Andrew Sullivan's The M-Word: Why It Matters To Me
Alix Field Field 1
Mary Anne Lightfoot
English 1101.308
Fall 2014
QUESTION: In paragraph 7, Sullivan refers to a “euphemism.” What is a euphemism and what examples does he give? In what way do euphemisms “build a wall between gay people and their own families”? Given his argument, do you think Sullivan would consider the term same-sex marriage (which he doesn’t use) a euphemism? Why or why not?
Euphemisms Hurt
Creating emotional bonds and forming loving relationships are tough skills to learn for most human beings, but are a necessity for stability and happiness in our lives. Andrew Sullivan reflects in his essay “The M-Word: Why it Matters to Me” on the difficulty of building relationships while growing up in a Catholic, conservative home in a middle-class neighborhood. Sullivan reveals his adolescent years to be isolating - causing depression, neuroticism, and thoughts of suicide. Powerless to share with friends and family members about his homosexuality, Sullivan retreats to his studies, isolating himself even further. Now, an openly gay man, Sullivan continues to divulge his views on civil marriage licenses and the use of euphemisms such as “gay marriage.” Sullivan firmly states that any descriptive term identifying a marriage as a homosexual one is an offensive euphemism that builds walls between gay people and their …show more content…
Sullivan would view “same-sex marriage” the same as he would view “gay marriage.” The two terms are interchangeable and are descriptive by identifying the marriage as a homosexual one. Any label before the word “marriage” would be considered a euphemism by Sullivan; he would prefer marriage to be a stand-alone statement without distinction, a statement that says to society, “I am capable of love, of community, of being part of a family, and I deserve to be united with the person I love in
Mary Anne Lightfoot
English 1101.308
Fall 2014
QUESTION: In paragraph 7, Sullivan refers to a “euphemism.” What is a euphemism and what examples does he give? In what way do euphemisms “build a wall between gay people and their own families”? Given his argument, do you think Sullivan would consider the term same-sex marriage (which he doesn’t use) a euphemism? Why or why not?
Euphemisms Hurt
Creating emotional bonds and forming loving relationships are tough skills to learn for most human beings, but are a necessity for stability and happiness in our lives. Andrew Sullivan reflects in his essay “The M-Word: Why it Matters to Me” on the difficulty of building relationships while growing up in a Catholic, conservative home in a middle-class neighborhood. Sullivan reveals his adolescent years to be isolating - causing depression, neuroticism, and thoughts of suicide. Powerless to share with friends and family members about his homosexuality, Sullivan retreats to his studies, isolating himself even further. Now, an openly gay man, Sullivan continues to divulge his views on civil marriage licenses and the use of euphemisms such as “gay marriage.” Sullivan firmly states that any descriptive term identifying a marriage as a homosexual one is an offensive euphemism that builds walls between gay people and their …show more content…
Sullivan would view “same-sex marriage” the same as he would view “gay marriage.” The two terms are interchangeable and are descriptive by identifying the marriage as a homosexual one. Any label before the word “marriage” would be considered a euphemism by Sullivan; he would prefer marriage to be a stand-alone statement without distinction, a statement that says to society, “I am capable of love, of community, of being part of a family, and I deserve to be united with the person I love in