Equating inequality

[omega minimo]

The comparisons of the current gay/lesbian marriage struggles to "sitting in the back of the bus" and "whites only water fountains," etc. are difficult to accept. I know that some compare the struggles and even equate them.

Coretta Scott King is quoted on her views on same sex marriage as a civil rights issue. There are similarities between different civil rights struggles, of different times and different issues. And there are times when the different groups have worked together.

There's not a strong presence of African American issues in the large forums AFAIK. It seems the Group stays focused and under the radar.

So I have come in respectfully to ask for opinions on the comparisons between civil rights issues. There are comparisons, but I am asking for this reason:

It seems too much to claim that the struggle for gay/lesbian marriage is equated with specific aspects of African American civil rights. The claims that the marriage issue is just like "sitting in the back of the bus" or "whites only water fountains" seem to trivialize the realities of the historic and current African American experience -- from how captives were brought here, through to today, when socioeconomic issues remain unresolved and Katrina NOLA shone a light on the blindness of the public to televised genocide. The history and the imagery are too intense to be watered down. IMHO.

That's how it seems to me. When I see these statements of direct comparison on DU, I am uncomfortable for those reasons and embarrassed at being associated with what to me seems flippant or clueless, unaware of history.

I would appreciate some thoughts here, on whether it is something that also disturbs and distresses African American and other DUers.

Thank you. (If I'm the only one I may stop tilting at that particular windmill rather than pointing out it is not appropriate).


edit: typo "times"