boycotting Kanab?

I got a great laugh out of this Deseret News story. To me it shows how both sides of the Blue State/Red State talk right past each other and really don't get it.

Kanab, in their infinite creativity, passed a resolution that the Sutherland Institute wrote for them. Fearing the devitalizing scourge of gay marriage and gender equality, their city resolution supports "upholding the marriage of a woman to a man, and a man to a woman as ordained by God." Homes, Sutherland's resolution said, should be open to a "full quiver of children" and young women to become "wives, homemakers and mothers." I am assuming they mean one wife per a household, given the singular use of woman in the above quoted language. I won't even get into the Establishment Clause issue right now.

Aurthur Frommer, founder of the travel advice empire that includes books videos, and a syndicated column advocated to his newspaper readers not to go to Kanab, whose economy is dependant on tourism. Frommer decided Kanab is "homophobic" and "bigoted," but failed to realize lots of towns in Red State America have passed similar things...in fact I think over 20 of the 50 states in the union have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. There are crazier cities and towns in Utah as well (see LeVerkin and Virgin's no-UN zone).

Kanab's reply? "Mr. Frommer obviously doesn't know much about Kanab," Mayor Lawson said. What is there to know? "His primary audience does not visit Kanab. They go to Europe," he said. "They go to places that have given up on the family long ago. That's where they're comfortable."

Yes Europe, where there are no more families and the continent has given up on them. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Frommer make travel guides for families on a budget? Sure Americans love to travel to Europe, but not because they have given up on families (even if that were true), but to see castles, museums, royalty, and other old stuff.

Personally, I don't think it is Arthur’s place to tell people to boycott Kanab. The people that would be offended by the resolution would have already avoided after Frommer informed them. The others who think it is funny or support it won't boycott the city. And how many of his readers even know where Kanab is? Or LeVerkin? Or Virgin?

Similarly, what will Kanab's resolution actually do? Make people feel better? Gay marriage has been banned twice statewide, most recently in 2004 by Amendment 3. Those who are gay in Kanab will likely emigrate to a big(er) city to meet other homosexuals and to not feel as outcast. I don't homosexual couples would dare live and raise a family in a small city/town like Kanab.

In sum, both Kanab and Frommer wasted their time and effort on a cultural issue that has little real effect on either party. Both just made themselves that much more ridiculous.

On a personal note, I am traveling to a small western town for the weekend to get a break from working full time this week and enjoy my spring break such as it is. Our motel will have wireless, so I can report from the road if a I feel so inclined. Enjoy your weekend.