Klarinet Archive - Posting 000078.txt from 2004/03

From: Erik Tkal <bbtkal@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fwd: [SMB] Dont Amend Protest
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 10:42:04 -0500

tony-w@-----.co.uk wrote:

>The world is not ready for same-sex marriages!!
>

That's a pretty bold statement, though perhaps *you* are not ready for
same-sex marriages. You commented before about children of such couples
- today there are at least some states where gay couples can perfectly
legally adopt children. Gay couples can live together and do whatever
they want behind their own doors, just the same as any heterosexual
couple (and there are some things that some hetero couples do that I
don't like). Why are you threatened by the thought of any people who
love each other sharing their lives, regardless of who they are? As long
as they don't bother me, I have no problem with it, in fact based on the
state of "normal" marriage today, it can't be any worse for society. All
these folks want to do is have legal recognition of their choice so that
they can share the benefits of their life together. Even though many
claim that "marriage" is a religious state of being, our legal system is
so entwined with that term defining what is allowed for spouses -
employment and medical benefits, estate issues, etc, that they are
automatically discriminated against, which is why so many are insisting
that these unions be called marriages.

I'm not sure exactly how this thread got started, but I assume from the
title that it has to do with amending the US constitution. Personally, I
don't think it should be amended so. In fact, I don't think our
illustrious president has any business taking a stand on this or even
making statements based on his personal beliefs (notwithstanding my
belief that he is using this solely as an election issue and at the
behest of influential religious groups) - he is part of the Executive
Branch of our government, tasked with carrying out and upholding
existing laws. Yet he declares that judges shouldn't be making the
decisions regarding what is allowable, even though the Judicial Branch
*is* in fact responsible for interpreting the laws. I feel far more
threatened by my current administration (and yours) than by a gay couple
living next door to me.

Ok, I'm done, no more ranting. :-P

Erik

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