What I Learned From Elmo Yesterday
(from www.katinkateeny.multiply.com)
I was watching Sesame Street
yesterday. I was flipping through the channels and I saw that animated
bit where there’s this bellhop who goes around the hotel he works in,
getting into precarious situations, just to feature the number or
letter of the day (yesterday it was the number 2.) You know, the really
thin bellhop with the really round face - the animation’s very 50’s art
deco-ish.
Anyhoo…
There’s
a new part - well, it’s not really new, since I read somewhere that
it’s been there for a while. It just wasn’t there during my time.
Apparently, since Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues were so successful because of their attempt to involve the child ("Can you tell me where she’s hiding kids?! Yes, that’s right!"), Sesame Street decided to follow suit. One part that specifically involves the child is the portion Elmo’s World.
Yesterday, in Elmo’s World,
it was Family Day. So Elmo showed the drawing he made of his Mom and
Dad…his pet fish had her relatives over as well (yeah, I know…) And
he showed the kids an MTV (in the way that only Sesame Street can, reminiscent of "Everybody Sleeps") featuring different kinds of families.
Family 1: Caucasian Mom, Dad, and two daughters.
Family 2: Asian Mom, Dad, three children, Grandmother, and Grandfather.
Family 3:Caucasian Mom and Asian Daughter.
Family 4: African American Dad, Caucasian Mom, Multi-racial daughter.
Family 5: African American Gay Couple and Asian son.
Yes. African American Gay Couple and Asian son. As Borat would say, "Wowoweewow!" They most certainly did not have that during my time!
I’ve
never really thought about Gay Marriage that much because it was just
too controversial a subject for me to get into, especially since it
doesn’t necessarily have to be my personal problem. But now that it has
invaded the wonderfully fluffy world of Sesame Street,
I am forced to actually confront the issue (along with a million other
0-12 year olds…) Also because, now that I’m in the throes of planning
for my own wedding and subsequent marriage, I can’t help but think
about gay men and women would like to have this kind of joyful
anticipation (and morbid stress, if I might add 
.)
Gay
people have every right to fall in love and be with the ones they love
just like everyone else. But to be joined in marriage…I dunno. I
think the very term "marriage" is the cause of my uncomfortability,
precisely because it such a sacred and religious term in my mind.
Marriage is a sacrament, a bond, an sacred commitment involving God’s
knowledge, affirmation, acceptance, and blessing. I believe that
marriage should be between Man and Woman as the Lord intended it.
However…
Gay
men and women should have the opportunity to declare and show their
commitment to the world. What a lot of other people don’t understand is
the inherent need to have their relationship recognized. And I’m all
for that. In my opinion, a legal union should be made available to
them. Spousal rights for each of them. I know of some gay couples who
have a more nurturing and lasting relationship than the kind some of my
heterosexual friends have. In a way, I think we could learn a lot from
these gay couples. The fact that they stay together despite so many
other obstacles apart from just what happens between the two of them is
nothing short of amazing.
My only actual problem would be the term "marriage."
Of
course, despite all my experiences with gay friends, I still don’t know
the actual length and breadth of this entire issue, so I am admitting
that my own opinion is not based on anything else but my own personal
beliefs and biases - borne out of my very limited experience and actual
knowledge.
How can anyone be but biased when comes to an issue such as this?
I’d
like to think of myself as mostly Democrat - but I am a Christian
first. The belief that marriage should just be between Man and Woman is
too unshakable for me. I know there are a lot more arguments to
consider, and I’m sure they’re very sound. In fact, I’d be interested
to hear about them. Maybe then all this will make more sense to me.
Can you believe it? A furry, little, red puppet made me think about Gay Marriage. I got that from Sesame Street - I can’t even begin to imagine what The E! True Hollywood Story would make me think about.
January 14th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
I so super-agree, my friend! Katz, you’ve just scraped the bottom of the gay-marriage barrel right there. You’re like the Eminem of “things that should be talked about”. Only without the durag and dirty finger.
Tama ka, dude. Noong biniyak ang kawayan, si Malakas at si Maganda ang nasa loob. Nalito ata ang mga bading kasi mga adjective lang ang nabanggit sa kwento.
Although, I tend to see it this way: Siguro WE see it this way dahil sa pinanggalingan naten..dude, Katoliko tayo, nanunuod ng Sesame Street, Batibot, ek-ek. Talagang earth-shaking para sa atin na may mag-asawang bading na gawa sa cotton.
Pero, kuntitignan mo, yung mga bading na kilala naten eh ganun din naman ata ang pinanggalingan eh. “Teeeeell meeee, where did I go wrong…?” As all things go, I think your stand goes with your historically-based bias. Which we share. Our stand questions whatever it is that makes them so.
Katz, tanggap na tanggap na ng mundo ang mga bading. Tanggap mo, tanggap ko. Pero nakakainis na may mga “pero” parin diba? There’s something in the coffee that doesn’t mix well with out tastebuds. But: coffee is coffee is coffee. And a homo is a homo is a homo.
January 15th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I know. I can only really appreciate all other arguments in a theoretical level.
Inasmuch as I am proud of how my biases have shaped my opinion - in no way do I impose them on others. Kumbaga agree to disagree, diba?
It’s just…sigh. Just…gets mo, diba? Hay.