Postmodern Critic
Morgan Bell
Jeff MusallStanding Up For Same-Sex Marriage: Jon Stewart Interviews Mike Huckabee
December 13th 2008 11:52
Dear PADSOC Readers,
We are part of a human rights struggle no less dramatic than that which went on in the 1960s when it comes to non-heterosexual rights. Some may feel that so many rights have been afforded to GLBTI people already (in Australia recently a number of alterations were made to legislation to more fully adapt to a climate of people not accepting institutionalised homophobia anymore - but this does not include gay marriage, a very important stop!), but that's only what homophobic people think and try to promote so that they don't have to question their prejudices. Before the 21st century we were all living in a world where notions of heteronormativity were informed by the selective sanctioning of a certain kind of relationships at the expense of others. I didn't realise that I could have been living in a very different world until a few years ago when Spain decided to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption. You can increase my capacity to dream of a world informed by full marriage equality... with every individual you have potentially uncomfortable conversations with about what so many people already agree should already be a 'fundamental right'. Legalising same-sex marriage is the modern day equivalent of legalising interracial marriage - we don't even think about the latter as unusual anymore, it's made our cultural landscapes so much more interesting, rich and varied, creating new cultures based on love and acceptance. In a way I am thankful that I will never take same-sex marriage for granted. It's a beautiful thing to witness history in the making, and know that I am part of it.
Please allow me to show you two recent discussions of same-sex marriage rights on American television.
#1 - Jon Stewart of The Daily Show interviews Mike Huckabee of the Republican Party, who ran against John McCain in the primaries for the 2008 US Election. Jon Stewart has long been vocal about the marginalisation of non-heterosexual 'minority groups', often pointing out that homophobia often extends where racism and sexism do not reach, being deeply embedded into US and other cultures.
Mike Huckabee seems to be going with the idea that heterosexual marriage is 'right' because people who get one may then also engage in sexual intercourse which leads to conception and childbirth. Yet not all people who participate in these types of marriages have children in mind when they tie the knot - after all, marriage allows people to gain access to certain legal rights they wouldn't otherwise. I don't see any requirements placed upon heterosexual marriage participants to reproduce, do you? Huckabee's argument is not well-thought out and is misleading. I also think it is ultimately homophobic (informing Jon that he won't be marrying him kind of gives it away pretty obviously), and a disgrace for republicans, democrats and independents alike (as Barack Obama might say if he weren't too busy trying to appeal to the masses, who are still clinging to heteronormativity as if their lives depended on it).
The misguided Republican goes on to defend marriage by defending the role of this aspect of heterosexual unions in history. "That's the way it's always been done" upholds a reactionary looking to the past to solve current problems. Examining the complex discourses that are floating around today is not always easy, even for people who pride themselves on being open-minded. Instead of paying attention to this backwards glance at a history of injustice, oppression and human beings deluding themselves that minimising the impact homosexuality has on their lives will somehow make them better off.
Regarding 're-affirming' heterosexual marriage over 'banning' homosexual marriage, this is more homophobic rhetoric. I believe that gay marriage is part of gay rights, which is part of human rights (to be very 'modernist' about it) - any overturning of human rights is a tragedy, and a hateful, sinister, corrosive act. But it's okay, because this violation of everybody's right to be part of a world which is constantly progressing is not one I, or an increasing part of society, am/is comfortable with. I refuse to stand by and not get involved - when same sex marriage is legal in twice the places it is now, I will know that I, somehow, made a difference through my interest in helping people help each other.
Let's all help the people around us see the light: Marriage equality is a privilege for all. It expands our world, our ability to theorise about love, and create new boxes to think outside of. Each person belongs to an endless array of social circles and networks, and they in turn influence everybody else in the world. So don't discount the difference you, your politics-shy neighbour, your reluctant-to-question-things friend, your temperamental local restraunt owner and your downright homophobic boss who doesn't know how badly they want to be free of their fear. Get out there and reach out to them - help them get back in touch with their interest in equality, love and human rights. Love them, even if they are not prepared to love you for your cause.
You'll note that Huckabee felt uncomfortable with Stewart's passionately broody defense of gay marriage - enough so as to tell him that a marriage between them was out of the question. I'm not sure why he thought Jon was open to such an idea, do you? To me it just looks like paranoia that Jon might eventually win him over to supporting gay marriage, which apparently also automatically makes you in the running for getting hitched to a member of the same sex.
On top of all this, Huckabee is also deliberately rejecting the label of 'a homophobe' in a very strategic way, but he clearly only cares about evading this label (I guess it's a good thing that very few people welcome it) and doesn't act in a way that suggests he is free of this terrible prejudice. Instead he is trying to promote his hysteria over the increasing acceptance of the way homosexuality informs human behaviour.
I was going to analyse Jon Stewart's side, but I may have to come back to it... Please discuss any part of this video or article you find relevant - what do you think of it all?
Peace, love and postmodernism,
Epiphanie
P.S. If you appreciated Stewart's thoughtful and courageous moment of political activism, please click here - you'll be able to sign a petition to thank him, and leave a personal note if you so wish. You will also find a lot of great information on the site, including a video library and multiple ideas for ways you can help be on the winning side of one of the biggest human rights struggles of our time.
