NOM Needs a Dictionary

Timothy Kincaid

June 12th, 2009

Merriam-Webster defines “petition” as a “a formal written request made to an official person or organized body”. Most commonly it is a method by which individuals can show their support of a collective effort to influence a body on a decision.

In other words, a petition has a specific request and a specific audience.

But the National Organization for Marriage isn’t quite sure what the word “petition” means. On their new website Stand With Carrie, they request that visitors “Sign the Petition to Stand with Carrie!” But they provide no petition nor any indication of what “standing with Carrie” might be about:

Carrie Prejean could have had it all, at the price of sacrificing her values. She chose to speak the truth. She chose to Stand Up for Marriage. Now she is paying the price. It’s time for us to Stand with Carrie. Sign up now to let Carrie know you stand with her. And check back soon for more details on how you can help Carrie stand for truth.

Is this directed towards Donald Trump? Does she want her tiara back? Is she now interested in doing the tasks of Miss California? Who knows?

This is a “petition” with neither a request nor a petitionee; this is not a petition at all. Either the designer of the National Organization for Marriage’s new website is not very bright, or that is his opinion about those who visit there.

Ben in Oakland

June 12th, 2009

“Sign the petition” when there isn’t actually one means the same thing as “give us money” to “preserve opposite marriage.”

in other words, it means something in “Opposite World”

Jim Burroway

June 12th, 2009

Merriam-Webster also includes same-sex couples in their definition of marriage, even if their definition is somewhat inelegant. NOM has dictionary problems all around.

tavdy79

June 13th, 2009

That’s not a petition, it’s a names-and-emails gathering ploy – in a few months’ time they’ll be contacting all those gullible Christers for money. NOM is evidently learning the tactics of Gary Randall and Larry Stickney’s Referendum 71 petition in Washington State. The only difference is that NOM aren’t doing quite such a slick job of it – Larry the Hutt may have screwed up on the Referendum 71 petition at almost every possible turn, but at least it’s an actual petition!

Buffy

June 14th, 2009

“Either the designer of the National Organization for Marriage’s new website is not very bright, or that is his opinion about those who visit there.”

I vote C, “all of the above”.

Ephilei

June 15th, 2009

“Carrie Prejean could have had it all.”

Someone’s taking this beauty contest thing way too seriously.

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