Klarinet Archive - Posting 000089.txt from 2004/03

From: Jeremy A Schiffer <schiffer@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fwd: [SMB] Dont Amend Protest
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:37:34 -0500

> From: Erik Tkal <bbtkal@-----.net>
> > Tony,
> > I'm glad I can be so entertaining to someone who seems to be so unwilling
> to entertain ideas outside his own beliefs.
> > Erik
>
> Erik,
> If I may, you are indeed wrong - I am trying to *understand* ideas and
> ideology from both sides, but I can only *look* upon what the majority
> consider to be 'normal' as *the* one basis for modern stable living.

This is a great point, and can I just say how much it pisses me off, for
example, that I'm not allowed to own slaves, that I'm not allowed to take
multiple wives, and that I'm not allowed to kill my sister (if I had
one) for dishonoring my family by having sex before marriage. How can we
possibly expect to have stable societies without these essential elements
of humanity, which have been with us for thousands of years? That
extremists have forced these traditions from us has clearly done
irrevocable harm to Western society.

> I just cannot imagine a situation where any adopted child of a same sex
> 'marriage' accidentally and unexpectedly walking in on same sex parents who
> are in the full flow of their sex act. Some children from male/female
> families do this fairly frequently and shrug it off, unharmed. Could you
> imagine some child at school trying to relate this to friends without some
> form of embarrassment.
> These are the sort of things that governments consider to be important. They
> act upon them.

I'm going to attach a letter to the editor from my hometown paper, which
was published yesterday. The author was my high school chemistry teacher,
and I think it sums up the absurdity of this debate well.

-jeremy
http://klezmer.org

originally published at:
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/opinion/11972.php

"As much as I loathe appearing dense, I may as well admit that I need some
explanation. How is it, exactly, that I tear at the fabric of civilization
by living in a monogamous, loving relationship with my partner for almost
20 years?

We're taxpaying citizens and respected in our professions. We help our
neighbors, volunteer in the community and keep our yard looking nice. Who
is it that we threaten?

We are raising two happy, socially responsible, talented teen-age boys who
are honor students and admired by peers and adults alike. How does that
endanger American society?

We have made wills and powers-of-attorney to try to give some legal
legitimacy to our family. We managed to acquire joint legal custody of our
sons, right before the Arizona Legislature slammed the door shut on that
possibility a decade ago.

We were married in Canada this past summer, which was oddly nerve-wracking
after a 19-year wait. But for all our efforts, we are left with less
benefits, less protections, less rights than other American families, and
I don't understand who that helps. How is it, exactly, that recognizing my
family diminishes yours?

Gayle Brickert-Albrecht

Science department chair

Tucson High Magnet School "

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