[percy-l] gay marriage
Robert_Pauley at oxy.com
Robert_Pauley at oxy.com
Wed Aug 13 20:58:26 EDT 2003
Dear Steve:
You're right, it is pointless to speculate, and I often feel queasy
trying. My effort was inspired by my sense that, as you suggest, Percy
would have surprised us, somehow.
I wasn't equating a "personal bond" with marriage or anything else for
that matter. I was trying to some up with some description for a gay
union.
I think love most definitely is a part of this debate. I cannot accept
that homosexual bonds are by definition loveless. Though it may be I am
missing something.
Cordially, RP
-----Original Message-----
From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Parlin, Steven
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 7:41 AM
To: 'Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion'
Subject: RE: [percy-l] gay marriage
Dear RP
I'm not sure "totally" doesn't fit (though perhaps it's
fruitless to speculate about WP's thoughts). In "something to displease
both sides", Percy never wavered on the (total) wrongness of killing
unborn children. It's insanity and "totally", not partly, wrong. He was
merely pointing out the intellectual myopia that exists on both sides of
the political quagmire --and there is a lot of it. But, you're probably
right that Percy would have surprised and delighted and shocked with his
comments.
Two very good friends of mine are homosexual, one is in his late
60's and I speak with him regularly about these sorts of things. He
knows (and unfortunately has "known") a lot of homosexuals. I can tell
you there is hardly consensus among the homosexuals about what this
agenda is really about.
"Truth of gay love as a personal bond"? Hmm.... I love my best
friend (since kinder) probably more than I love anyone in the world, but
our "personal bond" is hardly a marriage, and I hardly want to be sexual
with him. But, even more to the point...what of my love for my father?
Love is not really a part of this debate.
The truth is, again citing my friend, homosexual "bonds" are
hardly about love and committment and the like. It's mostly about sexual
appetite and gratification.
Society's need to accept this? Society needs to accept
homosexuals, but not homosexuality.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert_Pauley at oxy.com
[mailto:Robert_Pauley at oxy.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 7:08 PM
To: percy-l at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: RE: [percy-l] gay marriage
I don't think "totally" is the right adverb for any
Walker Percy position. He was too intellectually supple. Remember his
piece on abortion in the New York Times -- ... "Something to displease
both sides." I believe he would have found a way to deconstruct the
moral and semantic choplogic of "gay marriage" while allowing for the
truth of gay love as a personal bond, and of society's need to accept
this, short of formal social or religious sanctification. He would,
again, have displeased both sides.
Best, RP
-----Original Message-----
From: percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:percy-l-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of James Piat
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 4:59 PM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical
Discussion
Subject: Re: [percy-l] gay marriage
Dear Phil,
I think we are all very much products of our
circumstances -- and tend to get more conservative as we age. Of his
writings I like Percy's essays the most, and The Movie Goer more than
The Thanatos Syndrome. I'm not so sure Percy would be totally against
gay marriage were he around today. Times change; people change.
Regards from Atlanta
Jim
I think Percy would be totally against
gay marriage. But that's why I'm glad I don't walk around wearing a
"WWPD?" wrist band. I think he was definitely a product of his time and
place, and his later novels particularly illustrate his out-of-place
feeling in the 1970's. And didn't it seem like he became more
conservative and doctrinaire as he grew older? It's been a while since
I've read Percy, but I remember The Thanatos Syndrome being a lot more
"preachy" than his early novels...
Regards from Chapel Hill,
Phil
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