[lbo-talk] Re: Powerless religious right?

Michael Dawson MDawson at pdx.edu
Mon Sep 13 15:31:42 PDT 2004


Problem: The religious right is slowly losing, but is not defeated. Anthony Giddens is correct: There is a fumbling global movement toward more democracy in personal relationships. There is also backlash everywhere against this movement's new ways. If you drive around Portland, Oregon, there are tons of "One Man + One Woman" yard-signs and bumper stickers.

The fact that we have gotten to this issue shows we've won some battles and changed the climate some. The fact that we'll probably get blasted at the polls in November shows the RR is quite alive and kicking.

I'm much more fired up to vote against banning gay marriage than I am about voting for horse-face. I think Giddens has a point: The more decency people expect and win in their own households, the more those household relationships will be out of synch with work and government patterns. This can't be a bad thing to encourage.

-----Original Message----- From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org] On Behalf Of Chuck0 Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 2:24 PM To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Re: Powerless religious right?

BklynMagus wrote:


> Dear List:
>
> Chuck0 writes:
>
>
>>They have failed to win any major battles in the culture wars.
>
>
> I guess a 71% victory in Missouri in the effort to discriminate
> against queers is a minor skirmish then.
>
> And what about their mobilization in Ohio against queers?

Which mobilization against queers are you talking about? The vote in Missouri was against *gay marriage*, a concept that isn't supported by all queers and has been the subject of criticism by queers who argue that the gay weddings around the country have been too much, too fast. The vote in Missouri cannot be used as a generalization to say that most Missourians hate gay people. In fact, there are many people who support queer rights and civil unions, but are uncomfortable with the idea of gay marriage.

And this is not an example of the power of the religious right, since it is being used by mainstream Republicans as a wedge issue to push up voter turnout by Republicans. This 'mobilization' was not pushed by grassroots activists from the religious right, in fact, there were several right wing leaders and pundits who have been mystified that this campaign has generated a grassroots swell of support.

Chuck0

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