Thursday, February 03, 2011

Iowan Zach Wahls on TV

Iowa on TV: Iowa's debate over changing the state's marriage laws is scheduled to go prime-time. Lawrence O'Donnell's "Last Word" on MSNBC is scheduled to discuss the topic on tonight's show at 7pm central. Zach Wahls, a student at the University of Iowa, offered a passionate speech during the public hearing Monday night in the Iowa house chamber. He has two lesbian mothers as parents. His speech has nearly 500,000 hits on YouTube as I write this. Tonight, he is scheduled to talk on O'Donnell's show.




Speaking about the topic...in my story earlier this week, I wrote that Republicans were working to provide a more "narrow definition" of marriage in Iowa. I didn't expect the word "narrow" to be charged. I heard from a pastor who said the choice of the word shows a bias. I didn't see it that way. In my mind, I chose the word because Republicans are trying to limit which people can get married, which they are. So doesn't that narrow the definition of marriage? What do you think?

By the way, I do appreciate the responses to how something is written. There are times we choose words that mean one thing to us and something else to others.

3 comments:

desmoinesdem said...

Of course it "narrows" the definition of marriage to restrict it to heterosexual couples rather than all Iowa adults. Sounds like the complainer was just trying to work the ref.

Shane Vander Hart said...

Dave,

Republicans aren't trying to "narrow" it. It has always had a "narrow" definition for thousands of years.

Gay rights activists are trying to "broaden" the definition. Remember who messed with the definition first.

It wasn't Republicans.

Phillips said...

Vander Hart said it perfectly. We're trying to broaden the traditional definition, not the "narrow" definition.