"DISTRACTIONS": David Blankenhorn

...Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, the statement we released is not distracted at all by the issue. In a 26-page statement, we devote only a few sentences to the issue of same-sex unions. The statement contains 93 goals, exactly one of which concerns same-sex unions. And what does the statement say about the issue? We say that it is an important issue about which we in the marriage movement disagree, and that we are committed to having a civil discussion of the issue. That's it. So who is getting distracted here--our statement, which hardly mentions the issue, or Eisner's column, which hardly mentions anthing else?

What I take from an article like Eisner's is that we are living through an unusual period, such that any time that anyone or (especially) any group says the word "marriage" in public, they are going to be criticized over the issue of same-sex unions--irrespective of whether or not they say anything about it, and, if they they do say something, irrespective of what they say. For example, if we had followed Eisner's implicit advice and had completely ducked the SSM issue in this statement, that too would have criticized, and justifiably so.

What's the solution? The only things I can think of are very simple. Keep doing our work. When we don't agree about a controversial issue, admit it, and keep working together on the many issues on which we do agree. And try not to get distracted.

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posted by Eve at 5:06 PM | link

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