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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA gay dad’s letter to the Australian couple who threaten divorce if marriage equality is realized
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Jensen,
I was sad to hear of your decision to divorce should same sex marriage become legal in Australia. It is indeed distressing that you would throw something away so cavalierly that others have worked so hard to try to achieve.
I kind of get it. You had something that you felt held you above others, and made you feel special and a bit elite. That really was not the case.
Here in the U.S.. they allow convicted murderers to marry from prison, even ones who have slaughtered their families like the Menendez brothers. Those who are allowed to marry are not really as holy or special as you seem to regard.
In any case, they do seem to be ranked, in your opinion, above the people you dont want to marry LGBT people.
In your declaration of your decision to divorce, you make clear that you want control over the rules or you wont play by them anymore.
I have had a similar situation with one of my sons who, in his young life, refused to play games that were not set up by rules he made himself. It took a little time, but I finally showed him that the things that are worthwhile are not the things that cause us to win no matter what, they are things that exponentially expand joy and love.
Rules are worthless if they are not based on principles. To make things really valuable, these principles should include equality, fairness, inspiration, nurture and positive development.
You are quitting not because of anything having to do with your own marriage or family, but because another family might be given the opportunity for security, honor and growth.
Your rationale is not sound, it is not compassionate, nor would anyone on any side of it grow better because of it. Your proposed actions are, in a word childish.
Such actions have no basis in the Bible, which only allows for divorce in the case of adultery. They have no basis in history, since traditional marriage was as polygamously oriented in ways you fear that marriage today might evolve.
Your actions are also inaccurate in terms of the intentions of others to marry. You have declared that it would now make marriage detached from children, [that it's] just about love. This makes no sense.
LGBT families have, and intend to have, children. Many times these children are rescued from life threatening or other dire situations.
The vapid every child deserves parents of specific biologies argument falls very flat to kids who would give anything to simply be fed, nurtured and escape either neglect or abuse.
Many, many couples who wed today also do not intend to have children.
I officiated for a lovely man and woman couple in their sixties. Both would faint dead-away at your assertion of my union of them was based on the fact they had to child-bear. They showed up about love and have been an inspiration in doing so, as the wife today stands firmly by her husband who is vehemently battling lung cancer.
LGBT couples are not coming together in marriage to spite you. They have no intention of affecting your marriage in any way. They have fought hard for this right, because it is something of great value in their own lives.
Last week, I officiated at the wedding of two beautiful men. The marriages meaning was clear to all when the first groom emerged from the wings, being walked down the aisle with his mother. His eyes were brimming with tears. It was evident that this moment was a pinnacle in his life, he was transforming into a further definition of himself and his identity as part of a family.
Whether that family is just he and his spouse, or whether kids will be added, I dont know. It is none of my business.
Nor is it any of yours.
If you choose to divorce because of what this young man has achieved for himself and his life, that is your prerogative. Just as he did not blame you for his marriage, neither should you blame anyone else for your intended divorce.
If you choose to divorce because others might gain what you have valued in your life, you are not making a statement about marriage. You are not making a statement about love. You are not making a statement about family. You are making a statement about your own damaged egos.
And it is time to grow up.
I was sad to hear of your decision to divorce should same sex marriage become legal in Australia. It is indeed distressing that you would throw something away so cavalierly that others have worked so hard to try to achieve.
I kind of get it. You had something that you felt held you above others, and made you feel special and a bit elite. That really was not the case.
Here in the U.S.. they allow convicted murderers to marry from prison, even ones who have slaughtered their families like the Menendez brothers. Those who are allowed to marry are not really as holy or special as you seem to regard.
In any case, they do seem to be ranked, in your opinion, above the people you dont want to marry LGBT people.
In your declaration of your decision to divorce, you make clear that you want control over the rules or you wont play by them anymore.
I have had a similar situation with one of my sons who, in his young life, refused to play games that were not set up by rules he made himself. It took a little time, but I finally showed him that the things that are worthwhile are not the things that cause us to win no matter what, they are things that exponentially expand joy and love.
Rules are worthless if they are not based on principles. To make things really valuable, these principles should include equality, fairness, inspiration, nurture and positive development.
You are quitting not because of anything having to do with your own marriage or family, but because another family might be given the opportunity for security, honor and growth.
Your rationale is not sound, it is not compassionate, nor would anyone on any side of it grow better because of it. Your proposed actions are, in a word childish.
Such actions have no basis in the Bible, which only allows for divorce in the case of adultery. They have no basis in history, since traditional marriage was as polygamously oriented in ways you fear that marriage today might evolve.
Your actions are also inaccurate in terms of the intentions of others to marry. You have declared that it would now make marriage detached from children, [that it's] just about love. This makes no sense.
LGBT families have, and intend to have, children. Many times these children are rescued from life threatening or other dire situations.
The vapid every child deserves parents of specific biologies argument falls very flat to kids who would give anything to simply be fed, nurtured and escape either neglect or abuse.
Many, many couples who wed today also do not intend to have children.
I officiated for a lovely man and woman couple in their sixties. Both would faint dead-away at your assertion of my union of them was based on the fact they had to child-bear. They showed up about love and have been an inspiration in doing so, as the wife today stands firmly by her husband who is vehemently battling lung cancer.
LGBT couples are not coming together in marriage to spite you. They have no intention of affecting your marriage in any way. They have fought hard for this right, because it is something of great value in their own lives.
Last week, I officiated at the wedding of two beautiful men. The marriages meaning was clear to all when the first groom emerged from the wings, being walked down the aisle with his mother. His eyes were brimming with tears. It was evident that this moment was a pinnacle in his life, he was transforming into a further definition of himself and his identity as part of a family.
Whether that family is just he and his spouse, or whether kids will be added, I dont know. It is none of my business.
Nor is it any of yours.
If you choose to divorce because of what this young man has achieved for himself and his life, that is your prerogative. Just as he did not blame you for his marriage, neither should you blame anyone else for your intended divorce.
If you choose to divorce because others might gain what you have valued in your life, you are not making a statement about marriage. You are not making a statement about love. You are not making a statement about family. You are making a statement about your own damaged egos.
And it is time to grow up.
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2015/06/a-gay-dads-letter-to-the-australian-couple-who-threaten-divorce-if-marriage-equality-is-realized/
This goes with the poll that is floating in GD right now.
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A gay dad’s letter to the Australian couple who threaten divorce if marriage equality is realized (Original Post)
William769
Jun 2015
OP
That is a truly beautiful letter and it says all the important things about marriage
csziggy
Jun 2015
#2
William769
(55,148 posts)1. Kick.
csziggy
(34,138 posts)2. That is a truly beautiful letter and it says all the important things about marriage
And about the people who object to certain others from being married.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)3. Hear, hear. K&R. nt
countryjake
(8,554 posts)4. Kick!
Concise and complete!
mnhtnbb
(31,405 posts)5. What a great letter.
sendero
(28,552 posts)6. Wow...
..... that one chokes me up. Well said.
Kali
(55,025 posts)7. k and R
Cha
(297,693 posts)8. Poignantly compelling letter to the Australian couple made who fools of themselves.. from
Rob Watson, William.. thank you!
herding cats
(19,568 posts)9. He's a wise man, and he gets it.
It's a shame his words won't garner the media attention that the couple showing their ignorance did.
Takket
(21,632 posts)10. DROP THE MIC
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)12. Yup. Not a word could be added or subtracted.
irisblue
(33,034 posts)11. KnR