In the chapel bells are ringing - Roger Ebert

[oxymoron]

The first time I heard gay marriage mentioned, I was incredulous. Two gay people couldn't get married! It simply...well, it wasn't done. I wasn't objecting to their homosexuality. I was objecting to the disturbance caused to my mental categories.

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
Dad was told by mother
You can't have one,
You can't have none,
You can't have one without the other!

In recent years, dad is being told something else by brother.

I must have heard about gay marriage sometime in the 1970s. It made an impression when it was mentioned by my mother. We had never discussed homosexuality. Neither of my parents did. Oh it might be observed, "Look at that Liberace! He sure is queer." It wasn't a criticism so much as a wonderment, as if he were playing with three hands.

More: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/08/the_first_time_i_heard.html

[Dappleganger]

1. Once again, my favorite modern blogger gets it right.

Especially about President Obama. You can't play both sides of the fence.

[oxymoron]

3. My feelings exactly. nt

[wookie72]

2. What a sweet story

Ebert's mom was born the same year as my grandma. I never knew what she thought of homosexuality (she clucked at men with earrings) but she was a rabble-rouser and all-around hellraiser. If she did approve of gay marriage, I know she would have been on Obama's case about it.

[oxymoron]

4. Isn't it?

I love this man.