We are part of a human rights struggle no less dramatic than that which went on in the 1960s when it comes to non-heterosexual rights. Some may feel that so many rights have been afforded to GLBTI people already (in Australia recently a number of alterations were made to legislation to more fully adapt to a climate of people not accepting institutionalised homophobia anymore - but this does not include gay marriage, a very important stop!), but that's only what homophobic people think and try to promote so that they don't have to question their prejudices. Before the 21st century we were all living in a world where notions of heteronormativity were informed by the selective sanctioning of a certain kind of relationships at the expense of others. I didn't realise that I could have been living in a very different world until a few years ago when Spain decided to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption. You can increase my capacity to dream of a world informed by full marriage equality... with every individual you have potentially uncomfortable conversations with about what so many people already agree should already be a 'fundamental right'. Legalising same-sex marriage is the modern day equivalent of legalising interracial marriage - we don't even think about the latter as unusual anymore, it's made our cultural landscapes so much more interesting, rich and varied, creating new cultures based on love and acceptance. In a way I am thankful that I will never take same-sex marriage for granted. It's a beautiful thing to witness history in the making, and know that I am part of it.
Please allow me to show you two recent discussions of same-sex marriage rights on American television.
#1 - Jon Stewart of The Daily Show interviews Mike Huckabee of the Republican Party, who ran against John McCain in the primaries for the 2008 US Election. Jon Stewart has long been vocal about the marginalisation of non-heterosexual 'minority groups', often pointing out that homophobia often extends where racism and sexism do not reach, being deeply embedded into US and other cultures.
Mike Huckabee seems to be going with the idea that heterosexual marriage is 'right' because people who get one may then also engage in sexual intercourse which leads to conception and childbirth. Yet not all people who participate in these types of marriages have children in mind when they tie the knot - after all, marriage allows people to gain access to certain legal rights they wouldn't otherwise. I don't see any requirements placed upon heterosexual marriage participants to reproduce, do you? Huckabee's argument is not well-thought out and is misleading. I also think it is ultimately homophobic (informing Jon that he won't be marrying him kind of gives it away pretty obviously), and a disgrace for republicans, democrats and independents alike (as Barack Obama might say if he weren't too busy trying to appeal to the masses, who are still clinging to heteronormativity as if their lives depended on it).
The misguided Republican goes on to defend marriage by defending the role of this aspect of heterosexual unions in history. "That's the way it's always been done" upholds a reactionary looking to the past to solve current problems. Examining the complex discourses that are floating around today is not always easy, even for people who pride themselves on being open-minded. Instead of paying attention to this backwards glance at a history of injustice, oppression and human beings deluding themselves that minimising the impact homosexuality has on their lives will somehow make them better off.
Regarding 're-affirming' heterosexual marriage over 'banning' homosexual marriage, this is more homophobic rhetoric. I believe that gay marriage is part of gay rights, which is part of human rights (to be very 'modernist' about it) - any overturning of human rights is a tragedy, and a hateful, sinister, corrosive act. But it's okay, because this violation of everybody's right to be part of a world which is constantly progressing is not one I, or an increasing part of society, am/is comfortable with. I refuse to stand by and not get involved - when same sex marriage is legal in twice the places it is now, I will know that I, somehow, made a difference through my interest in helping people help each other.
Let's all help the people around us see the light: Marriage equality is a privilege for all. It expands our world, our ability to theorise about love, and create new boxes to think outside of. Each person belongs to an endless array of social circles and networks, and they in turn influence everybody else in the world. So don't discount the difference you, your politics-shy neighbour, your reluctant-to-question-things friend, your temperamental local restraunt owner and your downright homophobic boss who doesn't know how badly they want to be free of their fear. Get out there and reach out to them - help them get back in touch with their interest in equality, love and human rights. Love them, even if they are not prepared to love you for your cause.
You'll note that Huckabee felt uncomfortable with Stewart's passionately broody defense of gay marriage - enough so as to tell him that a marriage between them was out of the question. I'm not sure why he thought Jon was open to such an idea, do you? To me it just looks like paranoia that Jon might eventually win him over to supporting gay marriage, which apparently also automatically makes you in the running for getting hitched to a member of the same sex.
On top of all this, Huckabee is also deliberately rejecting the label of 'a homophobe' in a very strategic way, but he clearly only cares about evading this label (I guess it's a good thing that very few people welcome it) and doesn't act in a way that suggests he is free of this terrible prejudice. Instead he is trying to promote his hysteria over the increasing acceptance of the way homosexuality informs human behaviour.
I was going to analyse Jon Stewart's side, but I may have to come back to it... Please discuss any part of this video or article you find relevant - what do you think of it all?
Peace, love and postmodernism,
Epiphanie
P.S. If you appreciated Stewart's thoughtful and courageous moment of political activism, please click here - you'll be able to sign a petition to thank him, and leave a personal note if you so wish. You will also find a lot of great information on the site, including a video library and multiple ideas for ways you can help be on the winning side of one of the biggest human rights struggles of our time.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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Padsoc
Thanks very much for reading and commenting, it's always a pleasure!
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
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Padsoc
I'm so happy that people are fighting for gay marriage in all sorts of ways, the movement is getting stronger and stronger every day! I'm very proud of how far the world I live in has come... Thank you for reminding me of all the texts out there that have come to my attention, I don't think anyone could do all of them justice individually, let alone a person with four blogs like me, but I look forward to keeping up with the latest state of enquiry into our legal, social, political, historical, economic and so on conditions and the way they affect anti-discrimination movements.
Your comment is greatly appreciated, have a superlative day!