The Rotunda

Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Rebekah Tucker

I was watching TV the other day and a commercial came on advertising a new show called "Flowers Uncut." The premise of the show is to showcase Jeff Leatham, a.k.a. "The Rock and Roll Florist," and his work with floral arrangements.

Fair enough. But that made me think of all the other shows on TLC that have similar topics. We have "Cake Boss," which centers about a family who makes fancy pants cakes; "Say Yes to the Dress." which is all about finding the perfect wedding dress; "Masters of Reception," which, I'm sure you can guess, is about people who set up wedding receptions in 2.5 seconds.

All of these shows focus on weddings and how big and material they have become. Does anyone else find this a bit odd? Shouldn't weddings be about how much two people love each other and their commitment to one another, not about how much money they can spend?

Let's face it: the ideal wedding is between one heterosexual white male and one heterosexual white female. They even make the little people on the cake like that. Society is pretty much saying if you do not fit these standards, you should not get married.

Asst. Features Editor Sarah Schmader wrote a few weeks ago how the word "gay" is constantly being used to demean people and has a negative connotation to it. Apparently being gay in America makes you less of a human and more of an object of humiliation. Someone's sexual orientation decides whether or not they have the same rights as everyone else. It's outrageous.

And it doesn't stop at just the word. Gays and lesbians are not allowed to show the world they are committed to one another by being recognized as legally married. My government teacher in high school said we shouldn't worry too much about it now because it a few years it will not be an issue at all.

But in recent news, a Louisiana judge refused to marry an interracial couple because "of his concern for the future of the couple's children." I mean, really? Clearly racism, sexism, and all other types of isms still exist and persist today, but that is just ridiculous.

Some people argue that marriage is sacred because of religious reasons, and that is a fair argument. However, can you please explain to me how shows such as "Bridezilla" portray the sanctity of marriage? You have a bride who is going crazy while driving everyone else around her crazy. That is the basis of the show. And you're telling me that that form of marriage is acceptable but two people of the same sex getting married is not?

Continued...

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