<p>progression is only good when it's in a positive direction...</p>
<p>it's ridiculous that gay marriage is such a huge issue. if you're okay with gay unions, why not just let them have the label of "marriage" instead? why the hell are people so adamant about the topic. THE ONLY PEOPLE IT WILL AFFECT ARE GAY PEOPLE. really who cares, don't people like you have better things to do than worry if another person's relationship is called a "union" or "marriage"?</p>
<p>Amen, Ace.</p>
<p>... ^ are you serious? or are you doing that mocking thing?</p>
<p>heroin, it's sarcasm!</p>
<p>It seems to me that the most plausible explation for homosexuality is that it is a sort of sexual fetish that is developed by the environment. If homosexuality is viewed in this way then it is clear that the individual does not choose to have homosexual impulses, but does choose to live a life based on these impulses and not the more normal heterosexual impulses they possess. That being my view on homosexuality, I feel that homosexuals should be free to live their alternative lifestyles with the benefits of a married couple because the individual, not the government, should have the ability to place the valuations on their sexual impulses.</p>
<p>Chalk: I understand that you are against gay marriage. But in Georgia and several other states that voted on this referendum, this ban also came with a ban on all types of civil unions. And when you say "gay marriage is wrong, it should not be allowed," don't you think that that is kind of egotistical? So anything that you think is wrong should be banned? Lots of churchs are against pornography. Should that be banned? Should women remain housewives for the next century?</p>
<p>I feel like if the gay marriage "controversy" continues on, it will echo the civil rights movement of the 20th century. I for one feel like I cannot determine if a marriage is right or not, but we are living in a free nation, and frivolous laws that prevent marriage need to be annulled. If marriage is a holy union between a man and a woman, is it implied that a holy marriage is between a Christian man and a Christian woman? If so, please feel free to ban any non-Christian marriage while you're banning gay marriages.</p>
<p>But when it comes down to it, fifty years from now, do you want to be the one to announce "I was the Robert E. Lee of my generation. I vehemently denied gays of their rights. I believed gay marriage was wrong." Do you really want to enter a textbook under that slogan?</p>
<p>cannedfish, those are my sentiments exactly. When you look at this issue in the broader scope of things, it really can be compared to a/the civil rights movement. I'm glad I'm standing on the pro-rights side (i.e. pro-marriage rights), but to each their own...</p>
<p>I think that gays shouldn't get married, but they should have some other big ceremony thing for when they decide to get "united". If they are allowed to be married, it takes away the signicance of man and woman in marriage. I however am not opposed to gay groups, teachers, etc.</p>
<p>Naw, you know what they should do? Have the government not marry anyone. That way, everyone, gay and straight, gets civil unions, and churches can perform marriagess. The sanctity of marriage is protected and gays get equal rights. </p>
<p>Wha-bam!</p>
<p>"Losing morals" What morals? Your "religious" morals obviously, because I consider myself an ethical person and I have no problem with gay marriage. Really it has to be religion, because what else could skew a person's views on the world to that extent...</p>
<p>Even if it is morally wrong, they deserve this right as anyone does.</p>
<p>who cares..? Get a life and let people live their lives...
I'm bi, and I'm damn proud of it>>But I never mean to make a big deal out of it
because it's not a big deal. I mean who cares!!! I hope people stop telling otheres what to do or whom to love. Man, I never knew loving someone or wanting to be with someone I love was sooo immoral thing to do.
It always ****es me off when people say, "well, I think GAY PEOPLE shouldn't marry or it's wrong for them to live their lives that way.."</p>
<p>I say mind your own businesses, homophobes</p>
<p>Though many of you on this thread have made wonderful points, I want to particularly acknowledge searchingavalon. You are so right on in everything you say. Chalk, progressivness is only good when it's positive? Isn't love and committment and family positive. Denying gay marriage is denying formal love, committment, and family. Sounds pretty negative to me.
As for if it is a choice, I for one believe that animals do not have free will, they basically act on instinct. There have been MANY examples of homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom. That, to me, is proof that homosexuality is just as natural as any other form of sexuality or love.
I agree with many previous posters; you have every right to think homosexuality or gay marriage is wrong. So, don't do it. But what gives you or the law the right to tell others what they can do in the FREE society when their decision does not hurt you one bit.
