No big deal

WE have an unscientific, non-binding poll at horrendous cost. We are also facing divisive and destructive name-calling. In fact, whichever group ‘wins’, very little will change in practical terms. Same-sex couples will continue to live together, and some will continue to raise children, often fostering the victims of broken conventional homes. Conventional marriages will

Friendly flocks

I’M sure I’ll vote Yes, but it puzzles me that I’ll do that. I can easily understand 5 to 15 per cent of people might vote Yes. I can understand a similar proportion might vote No, but I’d expect 70 to 90 per cent of us to be in the Don’t Care category. Why am I, and most Don’t Care birds, more likely to flock with Yes birds? The Yes campaigners use inclusive arguments. “Hi. Come on in. Your plumage is unimportant. Everyone is welcome, even your funny rainbow plumage is welcome here”. The No campaigners use exclusive language. “We have the right plumage. We are in charge. We are the experts defining right and wrong. We’ll never accept you as one of us, but we demand the right to tell you what plumage you can and can’t wear.”

Embrace differences

I’M sure we all accept each of us is unique. We do not choose our eye or skin colour, race, sex or place of birth, nor our parents. A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website.

Unification

INSTEAD of seeing marriage being ascribed to a given gay couple, why not assign instead the term unification. This may well be an acceptable terminology to pacify both sides of this divisive debate.