 |
 |
 |
POLEMIC PERVERSIONS
Apparently
the Vermont Senate is poised to vote out a bill similar to the one recently
passed by the House that created and defined CIVIL UNIONS. These
actions are taken because of a Supreme Court decision that the legislature
must make same gender marriage legal OR provide an alternative
whereby these couples would be afforded the same rights as married couples
now have.
For more info on how this all got started, see GenderGappers 1999-053. As you might expect, the rhetoric has increased in volume and intensity and, not surprisingly, the very vocal opponents of Civil Unions are the same "love your neighbor as yourself, tolerant, loving Christians" that women have come to know in their pursuit of Women's Reproductive Rights.
They are using the same tactics: creating fear with misinformation and outright lies. Although the legislation clearly defines MARRIAGE as a union between a woman and a man, opponents are calling it "A Same-Sex Marriage Bill" and claiming that it will "destroy marriage and the family." They further claim that if the bill becomes law, homosexuality and its practices will be taught in schools.
They are waging a heavy ad war with full-page ads in newspapers throughout the state. Some of these accuse the governor of promoting sodomy in children because he supports the Civil Union bill. Mail campaigns target every Vermont home and it is reported that money is flowing in for these ads from all over the world.
Besides
the homegrown opponents, like some members of the clergy, there has been
opposition to the Legislature's intent reaching the state via phone calls,
letters and email to the legislature. Besides Randall Terry, there
have also been other visitors -- the most recent being presidential candidate,
Alan Keyes. He led a rally at the Statehouse last week warning that
"giving marriage rights to same-sex couples could bring about the
end of civilization as we know it."
The protesters at the rally circled the state Supreme Court and the governor's office, climbed the Statehouse steps seven times, blowing a ram's horn. This action alluded to the story of Joshua in the bible, whose followers circled Jericho seven times and blew a ram's horn in order to bring the walls of that city tumbling down.
The VERY REPUGNANT The Union Leader in Manchester, NH thundered editorally on "Vermont's terrifying lurch toward lunacy."
Hate-radio is airing the polemic utterances of the bible-belting crowd and the newspapers are crammed with letters to the editors -- both pro and con. One that we like especially was short and to the point: "Vermont and Vermonters are going to burn up in the fiery furnace of Hell if this bill is made law."
(Well, it's been a cold spring and we could use some warmth.) ;-)
There's lots of positive comments too, like this one from The International Herald Tribune, published in France, 3/20/2000: "Vermonters should be proud that they are leading the way toward a society that values stable gay relationships."
Judgment of this legislation will come from future historians. History has seldom treated women or minorities fairly. Whoever controls the media controls history. Those who write history for the following generations include their own bias along with everything else.
Recently we heard a well known presidential historian, Michael Beschloss, state that Mary Todd Lincoln's son *HAD* to have her committed to an insane asylum when the son really did it to avoid embarrassment to himself.
The ancient Greeks, who were known to slant the truth to convey a moral point, made observations for which there is neither proof nor justification. One example of this is the myth they perpetuated that Amazons cut off a breast so that they could shoot with bow and arrows. Amazon in Greek means not having breasts.
Fact is, there is neither proof of this nor for that matter, proof that Amazons even existed, but this MYTH is reported as fact in some of our history books and taught to students. Seems pretty silly since it is well known that breasts do not in any way prevent a woman from shooting a bow. But it sure seems to play into the agenda of those with a breast fetish who conveniently forget that breast can be bound.
At
the time the Amazons were said to roam the earth, there is archaeological
evidence of a tribe called the Scythiens. In this culture, women
fought alongside the men and were equally honored.
They were buried, like the men in full military garb -- breastplates,
armor, swords and bows. When observed by the Greeks of that period
their breasts may not have been evident due to the breastplates.
More recently, a meeting of thousands of women with well known speakers -- Expo 2000 -- was almost totally ignored by the media. Could it be that all the cameras and reporters were fixated one male child?
The warning has gone out to all women in the military to damn well go along to get along. Recently the highest ranking woman in the army, Lt. General Claudia Kennedy, reported another Maj. General Larry Smith for sexual harassment. At the time it happened, she had dealt with it herself. Her reason for reporting it now was because Smith was to be promoted to a position where he would be investigation sexual harassment claims.
Now
we are informed that "an anonymous retired Army officer" has
charged General Kennedy with "personal misconduct." Neither
the officer's name nor charge is available. The message is clear
-- women are in the this man's army only to the extent that they conform
to his customs. They are not wanted and many male servicemen refer
to them as SQUATTERS. This has a double meaning: 1. they squat to
pee and 2. they have no right to be there.
And there's a new book out (by a woman, of course), The Kinder, Gentler Military by Stephanie Gutmann. Military brass view it as a big boot to kick women out. As we know from the past. Women are the cause of all of men's problems -- especially sexual ones. :-) Meanwhile, in Wee Waa, Australia, every male in town is being DNA sampled as police hope to discover who raped a 91 year old woman.
:-( Take notes, Cumberland head, New York. 93 year-old Bea Trudo, who was raped in your town last month, died 4/9/2000.
2000-015
Copyright 2000 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@together.net.
G e n d e r G a p p e r s T M
|
|
|