Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Olbermann: It's a matter of heart
Okay, I'm not a huge fan Keith Olbermann (in fact, I'm really no fan at all) but this - THIS - is stellar.
Here's the piece that got me:
"I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967."
"1967."
"The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery."
"Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized."
"You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay."
Proposition 8 is doomed to be overturned by the courts, despite the $20 Million spent by the Mormons and the other millions by Evangelical groups.
It will be overturned because the LGBT community will work harder to reach minority communities.
It will be overturned because ultimately love is stronger than hate and prejudice.
And, as Olbermann says, ultimately, this is a question of love and a matter of the heart.
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12 comments:
It was a fabulous piece & he is right - this prop. is "doomed to be overturned."
Just as you and I get annoyed when our last names are misspelled and/or mispronounced, I'm sure that Keith does too. His last name is spelled Olbermann, which kind of rolls off the tongue. ;~)
Keith is correct. All these folks are doing is fighting a mean spirited delaying action. The final outcome is, I believe, is inevitable. All the divisive strictures of government imposed by male dominated religious beliefs are going the way of the Dodo. As Keith said, blacks can marry in and out of their race. But we’ve also seen the abolition of slavery, blacks being able to go to schools of their choice, not having to use separate toilet facilities, being able to vote and now even being president. We’ve also seen women getting the vote, not being fired because they became pregnant, not being funneled into strictly secretarial positions, being free to arrange their own marriages. Women no longer have to resort to coat hangers in a dark alley to terminate a pregnancy although there are still those who will tell you that those deaths were God’s will. And now we’ve even seen women campaigning for the presidency and being selected for the vice-presidential spot of a major political party. For gays, we have also come a long way. It wasn’t really very far in the past when the Stonewall riots of June 1969 set the tone for the next four decades. We now have hate crimes on the books to give at least some protection. We have members of congress, men and women in the clergy, and now, even a gay Bishop. It hasn’t been easy and the threats still abound but we’re making slow progress. Even many of the major churches no longer consider us the abominations named in certain biblical texts. There is no going back. Education and communication are putting us squarely on the path to full inclusion. It’s only a matter of time.
Thanks vtcrone. I got the two n's at the end, but missed the 'l'.
This is me. Trying to age gracefully but failing miserably.
I generally don't watch him but I am surprised at his passion on this one! Thanks for sharing.
It's interesting how quickly we forget that only 40 years ago, it was the Court, not the legislature that overturned interracial marriage bans stating that marriage is "the pursuit of happiness," and that the pursuit of happiness should never be compromised unless it be to the detriment of the state. My favorite of all is the name of this landmark Court case, Loving v. Virginia... Loving... that's what it is about.
Keith-- his finest hour.
I watched this last evening and cried like a baby. It's been quite a week and this struck my last gay nerve.
I love Keith and Rachel who follows him at 9, but I usually fall asleep during her show...yes, I am old.
I saw it last night and both myself and my husband were breathless with the wonder of his words. He was simply brilliant. I know that this is but a temporary setback. Too much of the country is now behind gay rights.
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/the-view-needs-glasses/#comment-8706
This is a site that both Elizabeth and I enjoy. Today in her discussion piece about gay marriage, Helen P. (82+) made the statement; "If you want to protect marriage push for a constitutional amendmant to BAN DIVORCE." ;~)
Vtcrone: Love it - gonna link to it tomorrow.
Are you the VCcrone who commented on my back? If so you are giving me hope now. Nice to find you out there in the vast cyberspace. I googled you but how in god's name did you find ME? in case you did not bookmark it:
www.whidbeydreamer.blogspot.com
Glad to meet you!
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