[Opinion] A Suggestion on Same-Sex Marriage

1. On Wednesday, June 26 2013, the US Supreme Court made two rulings regarding same-sex marriage.

I agree with some aspects of the rulings but disagree with others.

I would like to state my agreement and disagreement and further make a suggestion.

The suggestion may lower the temperature of the cultural war over "same-sex marriage".


2. I agree with the US Supreme Court that governments should not deny but rather extend the same rights and benefits to same-sex couples as heterosexual couples.

I disagree with the US Supreme Court's refusal to rule on the legality of same-sex marriage.

My opinion is that same-sex marriage is not marriage.

My suggestion is for the US Congress, the legislative branch of government, to create a new legal category for same-sex couples that would have the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples but not calling it "marriage".


3. There is no doubt that there is a cultural war going on in the US.

This cultural war is rooted in deep disagreement over values.

These values in turn are grounded in larger units of analysis called "world-views".

Although there are others, but the two main conflicting world-views in the US are between Christian Theism and Naturalism.

Christian theists believe the Bible is the Word of God and its moral commands and prohibitions are binding on human beings.

Christian theists believe they live in a Christian theistic universe that is created by God.

Naturalists denied the God of the Bible exists.

Many naturalists believe values and morality are invented by human beings for themselves and are binding in so far as they are enforceable by law or force.

Naturalists believe they live in a naturalistic universe that is, per the late Carl Sagan, "the Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be."

Mentally, the Christian theists and naturalists live in the same world but different universes.


4. Marriage, according to the Bible, is instituted by God for the good of men and women.

(Genesis 2: 22-24 ESV): "And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

(Matthew 19:4-6 ESV): "He [Jesus] answered, 'Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.' ”

Therefore, for those of us who believe the Bible is the Word of God, marriage is not define by a couple living in a loving relationship with each other, but the joining of a man and woman before God.

Since marriage is an institution instituted by God, it should be honor by everyone including governments.


5. Does the view that same-sex marriage is not marriage imply that I want to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples?

The answer is no: I do not want to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples.

This is a lesson we should learn from the European Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment followed the Reformation in Europe and, in many ways, was conditioned by the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

The Reformation and Counter-Reformation were marked by severe conflicts over politics and religious doctrines.

Especially brutal was the Thirty Years' War.

("Thirty-Years' War", Wikipedia): "The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) was a series of wars principally fought in Central Europe, involving most of the countries of Europe. It was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, and one of the longest continuous wars in modern history."

Tolerance was one lesson the Enlightenment learned from the brutal conflicts of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation: We might disagree with each other but we should respect the rights of one another.

For my part:

(a) Respecting the rights of same-sex couples is not to deny them rights and benefits that are similarly entitled by heterosexual couples; but

(b) Respecting the rights of same-sex couples does not imply that I agree with them that same-sex marriage is marriage.


6. But on this matter of marriage, there is another way that will lessen the tension between the two sides of this cultural war.

A lot of the tensions arise because advocates of same-sex marriage want to expand the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

Ostensibly, this is to extend equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples.

But if equal rights and benefits is the goal or aim of these advocates, then there is another way to go.

Instead of expanding the legal definition of marriage, why not create a new legal category for same-sex couples?

Since a lot of those who believe same-sex marriage should be legally recognize as marriage are naturalists, why not take a cue from the animals of nature.

Biologists who study animals use the category "pair-bond".

The term "pair-bond" is descriptive and morally neutral.

Mathematically, there are four kinds of pair-bonds:

(a) male-female.

(b) female-male.

(c) male-male.

(d) female-female.

Since Bible believing Christians view marriage is instituted by God and therefore sacrosanct, why not preserve the existing practice and use the term "marriage" exclusively for the male-female or female-male pair-bond.

Why not create a new legal category for the male-male or female-female pair-bond and invest the same legal rights and benefits for couples under this category?

The advocates of same-sex marriage can chose a new name for this category and thus avoid a fight over terminology.

The suggestion is instead of expanding the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, why not create a new legal category for them?

Although this will not change the mind of many (or any) on marriage, this will lessen the intensity of the conflicts between the two sides.


7. One lesson we should learn from the Enlightenment is tolerance.

But tolerance does not mean that there is no truth or falsehood, or right and wrong.

Tolerance means that even if we disagree with each other, we should respect the rights of one another.

In choosing to fight to expand the legal definition of marriage, the advocates of same-sex marriage unnecessarily raise the intensity of the cultural wars in the US.

The cultural wars are rooted in deep seated difference in values and ultimately in world-views.

I do not see any way for the two sides to come to agreement.

But even in disagreement, we should be civil to each other.


References:

BBC News. 2013. US Supreme Court in Historic Rulings on Gay Marriage. June 26.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23068454
(accessed 2013-06-30).

Hurley, Lawrence. 2013. Gay Marriage Gets Big Boost in Two Supreme Court Rulings. Reuters, June 26.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/26/us-usa-court-gaymarriage-idUSBRE95P06W20130626
(accessed 2013-06-30).

Liptak, Adam. 2013. Supreme Court Bolsters Gay Marriage With Two Major Rulings. The New York Times, June 26.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/27/us/politics/supreme-court-gay-marriage.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
(accessed 2013-06-30).

Reilly, Ryan J., and Sabrina Siddiqui. 2013. Supreme Court DOMA Decision Rules Federal Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional. The Huffington Post, June 26.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/supreme-court-doma-decision_n_3454811.html
(accessed 2013-06-30).

"Pair bond", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pair_bond
(accessed 2013-06-30).

"Thirty Years' War", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War
(accessed 2013-06-30).

End.

