more randomness

Update: Okay, I just finished publishing and republishing this about 5 times... I took out a lot of the original html junk to make it work better with blogger, and added more content. As of 10:15 this is complete... so if you read it sooner, you might want to check it out again.

And feel free to check out the comments... I will be responding as much as I can today.


A few things first...

1. Yesterday was so busy. I completely forgot to stop by. But I will give you a real update later in the week.
2. Last night was great. We had a really nice time at Brian and Stacey's! Their new house looks great, the dinner was good, and Stacey's belly looks adorable.
3. I'm trying out some html stuff in the bottom half of this post... I know it works on a pure html driven site (is that even how to say it?)... but not sure how that will translate into blogger's format. Be patient with any non-prettiness.
4. Mainline Mom... over at WaterWaterEverywhere... well she got me all riled up this morning!! Lol. Not in a bad way... but definitely stop by her site (linked in side column) to see what got me going. I'm going to go out on a limb today and talk about two controversial issues that are both important to me. Breastfeeding in public and gay marriage. The first one... well, Mainline Mom really said it well, so my talk on that will be a lot shorter. But I will spend more time on the second.

Okay, so breastfeeding...
It is so horrifying to me that people would be so down on breastfeeding in public! It's one thing if a woman would get half naked to do it... but that isn't the case. Most women are very discrete about it, as they don't want their breast hanging out anymore then anyone else does!!

I think one problem is the fact that breasts are seen as such sexual objects. Sure, they can be a sexual area of the body... but their main purpose is to feed offspring.

I find it amusing that its hard to find maternity tops (unless you go the blouse or turtleneck route) that don't show off "the girls". No one seems to have a problem with that, but just the idea of someone exposing part of their breast in public (even if they don't actually show anything) to feed their baby is apparently too much to deal with.

This gets me so riled up. I'm hoping to breastfeed my future children, and I can't imagine being harassed for it because I'm out running errands with my baby and don't feel like hiding in a dirty bathroom to feed them. Hopefully new, protective legislation will be passed in PA... very soon (I can't believe it isn't already in place)!


Issue Two... Gay Marriage:
This is not something I normally talk about outright. I have mentioned it in passing, but I thought I would take one day to elaborate a little. You may not agree with me, but I hope you won't run away because of that. Just one short post and it is back to my regularly scheduled blogging.

It is my firm belief that regardless of race, creed, color, or sex; one should be able to marry. I think it is as right, as necessary, and as Obvious, as not having seperate bathrooms or water fountains based on color. If two people love each other and want to spend the rest of their loves together, how does it hurt you to recognize them legally?

Some say that it is a religious thing. Well then don't marry them or recognize them in the church. But last time I checked this was still a nation where laws were created to represent all people regardless of what religion they were practicing. Some say that they want to preserve what marriage is about. Well, I say until we do away with Britney Spears style 55-hour Vegas marriages... heteros really have nothing to say about the santity of marriage. And if they want to extend that argument to children. Well, gay parent's make just as good a parent as hetero couples do. They can adopt (their are PLENTY of children needing adoption) or go through the same fertility treatments as straight wanna-be parents do. These are not arguments, they are excuses.

And I'm not the only one... here are some quote, some figures, a narrative a friend of mine compiled...

Marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family. Because it fulfils yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life’s momentous acts of self-definition.

- Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall, writing for the majority, Goodridge v. Dept. Public Health, Mass. Supreme Judicial Court (November 18, 2003)

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/

Del Martin, 83, and Phyllis Lyon, 79, who have been a couple for more than 50 years, were the first same-sex couple to be legally married in the U.S. on February 12, 2004. By March 11, when the California State Supreme Court ordered a halt to the weddings, over 4,000 gay and lesbian couples had tied the knot. These couples had traveled to San Francisco by bus and plane. They had called in sick to work, packed their kids and camping gear into the backs of their cars, and headed to City Hall. They had stood in line through high wind and torrential rain, all for a chance to have their relationships legally recognized.

“The odd thing about the opposition to gay marriage is that if opponents were not so blinded by bigotry and fear, they would see that gay men and lesbians provide the last, best argument for marriage: love and commitment. Gay marriage will not and cannot weaken the institution of marriage. A heterosexual is not somehow less married because a homosexual has tied the knot. On the contrary, the institution will be strengthened, bolstered by the very people who for conservatives represent everything loathsome about modernity. Gays are not attacking marriage. They want to practice it.”

— Richard Cohen, “This May Be Good for Marriage,” in the Washington Post, November 20, 2003