Sunday, March 24, 2013

Don't Mess With My Family

I haven't written in a while. I haven't felt like I had anything important to say.

Now, I do.

How dare Ralph Reed think he can criticize my family.

In case you are not familiar, Ralph Reed is a small minded, well funded (and coiffed), bigot with a big mouth here in the U.S. who loves to be on T.V. Today, in defense of the country's ongoing prejudice against same sex couples he made he argument that it is "for the children" saying: "The verdict of social science is overwhelming and irrefutable. And that is without regard to straight or gay. In other words, this applies to one-parent households, it applies to foster homes, it applies to the whole panoply – they’ve looked at them all – that the enduring, loving, intact, biological mother and father is best for children."

What the huh?

First of all, "science" is not a citation. Give me studies, Ralph, give me names. I want empirical evidence here, not just something your buddies heard behind the 7-11 before the latest Westboro protest. And not just one study, I want to see a lot of them. They all better have big sample sizes too. I have seen enough of these "500 hundred first cousins" bullshit surveys to know the difference.

This is my family. 
Also, have you looked at the demographics of the United States of America lately? While you may be living in a "Leave it to Beaver" world, this is definitely more of a "Full House" country now.  I'm not just talking about liberal, commie, granola crunching weirdos either. I am talking about your so-called base of Christian fundamentalists. Families are taking all shapes and sizes, no matter your political or religious bent. No, they may not have two Moms, or two Dads, but they likely will have only one or the other under one roof, and have foster or adopted children as well. Do you really think now is the time to start excluding them from the "big tent?"

Lastly, in your defense of DOMA, and Prop 8, and your attack on families, you are trying to somehow say some are better than others. I agree, some are. But it has nothing to do with demographics; it has to do with love. All families will have good times and bad; whether they share DNA, or live in the same house, or have parents of the same gender. It is how we deal with those times, not the statistical picture, that matters.

I wish any of this would make a difference to him. I know it makes a difference to me. I know that I am raising a child in a world that still has so many prejudices it makes me afraid for her. I want her to know that her family is the one place she is always safe, and never judged. It makes it hard when it feels like people are judging her family.

So, I will fight like a rabid badger until that is not the case.

Come at me, Ralph Reed, and bring all your "science" with you. I will fight you with the love I use to protect my daughter.

The love of a Mother.

Because we are family. And not some discounted family.

The real damn deal.

12 comments:

Riot Kitty said...

Hooray! Blood isn't thicker than water. Anyone who thinks that is as big of an idiot at Ralph Reed. Who should really go fuck himself. At least then he'd be getting some! (Hey, you didn't expect me to comment on Ralph Reed without saying fuck, did you?)

@MollyKDaunt said...

HAHAHA "...not just something your buddies heard behind the 7-11 before the latest Westboro protest."

LL Cool Joe said...

I don't know who the hell Ralph Reed is, but we have enough of his kind in the UK. He'd have field day with me wouldn't he? Transgender, pansexual, adopted, with adopted kids. Hah. I'm his worst nightmare.

Oh and my daughters are beautiful, well, happy, strong, feisty, secure and totally loved, and they know it.

Katie said...

A-freakin-men. I'm over people talking about topics that they have no business talking about or experience with. I think you should print this out and send it to this fucktard.

Jessica said...

That guy is obviously an idiot. I've been following your blog for a very long time, and I adore every story about your family. You're clearly a loving, caring, awesome mother; your husband is a loving, caring, awesome dad; and that kid of yours is thriving and beautiful. Good for you for BEING you.

Amanda said...

You are protesting too loudly. Just embrace that your daughter is doomed to be as much trouble as my gun slinging thug - and all the love you think you have for her will not rectify the situation.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to go make sure that my single parent-raised son does his part for the gun troubles, just as Mitt Romney said.

Unknown said...

I can think of 790,000 examples of how biological parents are not the best situation for children. Asshat.

Anonymous said...

It amazes me that people like this can still exist in our world.

My blended family (marriage, birth, foster and adoption) has taught me many things about what REALLY makes a family.

It offends me to no end to think there are people out there who think my family is anything less than what it is because of how it was formed. This is the same reason that I am glad and proud to support my GLBT friends right to marriage.

The whole thing makes me stabby.


Jen said...

Love makes a family. Period. End of discussion. Why are there still people talking about this?

Vapid Vixen said...

LOVE this! Well said!!!

Becky said...

Who gets to define what a family is, anyway? Aren't we way beyond that? Family looks like so many different things to so many different people. Every child deserves to be raised with love. After that, the rest is window dressing.

Samantha said...

Damn straight, Libster. Well said.