posted November 11, 2006
As a child of divorce, I really have no respect for the institution of heterosexual marriage. As far as I can tell, the bonds of marriage are easily sealed on a whim, and legally broken with great cultural consequence.
Marriage, family…those are just words that hold meaning on an individual, case-by-case basis. The institution has no legal responsibilities, no legal ramifications, no social boundaries.
Our culture is passe when it comes to marriage in general. The greatest advantages it offers is tax relief, cheaper insurance, adoption rights, and certain employment benefits.
There is nothing sacred about commitment in our culture. It doesn’t exist any more unless two people actually decide to stick it out through thick and thin.
Many argue that adoption rights is a big reason why gay marriage shouldn’t happen. They’ll quote surveys about it being healthier for children to be in a male/female family unit. I wonder where I fit in to their paradigm? I wonder how abused children are better off as long as they have a mom and a dad to beat them.
I do believe that a healthier balance for children exists when there are male and female role models in their lives. But who exactly are these role models in today’s families? And why do so many modern parents willingly medicate their children when they’re already being raised in healthy homes?
I’ve never met a gay man who made a choice to be gay. Believe me, I’ve asked them when they decided to be gay. A friend once remarked to me, “Why would I choose to be gay? Society hates who I am. What rational person would make this kind of decision?” For some reason, I just can’t get my head around gay people knowing more about being gay than I do. Call me stupid.
I’m a Christian. A liberal one, but a Christian nonetheless. I believe in the teachings of the Bible. I believe Jesus when he said that the second greatest commandment is to love other people as you love yourself. I also believe that our country protects people of all faiths and beliefs. That one person is not greater than another. That all men are equal in the eyes of our government. That I can practice my religion as freely as a Muslim. That I can marry a person to my choosing as can a homosexual.
People talk about our country being founded on Christian principles. There is no disputing this fact: justice, mercy, grace, and charity.
I doubt that the founding fathers envisioned a time when gay people would want to marry. Who knows what their solution would have been to this issue. In the early days of our country, slavery was legal and women couldn’t vote. So clearly, the founding fathers (as much as I respect them) got it wrong from time to time.
I believe Jesus when he said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what belongs to Him.” And the authors of our Constitution thought that the separation of church and state was kind of important too. I guess in today’s political climate, the separation of church and state is upheld until gay marriage becomes an issue.
Ultimately, gay marriage doesn’t affect me. If I had to marry a dude after it passed, I’d probably have a problem with it. In an ideal world, gay people could get married to one another and I could marry a girl. I think that’s a pretty good deal. You live your life and I’ll live mine. As long as you don’t inflict me with your gayness then I won’t inflict you with my straightness. Deal?
If majority rule determines what’s best, then I guess the losers never get a chance in life. At least not in America. And certainly not in Tennessee. I guess you can move to San Francisco or Massachusetts or Denmark. That’s America? If you don’t like it, leave?
David Morton
david@safeguy.net
* * *
Well, regardless of which way one may feel in Tennessee about this issue, the majority have spoken. So the ACLU will now step in and file a lawsuit against the state.
I don't worry myself over things like these. Its just hard to get through the day and thank God you got to live another day to its fullest and you were able to touch someone's life in a positive way regardless of their sexual orientation.
That's just me talking. I don't ask when meeting new people about stuff like that 'cause I am not interested. I have dated women in my past and you no what is frustrating is how you're viewed in our society if you're single? Like something is wrong with living a fulfilled life single.
I mean you have your family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc., so that more than passes the time for me keeping in touch with everyone. For those who want to have a family being married or a union is a good thing for stability. Not all of us want children. You can volunteer and Big Brothers/Sisters/Humane Society animals, and the elderly, helping build neighborhood homes. So you can satisfy and give back to society in other constructive ways and not have to want to marry or be in a family.
So, in closing, live and let live. All that personal stuff will work itself out in the end anyway. All we can do is be good stewards to this wonderful earth to leave it in better condition than we came into it.
Tony Newport
Brettmusic31@aol.com
* * *
* * *
"Christians aren't perfect, they just expect you to be"...every heard that? Does it fit the bill? Is it a generalizing statement for an overly-generalized region? You should have answered yes to those questions.
It's amazing the rationale that people grab for when talking about same-sex marriages/relationships. It's hard to point a finger at someone when they generally go the opposite direction from your viewpoint. This would be an act of casting stones that supposedly none of us are morally capable of doing...according to the big book.
I believe it is important to exercise a belief or opinion, but let's keep it on an academic level and not bring kitchen appliances or man's best friend into the equation. Love is love, nothing more and certainly nothing less. Because I see women in a different light than say, when I'm looking at my friend Nate I am compelled to feel a sense of intimacy and longing. Does that mean that that is the correct way for everyone to behave or feel when those feelings of emotion come over you...certainly not? It's hard to sit here and think that I can walk around town, sit at work, or in church and condemn someone for doing something that comes natural to their mindset.
In the olden days there wasn't much lateral thought and the church ruled all, or tried to at least...pretty successful at doing so might I add. What little publicly gay folks at that time, walking the earth, were looked at as weird, satanistic and just plain horrible all because they were "different" from status quo.
Well, things obviously haven't changed much, especially in the good ole South, and there are still those among us that cannot for one second, set aside their differences and take into account any kind of rational thought process as to why someone might be gay. You regurgitate the same rhetoric about the Bible and God stomping his foot in our direction if we even were to think about allowing this to happen...WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH?
Just because you feel like one of the chosen ones does not mean you so much as know any detail into the mindset of someone who chooses to love the same sex in a way opposite to you. Don't be so scared, there is nothing to fear of a man kissing a man or woman kissing a woman...or wanting to marry.
Heterosexuals show their committment and love for one another by marrying into an agreement that states they honor and love one another. Why should that be any different for the same kind of Love? Are you implying that homosexual love cannot equate to that of heterosexual love...surely not. Remember, Love is Love.
Ryan Coulter
Chattanooga
chattaboogieboy@yahoo.com
* * *
Please forgive me for just now catching up to the opinions posted re: Same Sex Marriage. I read the original article and the responses with great interest. I was looking for someone to write a response that made sense out of the whole mess.
The desire for knowledge of "The Truth" was the most interesting comment. The truth is that thing which can be applied in all situations without doubt. The truth cannot be debated or decided or changed....it is merely that "which is so" and cannot be refuted.
It is man who has changed laws and rules and exactly what the truth is supposed to be - not the Bible. In my finite mind, I regard "religion" as those bodies of men and women who have established "The Truth" as it exists for them.
I have spent my life in three diverse denominations, and never totally agreed with everyone and everything that happened within these "religions." Besides religion and the Bible and accepted truth and man's law, each of us has a "world view" that involves more factors than can reasonably be discussed here. Your opinion and my opinion are not what makes the Bible true or not true. It is the desire to find justification for what we (me, you, your neighbor) do and wish to practice in life that makes the "truth" so hard for men and women to find.
The truth rarely matches our nature. Guess which one is wrong?
Ted Ladd
Rossville, Ga.
tladrt48@comcast.net
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |