Defense of Marriage Act, D. O.M.A., is a carefully designed rhetorical gimmick falsely giving the impression that “marriage between a man and a woman” or “straight marriage” is under attack, and thus it is being “defended” by the congressional “act.” This is far from the truth as we all know but the word “Defense” creates a false reality in which “straight marriage” appears to be under threat.
Why false reality? Simply because, a law allowing the right to marry to same sex couples would not threaten, as it has falsely being implied by the language of DOMA, but instead, it would expand the scope of the existing law. In other words, a gay marriage bill has never been and never will be a threat to existing straight marriage laws.
I believe such rhetorical chicanery is neither new nor it is exclusive to DOMA. Rush Limbaugh’s recent hollering, “War on marriage,” for example, has the stamp and the mark of the same design.
What’s the purpose of such rhetorical snake oil salesmanship, then? Well, I cannot pinpoint “a purpose “exactly but it is not rocket science to figure out that this kind of twisted rhetoric making a “victim” out of the “victimizer,” or/and “good” out of the “bad,” or “right” out of the “wrong” work well in terms of the manipulation and the control of the political discourse.
It is not farfetched to assume therefore, that “DOMA” was possibly originated in a think tank (ministry of chicanery) office where a good number of similar language tornados were also manufactured, sometime during the last decade or two. This, I believe, is not a C.T. but a fact that can be understood simply by reasoning, alone. Plus, the frequency of the word games (false definitions and repeated memes) popping up in our media is making it more plausible that such rhetoric is likely to be used deliberately by interests aiming to create false realities in which American public opinion can be manipulated and directed.
What should we use instead of "DOMA," then, to define the “act” that clearly is limiting marriage to “straight only” status? I am open to suggestions but I also have a few ideas that I like to share: Since "DOMA" is actually an act of “limitation,” how about "SOMA," in other words, “Straight Only Marriage Act,” for example? Or, “LMAO,” “Limited Marriage Act Only” (I stretched this one a bit, for the obvious humor factor)?
I am serious of course. Next, we, collectively and repeatedly, have to start using the new acronym. My guess is that the Senate would have easier time giving up on a “SOMA” than a “Defense of Marriage Act," given the option.