incident? All these questions. Like I said, I'm not trying to politicize this song, but parts of this song really gets across how I feel about politics and the government sometimes. What can I say? I'm old-skool. So if you think I'm about to ruin your favorite slow-jam...just plug your ears and hum the tune loudly.

First off, I'm a little tired of the election. There, I said it. I'm tired about hearing of the racist attacks from McCain and his crew, I'm tired of Palin, I'm tired of Obama and his ties to socialist parties (yeah that's what I said). Thus my heading you see..."let's look at what's been happening, try to be more aware" (shut up I can sing). I'd rather talk about something else.

I was reading this post on Queers United about Florida's Marriage Protection Amendment aka Prop 2. Well, actually it's a commercial against Prop 2 which seeks to ban...gay marriage. Now, let's all roll our eyes and heave a sigh.

I don't know about you but I've been trying to keep up with these bullshit--er, I mean, these propositions in California, Florida, and I think there's one in Arizona now. California, maybe the most liberal state in our nation (or so we like to fancy them) may be banning gay marriage with Proposition 8. Why? Because...well, opponents of gay marriage feel it's only between a man and a woman. To this I say what-the-fuck-ever because it's 2008 on my calendar and frankly I still don't get how or why anyone would work to stop gays from getting married. As a side note, I've been trying to shed some of my heathen ways and wake up to the fact that it's not just crazy Evangelicals that want gay marriage banned. I do over-generalize a lot when it comes to these matters and I apologize. For me I have to keep reminding myself that there are just people who don't want gay marriage for whatever reason. Hell, there are gays that don't want gay marriage.¹ Questionable...but, it's their choice to oppose. Kinda like it should be...a gay's/lesbian's choice to get...married--hey!

Ahem. Anyway, to me this "traditional" argument of marriage only being between a man and a woman is outdated. What is this "marriage" anyway other than a legal contract between two people for some benefits? I'm not stating that as fact, it's just how I feel on the matter but there is some truth to it. What also hurts my head is the "why can't they be happy with civil unions?" talk. To me civil unions are just...silly. It's like giving you a cookie but not calling it a cookie, but you know damn well it's a fucking cookie. They're just too scared to call it a cookie--er, civil unions and marriages I mean. They're not on the exact level but...come on, they're pretty damn close.

I remember a former acquaintance of mine asking why can't gays just have civil unions and call them a marriage. 15 at the time, it struck me as the most ignorant thing I'd ever heard in 14 or so summers. You don't call a civil union a marriage because it ISN'T a marriage! A marriage is a marriage. Why can't gays have a marriage? I'm no where near convinced yet that a lesbian couple has to take a civil union just because the courts don't want to give them a marriage for whatever reason. Ehhh? Not too sure on that one.

I know I've done all this rambling without much of a point so let me make one. Why am I against Prop 8 in California, even though I'm bout as close to California as I am to Maine? Because I feel marriage should no long be simply defined as between a "man and a woman" thus preventing a whole group of people from partaking in a basic right/privilege (depending on how you look at it). That's just silly. It's really no one else's business who you marry be it male or female and as always, I'm amazed at some people's ability to interfere with someone else's personal life on this matter. Marriage, aside from being this legal contract, is also to me a symbolic representation that you choose to be with this person for the rest of your life (well, with the rising divorce rates, maybe...a few years). Other than the whole legal contract thing, why the hell does the Almighty State Govt need to get in on this? Sign the paper and move on for goodness's sake.

I'm done with California now, let me rage on Florida. I read an article in my Women's Studies class--we get assigned reading--and (un)fortunately my group was to do an article on Gay adoption and why it's so hard. Not sure how recent the article was but I think Florida still pretty much has Gay Adoption on lock. Go on, Florida.

The article discussed how the children of gay parents are harmed by the state's refusal to grant protection to gay couples, that, from what I understood, being the benefits they would receive for being legally married. The article also goes on to list the seminal argument that gays can't have kids because of the "harassment" the children of gay couples will face. This argument totally neglects to mention that kids are just fucking vicious anyway and it's always going to be SOMETHING. This whole ostracizing argument pretty much falls apart in the real world but you'll still see people falling on the same laurels.

And now Florida has this Proposition 2 which is supposedly "protecting marriage" by not including the icky gays...

...and, if you read closer, not many other people. Uhhh, what?

I like this article from KnowMyRights.org which explains a bit how in the eyes of Prop 2, unwed straight couples, gay couples, seniors, domestic partners, anyone who hasn't gone through some kind of complex legal work are...unmarried and thus get no rights. Ehhh? What's really going on, Florida?

Now why am I against Prop 2 despite only having been to Florida once and only having 1 friend there now? Well, I do have something vengeful against Florida but I kinda want to know how this Prop 2 is "protecting" marriage. WHOSE marriage eh?

Now about the Arizona one, which I think is Prop 102...eh, I'm sure whatever it says I'm vehemently against. Like Florida, I have something vengeful against Arizona (and yet, I'd like to live in New Mexico. Why not?)

So enough of my pretending I'm an expert. In the name of equality these propositions and others like them must be stopped. After hearing about Connecticut granting same-sex marriage I'm bout tired of these other fools fucking around with their old concept of marriage. Wake the hell UP, yes?

For actual information and not rambling, try:
http://www.noonprop8.com/
http://www.knowmyrights.org

And...you know, Google & Wikipedia. You can try SayNo2.com but my internet seems to hate it so I don't feel totally comfortable linking back to it...but you can try.

Sigh...I'm done for the night. Shit, it's 3 AM!

_{Note 1: I just randomly found that article Googling, it's kind of old and I just wanted it to make a point.}