[Music] Benevolence of the Land -- Michael Kwan

 Michael Kwan

 A Poster for Fatherland (1980)

1. Chinese Poem of the Day:


賀知章 (659 - 744)


回鄉偶書

少小離家老大回，鄉音無改鬢毛衰。

兒童相見不相識，笑問客從何處來。


2. Benevolence of the Land  ("大地恩情") was the theme song of Part 1 of a Hong Kong RTV's television drama that was first aired in 1980.

The TV drama was also called "大地恩情" in Chinese but the official translation of "大地恩情" in English is Fatherland.

Since I do not find Fatherland to be an appropriate title for the song, I have changed it to Benevolence of the Land.
 
Fatherland (1980) was consisted of three parts, each with its own theme song:

Part 1 - Home in Pearl River ("家在珠江") (36 episodes).

Part 2 - Revolution in the Old Capital ("古都驚雷") (22 episodes).

Part 3 - The Golden Mountain Dream ("金山夢") (12 episodes).


("Golden Mountain Dream" originally refers to Chinese who dreamt of making money in either the California or the British Columbia Gold Rush of the 1840s and 1850s. Today, it generally refers to Chinese who dreams of making big money in North America.)

(RTV was the predecessor of today's Asia Television Limited (ATV).)


3. Back in 1980, there were only two free-to-air television stations in Hong Kong:

(a) RTV (Rediffusion Television), and

(b) TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited).

TVB was by the far the dominant TV station in Hong Kong.

The airing of Fatherland ("大地恩情") was the first time RTV has beaten TVB in ratings and it is still consider a landmark in Hong Kong's television history.


4. The song Benevolence of the Land ("大地恩情") touched me very deeply because something similar happened to my family.

The backdrop for Home in Pearl River ("家在珠江") was the 1900s and 1910s when the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) was coming to an end the chaos of the Republic of China began.

The story tells of a family forced to leave their ancestral village in the Pearl River delta area because of poverty.

Similarly, my paternal grandfather and some from his clan left our ancestral village in the Pearl River delta area in the early 1910s because of poverty.

They moved to Hong Kong to seek economic opportunities.

My father was born in Hong Kong and in the same year he was born the clan moved to Shanghai.

The clan consisting of over thirty people moved back to Hong Kong in 1933 during the Japanese invasion of Shanghai.

My aunt remembered my father was not able to speak Cantonese but can only speak Shanghainese when they moved back.

Although my paternal grandfather passed away before I was born, the story Home in Pearl River ("家在珠江") touched me deeply.

I understand this kind of stories happened to a whole generation of people: they left their ancestral village not because they wanted to; they were forced to do so because of war and poverty.

There was a deep longing to return to the ancestral village and to the land in which they were rooted.

And this is the sentiment of the song Benevolence of the Land ("大地恩情").


5. Michael Kwan was the original singer of Benevolence of the Land ("大地恩情"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIL6GIVJz3o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7TyxtrABGQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ysp-K2fTTo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOLTB3uXpVY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbhHGFA_jeE


6. Jacky Cheung:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoLGQu8elPo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rv0s_XtBdY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcKH2enwMLk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-piAC4cZoY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t99SpiGb3-s


7. David Lau was one of the actors in Fatherland (1980):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHqx9xFnqWs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YD8v5QHlAc


8. Johnny Yip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdFjnhT1iBk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLUa9F3shC4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0eTWfe9d6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsADgGsQnHM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfm3CS02NJA


9. Andy Lau:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7CLtwR0zlE

The singing is ok.

But as @SiegfriedJRLi remarked in YouTube, the choreography is really inappropriate.


10. A piano cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsCFj-rDJFM


11.  The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:


大地恩情 -- 關正傑

啊...啊...啊...
啊...啊...啊...

河水彎又彎   冷然說憂患
別我鄉里時   眼淚一串濕衣衫

人於天地中   似螻蟻千萬
獨我苦笑離群   當日抑憤郁心間

若有輕舟強渡   有朝必定再返
水漲   水退   難免起落數番

大地倚在河畔   水聲輕說變幻
夢裡依稀滿地青翠   但我鬢上已斑斑


12. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:


大地恩情--关正杰

啊...啊...啊...
啊...啊...啊...

河水弯又弯   冷然说忧患
别我乡里时   眼泪一串湿衣衫

人于天地中   似蝼蚁千万
独我苦笑离群   当日抑愤郁心间

若有轻舟强渡   有朝必定再返
水涨   水退   难免起落数番

大地倚在河畔   水声轻说变幻
梦里依稀满地青翠   但我鬓上已斑斑


13. Names, Words and Phrases:

Andy Lau (Traditional Chinese: 劉德華; Simplified Chinese: 刘德华).

David Lau (Traditional: 劉志榮; Simplified: 刘志荣).

Jacky Cheung (Traditional: 張學友; Simplified: 张学友).

Johnny Yip (Traditional: 葉振棠; Simplified: 叶振棠).

Michael Kwan (Traditional: 關正傑; Simplified: 关正杰).

Pearl River (Traditional: 珠江; Simplified: 珠江).

Qing Dynasty (Traditional: 清朝; Simplified: 清朝).

RTV (Traditional: 麗的電視; Simplified: 丽的电视).

TVB (Traditional: 無綫電視; Simplified: 无线电视).


References:

"Gold Mountain", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Mountain
(accessed 2013-06-29).

"List of television stations in Hong Kong", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_Hong_Kong
(accessed 2013-06-29).

"大地恩情", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%A4%A7%E5%9C%B0%E6%81%A9%E6%83%85
(accessed 2013-06-29).

"賀知章", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%B4%BA%E7%9F%A5%E7%AB%A0
(accessed 2013-06-29).

End.