Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Common Sense
Hey, just what is that anyway? It sure as heck ain't common. Today's Morning Edition featured stories on the same-sex marriage hullabaloo in Massachusetts. One of the subjects interviewed mentioned that the "common sense" definition of marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Which, I suppose, relies on "common sense" definitions of sex and gender. Do you see where I'm going here? Apparently, some people are assuming that marriage is a material object - like a tree or a rock - and not a social construction that has different meanings in different cultures at different times.
Merriam-Webster Online gives us the following definition of common sense:
Main Entry: common sense
Function: noun
Date: 1535
1 : the unreflective opinions of ordinary people
2 : sound and prudent but often unsophisticated judgment
Since I am both self-reflexive and sophisticated, I offer my definition of marriage:
Marriage
Function: noun
Date: 1991
1: a trick and a trap
Hey, just what is that anyway? It sure as heck ain't common. Today's Morning Edition featured stories on the same-sex marriage hullabaloo in Massachusetts. One of the subjects interviewed mentioned that the "common sense" definition of marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Which, I suppose, relies on "common sense" definitions of sex and gender. Do you see where I'm going here? Apparently, some people are assuming that marriage is a material object - like a tree or a rock - and not a social construction that has different meanings in different cultures at different times.
Merriam-Webster Online gives us the following definition of common sense:
Main Entry: common sense
Function: noun
Date: 1535
1 : the unreflective opinions of ordinary people
2 : sound and prudent but often unsophisticated judgment
Since I am both self-reflexive and sophisticated, I offer my definition of marriage:
Marriage
Function: noun
Date: 1991
1: a trick and a trap
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