The U.S. may have many faults, but Der Spiegel columnist Marc Pitzke
writes that this week's historic Supreme Court decision legalizing gay
marriage shows American in its very best form.
Gay Marriage:
U.S. Sets Benchmark for Hypocrite Germans (Der Spiegel, Germany)
"It's easy
to get worked up about the Americans. The NSA, drones, torture, Guantánamo,
racism, police brutality, poverty: The list is as long as the right to be
outraged is justified. … In Germany, panels continue to 'discuss' and
committees continue to bicker while gay and lesbian Germans remain second-class
citizens: Despite an overwhelming majority in the polls speaking out for gender
equality; despite open letters by celebrities; and despite the common sense for
which Germans are otherwise so proud. … There is much to gripe about in America
- and rightly so. But her astonishing, home-made brand of social progress is
certainly no reason to do so."
The U.S. has legalized
same-sex marriage. It's a historical bombshell that should put other Western
nations to shame – first of all Germany, which hesitates and makes excuses.
New York:It's easy to get worked up about the
Americans. The NSA, drones, torture, Guantánamo, racism, police brutality,
poverty: The list is as long as the right to be outraged is justified – and
futile. That is especially true in Germany, where we enjoy a sophisticated
hate-love connection with the United States. Complain, grumble, knit-pick - and
then take a trip there. New York, New York!
Apropos:
On Sunday in New York, tourists will again be able to marvel at a very special
attraction. Thousands and thousands of gays, lesbians, and transsexuals will
march down Fifth Avenue for the annual Gay Pride Parade. What was an event of
shameless commercialism will now be replaced by true joy: For the first time in
years, there is truly something to celebrate.
The nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage is a
historical bombshell. It brings an end to decades of discrimination in
connection with one of the most unassailable of U.S. civil rights and realizes
the highest aspiration of the American Constitution, otherwise quickly reduced to a catchy phrase: "All men are created equal." It is the purest
expression of a dream that elsewhere is ailing: the American Dream of pursuing
"life, liberty, and happiness."
Moreover, with its landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court
has set a global benchmark and a model for many countries that puts them to
shame - and not just because of its rhetorical eloquence. First of all Germany:
hesitating, playing games and making excuses, it has been completely incapable
of bringing itself to take such a step.
"Congrats, America!" Tweeted the Green Party's top
politician Volker Beck after the U.S. ruling. "Now, dear CDU/CSU/SPD, its
Germany's turn!"
But Germany, the self-appointed conscience of the world, is
wriggling around in a web of prejudice, ignorance, and bureaucracy. "It is
my hope and expectation that we in Germany will also achieve complete equality
between life partnership and marriage," wrote Federal Human Rights
Commissioner Christoph Strässer on Saturday. Hope, and expectation [is one
thing] … but reality?
Gays in the Military? … The Greeks Had it Right (Causeur, France)
Strässer's stilted choice of words shows how challenging
this human topic continues to be in bureaucracy-infused Berlin. Chancellor
Angela Merkel plays the coquettish yet reluctant bridesmaid to keep her
"guardians of tradition" happy. CDU lawmaker Helmut Brandt, for
instance, understands marriage purely as a vehicle for procreation. Or Minister
of Saarland Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer who
warns against bigamy and incest - both apparently a natural consequence of
same-sex marriage.
This is about more
than marriage
These are backward and even dangerous views. Such contempt
for same-sex love is no better than the false piety of the American right,
which demonized the Supreme Court ruling as a threat to its "religious
freedom" - a sanctimonious code phrase for hatred. Freedom is not freedom
if it denies freedom to others.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
For this is about much more than the right to marry. It's
about finally incorporating gays into society. For too long they were forced to
hide, be afraid, bend, and deny – with government approval. Even the long road
of the German LGBT movement has been paved with victims.
Instead, panels continue to "discuss" and
committees continue to bicker while gay and lesbian Germans remain second-class
citizens: Despite an overwhelming majority in the polls speaking out for gender
equality; despite open letters by celebrities; and despite the common sense for
which Germans are otherwise so proud.
In the U.S., public opinion set the course. Things long went
back and forth. Public referendums handed out LGBT rights and took them away
again. At times Congress approved of gay marriage and at others it voted
against it; courts decided in one direction and then increasingly in the other.
Until the highest authority ruled: Now there is no going back.
Best of all: Nothing was decided in backrooms. It was pure
democracy - the United States in its long-forgotten top form. On Friday, the
U.S. Consulate in Germany hung rainbow flags in its windows - within view of
the Bavarian State Chancellery. Love wins, CSU!
There is much to gripe about in America - and rightly so.
But her astonishing, home-made brand of social progress is certainly no reason
to do so.
