Okay, by now most of us have heard many stories, some on going, about same-sex marriage. We have seen in the last few years seven states, including New York state and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage (California later reversed their law, but supposedly still recognizes those marriages that occurred before November 5, 2008). A few others recognize same-sex marriages done in other states, though they do not (for now) allow such within their own borders. Now, we hear about the CEO of Chick-Fil-A spouting off about his opposition to same-sex marriage and the circus that has caused with protests from both sides of such (and sales increases for his company) and so on. I am just saying....is all this drama really necessary? Should this restaurant chain be capitalizing on the controversial views of its owner?
I know that people on both sides have strong views on such. Don't bother with the religion card thing, or the moral thing, or the whatever thing. All that is wasted on me. I have friends who (will) oppose same-sex marriage for religious reasons, among other things. Many of them are married heterosexuals (or at least that is the public view...). I respect that, as should we all. I also have friends who support same-sex marriage, for whatever reasons. I respect that as well, as should we all (but many do not...you know who you are). This is not about race, or religion or morals and certainly about comfort. This is a equal rights issue.
It seems to me that the majority is, once again, trying to tell the minority that they cannot do a certain thing, because it (allegedly) makes the majority uncomfortable. This is a LOT like how slavery was uncomfortable (for at least half of the country at the time) about 150-160 years. This is similar to how the thought of granting women (of ALL colors) the right to vote apparently was so much as a issue around 100 years ago (of course there ARE more women than men, overall, though many chooses not to raise their voices when it comes to issues affecting some, most or all. Go figure). This is a LOT like how granting equal rights and access to public facilities, universities and so on (that is guaranteed in the Constitution, among other documents) to all persons of color (in particular, African Americans) and even Native American was (especially in the South) was 50-60 years (and STILL lingers at times TODAY). See a pattern?
This country, the United States of America, has done many great things in less than 240 years of existence. Many countries have done less in more years of existence. However, this nation is still in the 1700s (or worse) on certain things. And that is very sad. Less than four years ago, it was a BIG deal that this country elected a person of color (truth is, he is BI-RACIAL, people) as its President. And it is, since each previous President except one (Kennedy, a Catholic) was a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) male. Don't get me wrong. But people still bitch about that, claiming he is not a American, and was not born here. Technically, neither was Senator McClain (born on a US military base). What a joke! Let it go!
Even today, the number of instances of discrimination and abuse toward folk is unbelievable. Folk who have done nothing wrong, other than striving to be the best and not being, in most cases, a WASP male. Even being a woman is a problem for some. Now you throw in being homosexual (or maybe being a transsexual and/or a bisexual) into it, that is like throwing gas on a bonfire...in a bone-dry forest full of trees. Not good. What does all this drama do for us? What is the benefit? Stop same-sex marriage? For what? Allowing such might move the needle of divorces back under 50 percent! Maybe. What happened to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?" If you fall in love with a person and he or she happens to be the same sex as you, what is more important....your happiness or that the genitals you have are the same as your lover's? And why (and since when) was the "comfort level" of other people or other (heterosexual married couples) mean more than your own comfort and happiness?
Some folk say (something to the effect of) homosexuality (and by extension, bisexuality (usually, especially if it is two men, but two ladies..is usually okay...go figure...can you say DOUBLE STANDARD???), much less same-sex marriage is a sin. Maybe it is. I am not a Bible scholar. I do know that adultery is a sin. I do know that premarital sex is a sin. I know murder, and robbery and a bunch of other crimes are also sins. Hell, even masturbation, using contraception and abortion are sins, in some folk's eyes by their Biblical (or whatever religious or other belief system) interpretation.Yet they all happen. Every day. 24/7/365. It may be happening in your house or next door RIGHT NOW! If everyone who did any of the above was put in jail and/or was punished for any of these things, only (most) children under 12 (being realistic) and babies would have a clean record. Don't bother trying to dispute it...because you all know I am right.
So what is the answer? There is no answer that will mollify everyone. The Supreme Court may have to make a ruling sooner or later that will affect all states. They won't like that. The military just repealed their (basically) anti-gay rules earlier this year, with few issues. Seriously, one's sexuality means nothing with his (OR HER) ability to perform in the (ALL-VOLUNTEER) military that we have here in the USA. I don't care (if I were in the military) if the guy or woman next to me likes my rear and has wanton sexual thoughts about it if we are in a firefight and the enemy is trying to kill us. I only care that he or she can use their skills and weapons to defend themselves, and me, and the rest of the military folks and civilians around them and this great nation, even if it means injury or (heaven forbid) death to do so. The rest of it can be settled later, when the battle is won.
Should we or I care if the man or woman who plays pro or Olympic sports, or runs a large or small company, are the lead in a Broadway show or on the silver screen, or is the guy or gal who bags my groceries, fixes my car or lives next door to me shares his or her bed with another person (or two or five) who may happen to be gay or bisexual and so on, if they aren't doing it in my face? The answer is no!
I have seen gay and bisexual folk in the throes of passion and be happily in love, just like I have seen heterosexual folks be the same. I am blessed to have a wonderful woman to live with, love, have sex with and be married to. Why shouldn't a same-sex couple who wishes to make the same LIFETIME commitment as I have done with my wife be able to do the same and have all of the legal and social benefits of such, until death do they part? Like I said, the divorce rate can only get better by allowing same-sex marriage...lol. I doubt it would get much worse. Happiness and marriage is not a legal right for all, but....it is a strong desire. Marriage represents the ultimate commitment of one person's love for another ahead of all others. Do (Should) we, the adult population of the USA, have the (moral or other) right to deny the joy and (legal) benefits of marriage to about 10-15 percent of the adult population just because the marrying couple are a same-sex couple? I say we do NOT. Do you agree...or not?
