We were innocently making our way to a wine tasting salon, and had to continually dodge the hoards of families and poking pennants coming from every direction. It wasn't until we were in the convention center that I was able to find out what was happening.
My French finally brought me into my first foreign political discussion with a total stranger.
The "manifestation" was a rally or march against homosexual marriage and their legal ability to adopt children. The main argument? That adopted children don't have the choice in who adopts them, and society needs to protect them by only allowing traditional parents (a husband and wife) to clear the adoption process.
The wine selling woman, who patiently explained her side to me while eating her lunch, said she supported the protest. She wasn't necessarily religious, and it didn't bother her if homosexual couples wanted to have tax breaks and similar governmental rights; it's politics to create a livable environment for everyone. But she was adamant that it was not fair to place children in a non-traditional home, no matter how "loving" or "accepting" it may be; the government would then be forcing political issues onto personal belief systems, and helpless children.
Essentially, a homosexual lifestyle is an adult choice, and should not be forced onto a child who has no control over their situation. Moreover, she stated that the homosexual community should not be granted the title of "marriage," no matter how many similar "rights." A marriage shared between a husband and wife is designed to have the emotional stability and the physical capability of producing and raising children, and therefore, orphans should have their own right to be taken into a family structure as such.
Marc and I were both amazed to see the crowds of children, parents, grandparents, and a massive (surprising) amount of young adults taking a stand. It showed us something more important than what these people believe in: it showed us that they still believe in something.
Europe and France get a "bad rap" for having no moral compass.
Today was a great day for sipping wines and shutting down stereotypes.
"A lie has speed, but the truth has endurance."