Cordelia ,'Lessons'
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Getting married is not just a private commitment but a public gesture. So it becomes, in part, about your status in the community.
my wedding ceremony was very private. As in, it involved no one in our community. I feel that our commitment to each other is private and personal. The reason for making it legal was strictly to protect each other
OK, that's what I figured. The English (or whoever) in the US used it dried, called it coriander. Spanish-speaking Latin Americans used it fresh, called it cilantro. US people never integrated the terms, while using both things.
ION, I think I'm going to be one of Those People on the plane, with a slightly too-big carry-on and two "personal items" (a purse and a small tote bag). I just hate to pay to check a bag when my overflow is so small!
The US different names are for the leaves and seeds, not for fresh vs. dried -- I'm not sure anyone does dry cilantro, because, why, but I'm neurotically compelled to fix the distinction...
Aha! I didn't really know that. And it makes even more sense now.
Wait, that was my point! I guess what I'm saying is the legality is hugely important, and the difference between what we were saying is the definition of culture.
Which is why I'd rather see Civil Partnerships with the same rights and responsibilities (like in the UK) now, and quibble about semantics later. Hell, I'd cheerfully allow my het marriage (non-religious) to be defined as such if it meant that my friends and family could have the same damn rights with one simple license.
my wedding ceremony was very private. As in, it involved no one in our community. I feel that our commitment to each other is private and personal. The reason for making it legal was strictly to protect each other
That may be so but the marriage exists within the larger culture, separate from what it means to you personally. You are married, and you have a husband and those aspects of your public self are acknowledged as such within the community.
The US different names are for the leaves
Oh, I mean the leaves, if this helps.
"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend." U.S. Marine Corps
"Any ship can be a minesweeper...once." Unknown
An Air Force cargo plane was preparing for departure from Thule Air Base in Greenland. They were waiting for the truck to arrive to pump out the aircraft's sewage holding tank. The Aircraft Commander was in a hurry, the truck was late in arriving, and the Airman performing the job was extremely slow in getting the tank pumped out. When the commander berated the Airman for his slowness and promised punishment, the Airman responded: "Sir, I have no stripes, it is 20 below zero, I'm stationed in Greenland, and I am pumping sewage out of airplanes. Just what are you going to do to punish me?"
NO CILANTRO IN THE LATKES
Unless you're a Mexican Jew. What? I know some.
That may be so but the marriage exists within the larger culture, separate from what it means to you personally. You are married, and you have a husband and those aspects of your public self are acknowledged as such within the community.
If we made it all MARRIAGE tomorrow the bulk of the people in the community who reject gay marriage would continue to do so. That would be, in large part, how it would exist in the larger culture.
Which is why I'd rather see Civil Partnerships with the same rights and responsibilities (like in the UK) now, and quibble about semantics later. Hell, I'd cheerfully allow my het marriage (non-religious) to be defined as such if it meant that my friends and family could have the same damn rights with one simple license.
And in 15-20 years when the bulk of the people who object to gay marriage have all died you have a couple of simple court cases and bing-bang-boom, its all marriage.
Logistically, I thought that was a better way to fight this fight. You don't end up with DOMA battles popping up all the fuck over the place for the next two decades. You don't have a bunch of laws to weed out before you can proceed once the time has passed.
And those older folks... I think my Uncle is a fairly typical representative. He thinks people should be together, be protected legally, get to have a big ol' ceremony and do what every their heart's desire. "Just don't call it marriage." He's set in his ways. He knows that. He (and anyone like him) are unlikely to put up a fuss against civil unions. The serious bigots aren't going to be able to rally those troops.
But the die has been cast, the battle is joined and its for Full Marriage, Right Now. So I'm in.
ION, my office caff has latkes. I am eating them right now. They have applesauce. I guess our Cuban chef was feeling German.
Ha! I got everything in my suitcase + purse. I just hope the ornaments don't get crushed too badly.