Gay marriage

[regdog]

In some ancient cultures the idea of writing something down was considered an insult. If something had merit, it was passed down word of mouth, writing it down meant it wasn't worth remembering.

 

[Conscious Bob]

And might I add "written down" is more human interpretation...the bible, the Torah, the Quran...so many things have been read into these books...the bible doesn't word for word condemn homosexuality, the Quran absolutely does not endorse terrorism...it's interpretation and it is sad.

Then the interpretations are written down, amounts to the same thing.

 

[Conscious Bob]

In some ancient cultures the idea of writing something down was considered an insult. If something had merit, it was passed down word of mouth, writing it down meant it wasn't worth remembering.

Shame, so much has been lost.

 

[GrayHairedOne]

I haven't read this entire thread but I wanted to comment. I'm not sure how I stand on the issue to be honest. I've gone back and forth. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this but I think men and women are different. And that it's important for kids to grow up in a family with 2 parents of opposite sexes to get a balanced upbringing. I know it's not a popular thing to say.

But in my mind that's the main concern I have with it. But then you could say that single parents shouldn't be allowed to be parents for exactly the same reason and that clearly doesn't make sense. I have great respect for single parents. Huge! But at the same time, I think kids would be better balanced if they were brought up in a 2 parent home that is unbroken. Make sense?

 

[Meadow337]

I haven't read this entire thread but I wanted to comment. I'm not sure how I stand on the issue to be honest. I've gone back and forth. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this but I think men and women are different. And that it's important for kids to grow up in a family with 2 parents of opposite sexes to get a balanced upbringing. I know it's not a popular thing to say.

But in my mind that's the main concern I have with it. But then you could say that single parents shouldn't be allowed to be parents for exactly the same reason and that clearly doesn't make sense. I have great respect for single parents. Huge! But at the same time, I think kids would be better balanced if they were brought up in a 2 parent home that is unbroken. Make sense?

That does make sense - and there is plenty of research to back your point of view - probably for that same reason too although I haven't bothered much to actually go and read it.

I think there is an ideal, and then there is what is. In a perfect world marriages would be forever and no kid would grow up damaged by messed up parents, damaged adults or the actions of their less than stellar peers. In an imperfect world we strive to do what is right as best we can and one of those things we can do right is allow people, whoever they are, to marry should they so wish. Isn't it better to encourage people into binding relationships? Yeah I know how easy it is to get divorced, but people are more likely to work at making a committed relationship work rather than one that just requires a 'good bye' and quick trip out the door.

Besides having the seen the negative consequences of gay partners being denied rights because they are not married (not even under common law as it is with other couples who have been together the requisite amount of time) I also think that any thing that encourages gay men in particular to normalise and stabilise their relationships can only be a good thing. The gay lifestyle can be horrifically promiscuous, particularly for gay men, and this has all kinds of negative consequences, not the least being the exponential increase in health risks that come with having multiple sexual partners. If there is a broader acceptance and avenues to have committed long term relationships the possibility exists that a lot of the worst behaviour will be moderated. And that to me is also a good enough reason to do it.

 

[Conscious Bob]

If love, respect and care for children are paramount then genitals are irrelevant.

 

[GrayHairedOne]

If love, respect and care for children are paramount then genitals are irrelevant.

It's not about the genitals. Women tend to have certain traits that men don't have. And men tend to have certain traits that women don't have. My point is that kids miss out on getting the best of both worlds when all they have is 2 men or 2 women as parents. It's like a giant social experiment to see how kids will turn out when placed in homes that don't have both. I just think it will be interesting to see what the results will be 20 years from now.

 

[Conscious Bob]

It's not about the genitals. Women tend to have certain traits that men don't have. And men tend to have certain traits that women don't have. My point is that kids miss out on getting the best of both worlds when all they have is 2 men or 2 women as parents. It's like a giant social experiment to see how kids will turn out when placed in homes that don't have both. I just think it will be interesting to see what the results will be 20 years from now.

If the supposed normal arrangement resulted in one hundred percent excellent parenting I would agree with you.

 

[gonewiththewind]

How will granting homosexuals the right to marriage negatively influence society and your marriage?

My opinion?
*It doesn't have any effect on my marraige, why would it?
*Equal protection and equal rights means exactly that-equal!.
*Banning gay marriage will discriminate against churches that will marry homosexuals. The bill would be overturned on a freedom of religion appeal.
*If you disagree about gay marriage, allow them to have equal rights and take solace in your belief that they will pay dearly in the after-life.

What do you think?

I think folks of all sorts should have the same rights and no one should be singled out for special or inferior treatment for an arbitrary reason. I have been in a committed relationship with my partner for 21 years. That, folks, is stability. W do not have children but if, much earlier on, it had been an option, we would have made great parents. As for "paying dearly in the afterlife" for my "sin" of being lesbian.... I can only comment that my God is much kinder, more accepting, and understands that we are all his creations than your God is, apparently.