"Liberal Media" Strikes Again

Next time somebody starts whining to you about the "liberal media," point them to the Manchester, New Hampshire, Union Leader. Turns out that the newspaper has decided not to publish wedding notices for gay weddings, even though gay marriage is legal in New Hampshire. In other words, owners of the newspaper don't like the law, so they're going to pretend that it doesn't exist. The Union Leader clearly wants to make the news, rather than report it. Or maybe, they're going to report the news the way they think it should be, rather than the way it is. In other words, the Manchester Union Leader is just like every other "mainstream" media outlet operating in this country.

I Have Always Loved Arkansas

But in the last few days, it has gotten better and better. Now if we could just get rid of some of our embarrassing congressmen and senators. One (or two) things at a time, I guess.

Gay Marriage--Five Years Later

With all the ruckus about Iowa, Maine, and Vermont legalizing gay marriage, it's a good idea to go back and check the results in Massachusetts, where gay marriage has been legal for five years now. MSNBC has done exactly that. Long story short: the world hasn't come to an end, society hasn't collapsed, and straight people aren't being forced to gay marry. All that's happened is that some people in committed relationships have been able to make their associations legal. In other words, the experiment has been a success. It's time for the other 45 states, and the federal government, to follow suit.

Gifts Once Given

The Bell, a frequent commenter at Slate Magazine's Best of the Fray has a commentary on the recent California gay marriage decision. Here's an excerpt:

Much like John Adams on the subject of self-government two hundred plus years ago, I now have strong reasons to believe that no gay persons who have enjoyed the entitlement to refer to the reflections of their own souls as “my husband” or “my wife” will (easily) give it up and return to such euphemisms as “my life partner,” “my significant other,” or “my special friend” – and neither will their families and friends.

If one month of such entitlements launched the lawsuits that led to this ruling, imagine what five months’ worth will catalyze. There is no question that Californians stand about an equal chance of taking away what their state constitution currently allows. But even if the worse happens there, this only means final victory will be a little later rather than a little sooner. Perceptions are changing, attitudes are changing; those who resist will ultimately find themselves unable to mandate a cessation toward what is right anymore than they can shout back the tides.

That is just the way it is with some gifts, once given. The gift has now been given. It was long overdue.

In some ways, it's astounding that more Americans haven't been upset that a significant minority of our citizens has been denied a basic civil right. Apparently we haven't learned much from our past.

The Bell's entire commentary is available here.