I know that people on both sides have strong views on such. Don't bother with the religion card thing, or the moral thing, or the whatever thing. All that is wasted on me. I have friends who (will) oppose same-sex marriage for religious reasons, among other things. Many of them are married heterosexuals (or at least that is the public view...). I respect that, as should we all. I also have friends who support same-sex marriage, for whatever reasons. I respect that as well, as should we all (but many do not...you know who you are). This is not about race, or religion or morals and certainly about comfort. This is a equal rights issue.
It seems to me that the majority is, once again, trying to tell the minority that they cannot do a certain thing, because it (allegedly) makes the majority uncomfortable. This is a LOT like how slavery was uncomfortable (for at least half of the country at the time) about 150-160 years. This is similar to how the thought of granting women (of ALL colors) the right to vote apparently was so much as a issue around 100 years ago (of course there ARE more women than men, overall, though many chooses not to raise their voices when it comes to issues affecting some, most or all. Go figure). This is a LOT like how granting equal rights and access to public facilities, universities and so on (that is guaranteed in the Constitution, among other documents) to all persons of color (in particular, African Americans) and even Native American was (especially in the South) was 50-60 years (and STILL lingers at times TODAY). See a pattern?
This country, the United States of America, has done many great things in less than 240 years of existence. Many countries have done less in more years of existence. However, this nation is still in the 1700s (or worse) on certain things. And that is very sad. Less than four years ago, it was a BIG deal that this country elected a person of color (truth is, he is BI-RACIAL, people) as its President. And it is, since each previous President except one (Kennedy, a Catholic) was a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) male. Don't get me wrong. But people still bitch about that, claiming he is not a American, and was not born here. Technically, neither was Senator McClain (born on a US military base). What a joke! Let it go!
Even today, the number of instances of discrimination and abuse toward folk is unbelievable. Folk who have done nothing wrong, other than striving to be the best and not being, in most cases, a WASP male. Even being a woman is a problem for some. Now you throw in being homosexual (or maybe being a transsexual and/or a bisexual) into it, that is like throwing gas on a bonfire...in a bone-dry forest full of trees. Not good. What does all this drama do for us? What is the benefit? Stop same-sex marriage? For what? Allowing such might move the needle of divorces back under 50 percent! Maybe. What happened to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?" If you fall in love with a person and he or she happens to be the same sex as you, what is more important....your happiness or that the genitals you have are the same as your lover's? And why (and since when) was the "comfort level" of other people or other (heterosexual married couples) mean more than your own comfort and happiness?
Some folk say (something to the effect of) homosexuality (and by extension, bisexuality (usually, especially if it is two men, but two ladies..is usually okay...go figure...can you say DOUBLE STANDARD???), much less same-sex marriage is a sin. Maybe it is. I am not a Bible scholar. I do know that adultery is a sin. I do know that premarital sex is a sin. I know murder, and robbery and a bunch of other crimes are also sins. Hell, even masturbation, using contraception and abortion are sins, in some folk's eyes by their Biblical (or whatever religious or other belief system) interpretation.Yet they all happen. Every day. 24/7/365. It may be happening in your house or next door RIGHT NOW! If everyone who did any of the above was put in jail and/or was punished for any of these things, only (most) children under 12 (being realistic) and babies would have a clean record. Don't bother trying to dispute it...because you all know I am right.
So what is the answer? There is no answer that will mollify everyone. The Supreme Court may have to make a ruling sooner or later that will affect all states. They won't like that. The military just repealed their (basically) anti-gay rules earlier this year, with few issues. Seriously, one's sexuality means nothing with his (OR HER) ability to perform in the (ALL-VOLUNTEER) military that we have here in the USA. I don't care (if I were in the military) if the guy or woman next to me likes my rear and has wanton sexual thoughts about it if we are in a firefight and the enemy is trying to kill us. I only care that he or she can use their skills and weapons to defend themselves, and me, and the rest of the military folks and civilians around them and this great nation, even if it means injury or (heaven forbid) death to do so. The rest of it can be settled later, when the battle is won.
Should we or I care if the man or woman who plays pro or Olympic sports, or runs a large or small company, are the lead in a Broadway show or on the silver screen, or is the guy or gal who bags my groceries, fixes my car or lives next door to me shares his or her bed with another person (or two or five) who may happen to be gay or bisexual and so on, if they aren't doing it in my face? The answer is no!
I have seen gay and bisexual folk in the throes of passion and be happily in love, just like I have seen heterosexual folks be the same. I am blessed to have a wonderful woman to live with, love, have sex with and be married to. Why shouldn't a same-sex couple who wishes to make the same LIFETIME commitment as I have done with my wife be able to do the same and have all of the legal and social benefits of such, until death do they part? Like I said, the divorce rate can only get better by allowing same-sex marriage...lol. I doubt it would get much worse. Happiness and marriage is not a legal right for all, but....it is a strong desire. Marriage represents the ultimate commitment of one person's love for another ahead of all others. Do (Should) we, the adult population of the USA, have the (moral or other) right to deny the joy and (legal) benefits of marriage to about 10-15 percent of the adult population just because the marrying couple are a same-sex couple? I say we do NOT. Do you agree...or not?
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