Comments on: Protesting Marriage http://themelononline.com/2008/12/protesting-marraige/ Your Daily Dose of Vitamin World Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:39:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: Chris Van Vechten http://themelononline.com/2008/12/protesting-marraige/comment-page-1/#comment-3029 Chris Van Vechten Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:58:28 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=2569#comment-3029 It's a waste of time. Issues like this cannot be decided by demonstrations in the streets. These only serve to reinforce entrenched positions. What is needed is open public debate. The next time someone says something about this issue that you disagree with, make a sincere respectful effort to consider a different perspective. Without fail, every state that has considered a marriage amendment (more than 30 now I believe) has approved it. We are living in what has traditionally been an unusually conservative country. It’s a waste of time. Issues like this cannot be decided by demonstrations in the streets. These only serve to reinforce entrenched positions. What is needed is open public debate. The next time someone says something about this issue that you disagree with, make a sincere respectful effort to consider a different perspective. Without fail, every state that has considered a marriage amendment (more than 30 now I believe) has approved it. We are living in what has traditionally been an unusually conservative country.

]]> By: marumaruyopparai http://themelononline.com/2008/12/protesting-marraige/comment-page-1/#comment-2984 marumaruyopparai Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:49:28 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=2569#comment-2984 @Joshua Hiltunen, I completely agree. A big problem faced by people fighting on the front-lines for issues like gay right is the immensely visceral response provoked by discouraging setbacks. People who demonstrate on behalf of gay rights, animal rights(PETA), and environmental protection(<a href="http://www.freefreenow.org/" rel="nofollow">Jeff "Free" Luers</a> lighting SUV's on fire in Oregon) are often so consumed with pushing their agenda they end up acting out agressively and alienating the exact people they need to reach to have their agenda realized. Part of me wants to support this action just to <i>stick it to the man</i> but my rational side knows its more than ineffectual it's actually detrimental. I'm on the fence but if I had to make choice that made sense I'd avoid this kind of demonstration (publically making the gay community of Florida look like a bunch of wedding crashing a-holes is not going to help the gay rights agenda <i>anywhere</i> in the US) @Joshua Hiltunen,

I completely agree. A big problem faced by people fighting on the front-lines for issues like gay right is the immensely visceral response provoked by discouraging setbacks. People who demonstrate on behalf of gay rights, animal rights(PETA), and environmental protection(Jeff “Free” Luers lighting SUV’s on fire in Oregon) are often so consumed with pushing their agenda they end up acting out agressively and alienating the exact people they need to reach to have their agenda realized.

Part of me wants to support this action just to stick it to the man but my rational side knows its more than ineffectual it’s actually detrimental. I’m on the fence but if I had to make choice that made sense I’d avoid this kind of demonstration (publically making the gay community of Florida look like a bunch of wedding crashing a-holes is not going to help the gay rights agenda anywhere in the US)

]]> By: Joshua Hiltunen http://themelononline.com/2008/12/protesting-marraige/comment-page-1/#comment-2947 Joshua Hiltunen Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:31:54 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=2569#comment-2947 I think there are some differences here. First, as a politician, you do give up a portion of the public/private life divide that most have. And in this particular case he did come down publically on the side of Amendment 2 prior to the election. As a figurehead in the campaign to get it passed he becomes a viable target for this kind of protest, whereas the Westboro Baptist Church and their protests are in a very different vein. I don't think that a protest of this nature is out of line, but I do think it's a horrible strategy. Regardless of the differences, they'll elicit enough comparisons to Westboro Baptist and company that the net effect will be bad press resulting in the potential alienation of a portion of that 38%. I think there are some differences here. First, as a politician, you do give up a portion of the public/private life divide that most have. And in this particular case he did come down publically on the side of Amendment 2 prior to the election. As a figurehead in the campaign to get it passed he becomes a viable target for this kind of protest, whereas the Westboro Baptist Church and their protests are in a very different vein.

I don’t think that a protest of this nature is out of line, but I do think it’s a horrible strategy. Regardless of the differences, they’ll elicit enough comparisons to Westboro Baptist and company that the net effect will be bad press resulting in the potential alienation of a portion of that 38%.

]]> By: Glynnis Kirchmeier http://themelononline.com/2008/12/protesting-marraige/comment-page-1/#comment-2915 Glynnis Kirchmeier Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:56:14 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=2569#comment-2915 Crashing the wedding on the level of pro-lifers harassing abortion doctors at their homes: upsetting and harmful to the people being protested. Also, it's pathetic. And it's not the point: Crist's personal marriage, after all, has nothing to do with gay marriage. They should picket his church instead. THAT'S actually relevant, since churches are the exclusive producers of anti-gay marriage rhetoric. Crashing the wedding on the level of pro-lifers harassing abortion doctors at their homes: upsetting and harmful to the people being protested. Also, it’s pathetic. And it’s not the point: Crist’s personal marriage, after all, has nothing to do with gay marriage.

They should picket his church instead. THAT’S actually relevant, since churches are the exclusive producers of anti-gay marriage rhetoric.

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