Tom Ackerman at Religion Dispatches makes a modest proposal-if the majority won't recognize same-sex marriage, why should they recognize other people's marriages?
I no longer recognize marriage. It’s a new thing I’m trying.It's a very subversive tactic, and maybe an effective one. For those people (like me) who do have a traditional marriage, it's also something to think about. How would you feel if one day, your relationship was suddenly dismissed as unimportant?Turns out it’s fun.
Yesterday I called a woman’s spouse her boyfriend.
She says, correcting me, “He’s my husband,”
“Oh,” I say, “I no longer recognize marriage.”The impact is obvious. I tried it on a man who has been in a relationship for years,
“How’s your longtime companion, Jill?”
“She’s my wife!”
“Yeah, well, my beliefs don’t recognize marriage.”Fun. And instant, eyebrow-raising recognition. Suddenly the majority gets to feel what the minority feels. In a moment they feel what it’s like to have their relationship downgraded, and to have a much taken-for-granted right called into question because of another’s beliefs.
Thanks to Sabrina Pandora for the link.
That's pretty much...brilliant!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I freaking love that idea. There is nothing better than making people see what the other side is like by twisting the situation into a comparison which they can personally understand and feel the impact of. The only thing that disappoints me about that is the fact that I did not think of it myself (I must be slacking, lol.)
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