As searchingavalon already said in her own words, language is dynamic, not static. Meanings of words change according to society's use. If we really want to hold true to the original definition of marriage in this country, then it is a property transaction. A woman is the property of her father until she is married and then becomes the property of her husband. But, that is no longer part of the definition of marriage because society changeed and therefore the definition changed. At different times in the history of America the definition of marriage has included only between one man and one woman of the same race, polygamy, marrying first cousins ect. Those things have comeand gone just like many other facets of marriage will come and go over time depending on our society.
Banning gay marriage and civil unions is just mean. All it does is hurt gay couples and families, not allowing them the rights all other families have. IT's despicable and ridiculous.</p>
<p>I think marriage should not be a legal issue at all. This may seem somewhat radical, but I feel that, from a legal standpoint, only civil unions should exist. Marriage, originating in the church, should stay in the church, and remain between a man and a woman. Then, I believe any two people should be able to have a civil union, whether they be straight or gay. People forget "marriage" is just a religious term and, in my opinion, shouldn't have anything to do with the law.</p>
<p>To address most of the points on this thread and those that were ommitted:</p>
<p>1) The GLAD movement deserves this setback. I don't know why these people are so stupid to push for this now when a) you have lots a republicans in the government and b) its an election year. I suppose Republicans ought to thank them for energizing the base and bringing out the inner bigot in all of us.</p>
<p>2) Some day in the far future, like slavery, we will look back and shake our heads. When we finally reach liberal democracy (end of history, ***uyama) then we'll look back and realize these people weren't free. However, the here and now, with reality and all, they deserve the setback.</p>
<p>3) Gay marriage. Its kind of like if I were a Muslim, and I demanded of the Rabbi at a synagogue to give me a bar mitzvah. Marriage equals man and woman. I'm not totally against civil unions but now is not the time.</p>
<p>All in all, I'm pleased with the way the propositions turned out. Bush also ought to thank Moore, and all the other dumb "no blood for oil" lunatics that made the Democratic party look like an unorganized, stupid piece of garbage. The better learn their lesson during the next four years or I will be switching parties soon :-). That's all for now.</p>
<p>emsibdn: You keep saying they deserved the setback, but you never give any reason why. YOur muslim/rabbi analogy is ridiculous. If marriages were kept to churches, which maybe they should be, then each individual church could decide. But as a society we made marriage a government process and therefore expanded the definition outside of religion.</p>
<p>it amazes me that this is such an issue. so somebody's homosexual. it's not like they choose that. how many people do you know who just sat down and decided who they could or could not fall in love with? if they're attracted to someone of the same sex, they can't just up and change that. they're people too, and should have the same rights as everyone else. A lot of people say that it's because of their religion. i've gone to church every sunday since i was a child, and not once have i heard there that being gay is wrong. Not once. My dad tells me that it's wrong because it says in the bible that it's wrong. I have yet to find that. I understand how some people can be against homosexuality, but I don't understand how they can take their dislike of it and deny other people the right to be happy.</p>
<p>There's like one small place in the bible that says it's wrong. There are lots of bad things out there: lust, stealing, lying, pre-marital sex, etc. Yet I think that people are naturally repulsed be gays, so they jump at any inference in the bible that it is wrong. </p>
<p>But that's beyond the point. It doesn't matter that GLAD screwed up. It that the U.S. is going downwards, and we are becoming more and more of a theocracy. </p>
<p>I am just so fed up with trying to argue with people on this issue, because they are so self-centered, arrogant, redneck, ignorant, and discriminatory jerks. </p>
<p>I just hate living in Georgia. I NEED to get out of here. I hate these backwards idiots, my state, and a large portion of American society. I sometimes feel like I was born in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I have no place in GA. I hope I end up in DC next year where it's like 90% democrat. LOL, no wonder the president is always out huntin' and fishin' in Crawford.</p>
<p>And people are so racist here too. It's like as big of an insult to call someone a "jew-bag" as it is to call them a fag, etc. I have always had close Jewish friends, and always respected them so much. My Jewish friends are the most religious, devout, and respectable people I know, and I sometimes attend church with them. It's like I don't have a place in religion anymore. All the Christian Churches are composed of "holier than thou" people, and I am just there to earn spiritual guidance, seek tranquility in God, and search for new ways to improve myself and society. But now I am so turned off to Christianity, because it is now associated with conservatism.</p>