In
a passionate commentary denouncing the passage of Proposition 8, the California constitutional
amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman, MSNBC's Keith
Olbermann ended his show Monday by calling same-sex marriage a "matter of the
human heart."
"In
a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here
want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't
want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you,"
Olbermann said in Monday's "Special Comment," a segment at the end of some of
his "Countdown" shows. "They want what you want--a chance to be a little less
alone in the world."
He
also compared Prop. 8 to laws against interracial marriage and laws that didn't
recognize the marriages of slaves.
"I
keep hearing this term 're-defining' marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined
marriage, Black people still couldn't marry white people," he said. "Sixteen
states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967 … If this country
had not re-defined marriage, some Black people still couldn't marry Black
people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of
slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were
slaves."
He
ended by asking opponents of the measure to consider how the sanctity of
marriage could be better served by sharing it with all who seek
it.
"It
is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is
the only world we have," Olbermann said. "And the other guy counts,
too."
Posted: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
Olbermann Slams Pro-Prop. 8 Crowd on Show
I couldn't have said it better myself. Mr. Olbermann's defense of gay marriage is eloquent, reasoned and true. It is a shame that, in the name of Christianity, so many minorities who have struggled to gain civil rights would be so eager to take it away from others. I often ponder why so many of the so-called religious forget that really important statement in the Bible: "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
Marla Hill
Posted: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
Olbermann Slams Pro-Prop. 8 Crowd on Show
Tears actually came to my eyes when I heard Keith Olbermann make such an impassioned speech that night. He argued for the case from a point of view that only the most cruel and insensitive person could argue against - that human compassion should have been the ultimate decider in that ballot decision, not religion or politics.
Ray Matyjasik
Posted: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
Olbermann Slams Pro-Prop. 8 Crowd on Show
if one person is black and one white the are equal people, but they are different. if one person is man and one person is a woman they are equal people, but they are different. if one person is a christian and one is an atheist the are equal people, but the are different. Homosexual and heterosexual are equal people, but they are different. Man, Woman, Black, White, Christian, Atheist, Gay, Straight... they are all different by definition but equal as people. the same is true for marriage. marriage by definition is one man and one woman. that does not mean that homosexuals cannot have an equal union. heterosexual unions and homosexual unions are equal, but they are different
David Macneill
Posted: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
Olbermann Slams Pro-Prop. 8 Crowd on Show
Thank you Keith for you outspoken comment relating to the PROP 8 of California. I hope that people who are against gay/lesbian marriage have heard this. Life is much happier for me and my life partner after marrying in MA. We have not destroyed anything or anyone and have a wonderful family who love us. Including a beautiful grandson and another on the way.
Jan Nelson
Posted: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
Olbermann Slams Pro-Prop. 8 Crowd on Show
When I watched his show and listened to his specail comment regarding Prop 8, I cried. The Gay Community in Calif. should use it as a Public Service Annoucement. Good job Keith for getting right to the heart of it again.
