What's government's interest in outlawing homosexual marriage?

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by Rex, Nov 14, 2008.

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  1. StaceyO

    StaceyO Football Turns Me On

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    Yes, let's keep everything in the proper perspective, please.
     
    StaceyO, Nov 14, 2008
    #11
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  2. LSUMASTERMIND

    LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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    It cant get any worse than that.
     
    LSUMASTERMIND, Nov 14, 2008
    #12
  3. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    You seem to have some sort of . . . thing . . . about them.

    [​IMG]
     
    red55, Nov 14, 2008
    #13
  4. mobius481

    mobius481 Registered Member

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    I've got to assume this is some attempt at satire

    I can't possibly force myself to think in those terms. It's devastating to my psyche.
     
    mobius481, Nov 14, 2008
    #14
  5. Rex

    Rex Founding Member

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    How does two gay people calling themselves "married" threaten the institution of traditional marriages? Would they cease to exist? And how would the institution be threatened even if their government called a gay union a "marriage"? Is this all about protecting a word definition?

    Then how about we leave the term "marriage" to denote religious rituals and use the term "civil union" to denote all government-enforced partnership contracts?

    So, then, this IS all about a WORD. Gays have EVERY right under our Constitution to usurp any word they please... it's the "freedom of speech" clause in the First Amendment. They can call a duck a cow if they so choose.

    How can ANY government change personal, religious notions of sacredness? Are you saying that if Congress passed a law tomorrow calling your own marriage something else you're no longer married in the eyes of your religion? Would it be any less sacred?

    Our government doesn't exist to enforce religious mandates. Our Constitution does, however, REQUIRE equal protection under the law.
     
    Rex, Nov 14, 2008
    #15
  6. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    What he said. Well done, Red.
     
    mctiger, Nov 14, 2008
    #16
  7. Rex

    Rex Founding Member

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    I see you're a fan of incoherence.
     
    Rex, Nov 14, 2008
    #17
  8. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    Actually, its about an institution...named "marriage." It was a religious institution for thousands of years, and if we are serious about the idea of separation of church and state, then the state should not attempt to impose its will on the church. Government can conduct a "civil union" for 2 gay people who wish to commit their lives to each other, and grant them all of the civil benefits afforded married couples. No open-minded person I know of objects to that.
     
    mctiger, Nov 14, 2008
    #18
  9. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    I thought his position was quite clear, spelling notwithstanding. :lol:
    If gay couples wish to publicly make a life commitment to each other, the government can perform such a ceremony. But a "marriage" is a commitment of faith as well as fidelity, and its not the government's place to tell a church how to interpret matters of faith.
     
    mctiger, Nov 14, 2008
    #19
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  10. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    Did you even read my post? Have you paid any attention to the uproar about gay marriage? Does it have any significance to you at all? I'm saying that marriage has both legal and religious importance that need to be separated. It gets in the way of separation of church and state.

    Suits me, . . . of course, I said it better.

    Try to be perceptive. Back up and look carefully at what I said. You aren't seeing the forest for the trees. It's not about a word. It's about respect for a fundamental human tradition dating back to the dawn of civilization.

    Ask Mormon polygamists about that, the government changed their notion of sacredness. Were you allowed to pray in public school and do you remember why?

    No, that's something you are saying. I said very clearly what I thought.

    Which was my POINT, which you apparently missed. You read but you do not comprehend.
     
    red55, Nov 14, 2008
    #20
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