(Untitled)

[cowboycadenza]

I have one thought before I head to bed

Comments

[lesisputnik]

I sort of liked the chalking, if only because it was colorful. You raise a good question though; on a very liberal campus like Vassar these activist groups tend to end up just preaching to the choir when they do on-campus protests. But I do think that while most people here would agree that gay marriage (or civil unions) is a good idea, I'll bet a lot of them didn't realize the sheer number of rights that are at stake. (I didn't know it was over a thousand.) And I think the chalk aspect was just an attention-getter; they seemed to have some sort of petition or something you could sign at the table too, so it was just the most visible aspect of a wider campaign.

Plus it got you thinking and talking about it, and sparking these kinds of conversations is a major part of the grassroots process.

Or maybe I just like the pretty colors.

[cowboycadenza]

I guess I didn't really care because I'd already done that kind of research in high school when the issue first became hot, and I already knew how many rights lesbian/gay couples were being denied. I assume no one's mind was changed by hearing that information, is the point, though. The only person I know on this campus that probably doesn't agree with gay marriage probably wouldn't have changed her mind, at least.

[tinydundie42]

The sidewalk chalk caught my attention, I saw Amanda's name and smiled, and then I went and filled out one of those petition sheets. I probably wouldn't have stopped and done it if they hadn't gone to all the work to make it a big production. There were *a lot* of people stopping and filling out the sheets, too. I think it worked. I'm sorry it made you late, but it made my day a little brighter.

Also, I agree with Elise that the colors were quite pretty.

[cowboycadenza]

It didn't make me personally late. I just feel like doing this sort of thing on an already liberal campus is pointless. They need to get out into the community and organize real life protests if they want to try and make a difference.

Although, even then, most people will probably just shake their heads and call us liberal hippies.

[hurkon]

I like the chalking, but I think the more important part of what they were doing was the letter-writing. It may not do that much for senators to get big bundles of letters supporting marriage rights from their constituents, but maybe it can help.

[cowboycadenza]

Oh, I didn't see them doing anything but the chalking.

[hurkon]

Yeah, they had a table set up where you could fill out form letters and they'd mail them. I didn't do one because I don't vote in NY, but I watched Mickey fill one out. It said basically, "SUPPORT MARRIAGE RIGHTS!!! I'M YOUR CONSTITUENT" only, you know, slightly more complicated. I thought it was a good idea.

[tinydundie42]

I filled it out and just pretended I was a New Yorker by putting down my Vassar address. ;-)

[classical_slut]

Fuck the fag contingent. They're not going to make babies so what good are they anyway?

[cowboycadenza]

Seriously.

[hurkon]

You know who else sucks? Infertile and post-menopausal women. We've given them a free ride with marriage licenses for far too long!

[cowboycadenza]

Yeah, what do they think they're doing getting married?

[ermentraud]

The point is to make support VISIBLE. Other people do visit this campus - prospective students, trustees, community members etc.
It also hi-lighted the path to the table where the New York State petitions were, which are politically meaningful.