For those of you beyond America's borders... and for those of you within... if you think gay marriage will never happen here, consider this poster.Less than 150 years ago, Clymer (The White Guy) ran on a platform of white supremacy. He was the Democrat. Geary ran for Pennsylvania governor on a platform for "the Negro" -- pro-Suffrage, that is. Geary was the Republican.
Back then, Democrats used to use the word "radical" as a slang name to demean those who had different views than theirs. Nowadays, Republicans use the word "liberal" as a slang name to demean those who have different views than they do.
This country didn't allow inter-ethnic marriages until 1967. It took the U.S. Supreme Court to undo the damage of the Democratic Virginia Legislature done back in 1924. Today, we are graced with the presence of an African-American (DEMOCRAT) President Barack Obama. In fact, a vast majority of African Americans are Democrats.
Hang on to your hats... it's a testament to two things. One, a label can change just as its product can. In fact, labels just plain suck. Two, never underestimate the fickleness of humanity.
Yeah labels suck. And times do change, and attitudes too. The full realization of the enormous CHANGE that's just arrived is still coming at me in waves; and it takes my breath away all over again every morning. Because I remember vividly the days of separate water fountains, the signs "White" and "Colored" everywhere. And the hateful, enraged reactions to the end of legal segregation.
ReplyDeleteBut here we are, in the space of just my lifetime, with a black President; just incredible, just wonderful. I'm torn between the idea that it will still take many years to change all the homophobic laws; and the hope that we will soon see a great acceleration in the process. Guess time will tell.
One small correction: the 1967 Supreme Court decision legalized interracial marriage in the 15 or so Southern states that still outlawed it; it was already long since legal in the rest of the country. Frederick Douglass married a white woman way back in 1884, for example.
just found you,kevin! what a great blog! be in touch...
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, Russ. January 20th was a wonderful experience, and I'm privileged to live to see a Black president take office.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I feel blessed that I've never encountered a "White Only" or "Colored Only" water fountain.
Larry! Glad you found me, and I'm happy that you like my blog! I'd love to stay in touch.