June 2004

James Ehrmann • Finger on the Hot Button

Gay marriage certainly seems to be the hot button topic both nationwide and here on campus. Metaphorical burn marks on my fingers show just how often I’ve been pressing that button.

At a Student Assembly (SA) meeting on March 2, student senators talked about whether or not to formally condemn the federally proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. In the debate, I shared my opinion—namely that a few student senators could not claim to speak on the student body’s behalf. Other senators said this wasn’t even an issue for the student body to decide, and I agreed. Is President Bush going to turn on the television tomorrow, hear that the University of Iowa Student Government condemned the amendment, and suddenly decide that it’s just not worth it anymore? I sure hope not.

Students seemed to be unhappy about the neutrality of the student government, but I say that’s the best place to be on an issue like this: we can’t represent bleeding-heart liberals and hard-nosed conservatives at the same time and expect to reach reasonable conclusions.

The following night, three other student senators and I participated in a debate on gay marriage for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a UI Public Access television show. I felt as if I presented my arguments very well, in a civilized and respectful manner. Unfortunately, the next morning the Daily Iowan published a satirical letter to the editor—complete with tongue-in-cheek references to polygamy and bestiality—that I sent in response to an earlier letter denouncing President Bush and supporting same-sex marriage.

I’ve learned some lessons in the past few weeks. As a representative of the student body, I am held to a higher standard of conduct and thus should think twice about clicking the “Send” button after composing an irate e-mail letter. Also, what you find funny and satirical, others will find horribly offensive, as evident in the Daily Iowan’s five published responses to my letter and a slew of nasty e-mails.

But, if gay marriage is a just goal, then why must we go about legalizing it in the most unjust way? That’s why I’d throw all my support behind the federal amendment.

Yes, you can call it extreme, but you’d also have to call breaking state marriage laws in San Francisco, Oregon, New York, and Massachusetts extreme. You can’t fight an entire army with a single pistol, and you cannot fight liberal politicians with soft, wishy-washy propositions.

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