Yoshie writes:
> Yes, but leftists (including myself) haven't even begun to take a
first step toward creating the kind of conditions that might
eventually allow leftists to take power and run the US government,
making it an instrument of positive rather than negative social change
in the rest of the world (not just occasionally here in the US).
I do not think it is that bad. Steps have been taken by you and others. James Baldwin taught me long ago that bearing witness is a very important act. Standing up for sexual autonomy and decrying patriarchy in all its forms is meaningful. By speaking out we provide evidence that there are alternative ways to organize society as well providing an understanding around which to gather like-minded people.
> Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other religions do not come in a
single variety -- there are a wide variety of contradictory forces in
each religion.
But most posit the existence of a creator god which I think leads to so many of the problemn with their adherents.
Joanna writes:
> The civil rights movement was far more advanced morally and
politically then all the little identity movements that splintered it and
destroyed it.
When the civil rights movement fell apart, the splinters were all that was left behind. The consequence was not the cause.
J writes:
> of course *if* gay marriage is a frivolous luxury and not an example
of persecution or oppression then they would be making colossal asses
of themselves and gay people in general.
Well, gay marriage is not a frivolous luxury in my life. When people are denied equalityon the basis of sexual orientation that is oppression. Same as if it were based on gender, race, ethnicity, etc.
Yoshie writes:
> Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: A New Strategic Vision for All Our Families
& Relationships
I like this vision as well. I often wonder if the push for same-sex marriage will help with this agenda since I believe that heterosexuals will go to the wall to prevent queers from marrying (present company excepted).
Ideally, a person should be able to desiginate anyone they want as the recipient of their benefits, both during their life and after it. All relationships entered into by adults giving their informed, uncoerced consent shoud be honored.
Joanna writes:
> If you're starving, you need to fight for your right to work or eat, before
you can agitate for your right to fuck whomever you please. Because you
have to be alive to be able to fuck.
True, but the right to sexual autonomy is as essential psychologically as the the need for food is essential physically. Your debasement of that right to the trivializing "right to fuck whomever you please" is symptomatic of the problem I see on the left among people who just don't get the importance of the issue of sexual autonomy. It is hard to be in solidarity with someone who mocks what you are fighting for.
Brian Dauth Queer Buddhist Resister