Sometimes, complete strangers really lift my spirits.
A (presumed) couple, on the bus, are having a heated discussion.
Guy: "I listened to NPR at the end of work today on the computer."
Girl, annoyed: "What's that got to do with it?"
Guy: "Well, it's a year after [same sex marriage] started in Massachusetts, and only like a third of gay 'couples' [hand quotation marks used] have even gotten married."
Girl: "So?"
Guy: "So?! Don't you get it?! Even THEY don't want it. So I thi-"
Girl: "No. Don't even."
pause, both take a deep breath
Girl: "It's odd how you do that."
Guy: "Do what?"
Girl: "Assume that it shouldn't be enacted just because 99% of all gay couples in Boston didn't immediately run off and get married. There are plenty of reasons many of them may have stayed away, including fear of taking such a public commitment when people like my sister and her girlfriend can't even plant flowers in their front yard without getting heckled."
Guy: "Well, they might not get yelled at if they wouldn't act all butch."
Girl: "Shut-up. And since when should a group of people be denied basic rights of committed partners simply because a majority of them haven't taken advantage of it, for whatever reason? If a majority of kids in Seattle went to private schools, should the city shut down the public schools?"
Guy: "You're just twisting the argu-"
Girl: "No, I don't think I am. Should the city shut down all public education simply because a MAJORITY of kids aren't taking advantage of it?"
Guy crosses his arms in frustration.
Girl: "Yeah, I thought so. So, under what you just implied, the government shouldn't offer a service unless it'll work for the majority. Over half of all marriages end in divorce or separation. Should we get rid of that?"
Unfortunately, they got off the bus at this point.
You go, girl!
Posted by James at May 17, 2005 05:52 PM