The flowering of love--Strangers from Midwest send bouquets to couples in

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

San Fransisco. I want to say before the article that, upon reading this, I called Church Street Flowers and ordered a $50 bouquet to be delivered to any couple they want with the sentiment: "All the best for a long happy life together from Dallas, Texas." This article is going around the internet so fast.....I had been feeling frustrated because I wanted to do something. I have a friend who sent four bouquets, two of them on behalf of her son and his partner. Isn't this great? Even better that most of them are coming from straight people in "red" states!

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/21/MNGEP55KOA1.DTL

Snip:

Robert Yamaguchi and Raymond Mungo were waiting outside City Hall in the cold early Friday morning when a florist clutching wedding bouquets handed them one. The outside of the accompanying envelope read, "To The Happy Couple, " and the card tucked inside said simply, "With love from Minneapolis, Minnesota."

The men -- who have been together for 23 years and flew up from Long Beach to make it official -- were stunned by the anonymous gift of red roses, irises, lilies and white Gerber daisies.

"Oh, my heart just burst with joy when he handed up those flowers!" Mungo exclaimed as Yamaguchi carried them in his arm like a beauty contest winner. "Some stranger who doesn't even know us is helping celebrate the event -- it's very touching."

The couple's gift has been replicated hundreds of times throughout the week as part of a grassroots movement called Flowers in the Heartland.

Fueled by one oft-forwarded e-mail and a Web-log, callers from across the country have flooded San Francisco's flower shops, asking for bouquets to be donated to random same-sex couples waiting in line to get hitched.

Mike Ritz of Church Street Flowers in San Francisco's Castro district has received more than 50 phone calls from donors in Minnesota, Georgia and North Carolina. They asked for bouquets accompanied by a variety of messages: "I'm an 87-year-old grandmother wishing you well," and "To a Loving Couple, Have a happy life. Love, Karen" and "Nice day for a white wedding."

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

1. I meant to put "snip" at the end, as there is more to the article NT

[efhmc]

10. Wow! What a great way to start here by sharing such happy news.

Welcome.

[wryter2000]

2. This is so beautiful.

There were protestors yesterday. What a picture in contrasts they made to all the joy and love going on at those weddings. Ugliness and hate, hiding behind scripture.

In New Mexico, the person performing the wedding we saw was wearing a clerical collar. That's faith at work the way it was meant to be.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. Yep

I think one of the greatest things about this (besides the fact that so many couples are getting married!) is that it puts a HUGE human face on this issue for everyone watching it on the news!

Also, people can see the beauty of it and not all the hate of the people against it.

Thirdly, what's gonna happen when the rest of us go "um ok THOUSANDS of gay and lesbian couples NOW married, why isn't the end of the world happening?"

[wryter2000]

3. Welcome to DU, Moonbeam eom

:hi:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

4. Thanks wryter!

[Zhade]

6. Rock ON!

What a wonderful idea! You and everyone doing this are really showing the world that there's decency in people.

Welcome to DU, by the way - I'm especially glad to see this happy story this morning. Talk about a story to put a smile on your face! :)

[Fridays Child]

7. What a great way to express solidarity!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. Exactly (m)

I think that, along with truly wanting to wish them well, is what I was trying to say. I was frustrated in my attempts to show solidarity.

And now I am not!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

9. People can be so loving and supportive. Flower Power Lives!

This make my eyes water with joy.

And sorrow for those who can't experience this outpouring of respect.

[havocmom]

11. wonderful post, thanks for the link Moonbeam_Starlight!

I just sent off some emails with the link about this to people I love and I know to be loving.

Welcome to DU. Glad to have you here. Glad to have a chance to dance in a virtual conga-line of love with this great Flowers Fromt the Heartland movement.

What a great way for people to express their love of humanity and face down the hate mongers who think they are the majority. What a great way for strangers to connect to send love and encouragement. What a wonderful way for Americans to shout "We are not all hateful people" to each other and the rest of the world. Heaven knows we need all the love we can muster right now.

Thanks for helping get this great story out, Moonbeam_Starlight. The more it reaches, the faster it spreads.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. Yep, and you are very welcome (m)

I have been busy off and on most of the day linking this story everywhere I can, starting email chains about it (and I am not one to do that, normally), etc.

I want this to hit more than just the SF Chronicle. I want to hear about the flowers (and the symbolic feeling behind it) on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, you name it.

[MasonJar]

13. Does anyone know how to get the episode of West Wing (a rerun)

in which a bigoted reporter was trying to catch the Pres in a statement about gays and he retorted with a list of things from the Bible which noone now respects or follows. I'd love that list...stoning for adultery, hitting your mother if she puts two different threads together (or something like that), etc.?

[bvar22]

16. This is something that has been floating on the net...

...for a while. Not an episode of West Wing, but probably close to whst you are looking for.


Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21: 7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1: 9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them?
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan
Homer Simpson-Caldwell

[arikara]

22. That is from a letter that someone wrote to "Dr Laura"

as she was always on her soapbox preaching bigotry.

[Karenina]

14. There is a picture

of the first couple wed, they've been together a half a century or so...
can anyone post it to this thread? It brought tears of JOY to my eyes to see them so happy.

My JHS band teacher (I realized over a decade later) was a lesbian. She was the MOST IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN MY MUSICAL LIFE. I remember the "rumors" but had no point of reference and never engaged them as what was relevant to me was what I was being taught and how sincerely my goals were being supported. Today, I cannot imagine what she must have endured. The very thought makes me so angry...

[SidDithers]

19. Atrios had a link to a series of pictures...

It's probably still there, but down the page somewhere.

Sid

[starroute]

21. Here's a link to a NOW article with a picture

http://www.now.org/issues/lgbi/021304lyon-martin.html

It's not as emotional as the picture that you probably saw, but it was all I could find in a quick Google search.

[Frances]

15. Love wins over hate

nt

[Weathergirl]

17. This is very touching

n/t

[loudsue]

18. Kickin' it for love...Cupid's arrow flies!!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[prolesunited]

20. Special thanks to Oaf of Office

for posting this idea in GD the other day. I know it generated a lot of interest.

BTW, have you seen americanstranger's video set to "Let Love Rule" by Lenny Kravitz. It's awesome! Take a look:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1139973

[arikara]

23. This thread made my night.

Amy Goodman did a terrific segment about some of the people that are getting married, it was so very touching to hear the joy in their voices. A couple of the women had been together for 50 years.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/18/1641212

I'm just so glad that there is still loving kindness out there because you hear so much ugliness these days. I'm going to bed now on a happy note.