You know... I do not go to many weddings where they speak in English... but the very few I have gone to, usually the big cheese performing the ceremony says this one phrase that has always stuck with me... "If anyone has any reason why these two souls should not be bound.."that is the part that sticks with me.. and they usually go on to say something like, "speak now or shut the heck up tomorrow".
Marriage is about two souls fusing together.
If you want to fuse your soul with another's and get married??? All the power to you. Good luck and have a great wedding!!! Just do not forget to send me an invite!!! LOL!!!
However; when it comes to gay marriages and when I lecture about it in the classroom, I basically bring it down too this...
Me: "Do you think your parents should decide who you marry?"
Students: "In old China yes. Modern China no."
Me: "Ok. So should gay people be allowed to explore their sexuality just like straight people?"
Students: "Of course. They are humans too."
Me: "Good answer. What about this? Should gay people be allowed to get married?"
Students: "NO!!!!!"
Me: "Why not?"
Students: "Our parents would not approve of it!"
Me: "So you are saying you would allow your parents to choose who you get married too?"
Students: "No."
Me: "So should gay people have the same rights as straight people?"
Students: "Yes, they are just like us."
Me: "Should gay people be allowed to express their love for their partner openly like you would with your lover?"
Students: "Yes. (Many students usually add in this comment; yes they should but it would make me feel uncomfortable... which we would then discuss about that for a little while)"
Me: "Should gay people be allowed to be married?"
Students: "China is not ready for that. But cities like Beijing and Shanghai yes."
It takes a long time to get them to admit that one statement. That MOST of China is just not ready for people to come out and be who they are. Heck straight people have a hard enough time holding hands, kissing in public; be they married or not.
I feel terrible saying this, but it took years for black people to stop being treated like slaves from all the literature I have read after the civil war, and in many parts of the US black people are still treated like second class citizens. Then the whole woman revolution movement where it took how long for women to be allowed to vote, and we still at times struggle to be taken seriously at work. I beleive one day in the future the world will be ready to treat all people no matter their race, gender, orientation as.... dare I actually say it? People.
People coming out to their friends and families still fear the repercussions, and the negativity that they may or not face. I strongly support my friends, my family members and my students who openly feel comfortable speaking about sex, their orientation and their gender. I want to say that the world is ready for gay marriages, not just with the government, but with the various religions as well, and still be called marriage.
But I fear that the world is just not ready for it. And as much as I hate to admit this anyone let alone myself... what happens in the States... usually happens sooner rather than later throughout the rest of the world.
Blah. This turned into a ramble. Working on this lesson plan actually at the moment.