Posted on 05/25/2012 2:24:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Dictionaries apparently do have the power to offend.
More than 65,000 people have signed a Change.org petition challenging Dictionary.com to “correct” its definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
Dictionary.com currently defines marriage as “the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.” and, alternatively, as “a similar institution involving partners of the same gender: gay marriage.”
The petition asks that the definition instead describe marriage as “the social institution under which a man and woman, woman and woman, or man and man establish their decision to live as spouses by legal commitments, etc.”
Mike Raven, the brother of a lesbian, said he started the petition because his sister was offended by the constitutional amendment that recently banned gay marriage in North Carolina.
“If this whole argument comes down to an intangible definition of marriage, then it’s time for that definition to change,” Raven explained at Change.org. “While we cannot change the oppressive and discriminatory way that some religions continue to define marriage, we can go to an even better place. I believe it is time to correct the definition of Marriage at our sources for what words mean: dictionaries.”
According to The Huffington Post, Raven’s target is not likely to change its definition any time soon.
“We recognize that the word marriage is at the center of nationwide debate,” Dictionary.com told HuffPo in a statement. “As we continually seek the best way to convey how all words are being used in multiple contexts, we appreciate all suggestions regarding the description of the current semantic status of ‘marriage,’ and constantly strive to marry the multifaceted strands in a way that is as comprehensive as possible.”
President Barack Obama announced his personal support for same-sex marriage two weeks ago, but the controversial topic remains a divisive political issue throughout the country.
Dictionary.com attracts about 50 million visitors a month, according to the petition.
I wonder how many are fake?
Anyway any opposite petition would attract a million, but not be as effective. lol
Considering a few billion people could access that website I personally consider 65,000 to be a drop in the bucket.
Give an inch and they want a mile. The present definition is too broad already.
Boy! The left leaves nothing undone. They even pressure a dictionary. This attention to detail is why they are usually victorious and in almost total control. The left has worked long and hard to reach the top. They captured all major institutions such as schools, churches, goverment offices, the media. This process of capturing institutions took them years. We, the conservatives, have nothing like this organization and drive. The left moves like a choreographed ballet.
So 0.02% of the population has spoken. I’m certainly persuaded.
science by petition, dictionary by petition, justice by petition.
truly ass-headedness is a pox over this country.
I just voted against is fifteen times. All you have to do is clear your cookies.
Hey! What about animals? They need love too. What about inanimate objects?
I feel offended because I'm not allowed to marry my Corvette.
“The present definition is too broad already.” ???????????????
The definition of marriage will one day need modification to include more three or more “partners.”
I take comfort in the fact that 65 million Americans will never use a dictionary anyway (even an online one).
“Marriage” isn’t a word someone normally needs to look up in the dictionary; their activism will win them nothing.
Reminds me of the South Park episode when the town wanted to change the definition of the word “fag” to mean annoying Harley riders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKN-zIc1AUc
you can "sign" it as many times as you like. It is easy to use iMacros, etc., to generate thousands of signatures in just a few hours. Change.org is a fraud.
Wow, 65,000 signatures? With that kind of overwhelming support, how could they possibly refuse?
(Is a /sarc tag REALLY necessary here?)
The animal rights groups are next.
Why not? Go ahead and marry your car. A man in Korea married his pillow.
Now what state would allow that...California maybe?
How very postmodern of them!
truly ass-headedness is a pox over this country.
How very postmodern of them!
The world has gone ass-headed.
Of course. The Bolshevik politburo, on the eve of the October Revolution, argued all night long about what to rename the ministries after they took them over the next morning.
George Orwell noticed this use of language as mind-control by the Communists. He also noticed their deliberate imprecision and fuzziness when they were smearing (and shooting ) people during the Spanish Civil War, in which he had enlisted on the side of the Republicans. The behavior of the Communists turned Orwell against the Left and made him a stickler for clear language, once he discovered how the Left routinely lies 1000 ways from Sunday -- including by the imprecise use of language.
So, sure, Communists and Leftists generally try to get control of words, as levers on people's minds.
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