This whole debate is very simple.
Q: Are gay americans, americans or of another nationality?
A: American, duh
Q: Do americans have the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness from their creator?
A: Yep, in the declaration of independence, thanks TJ for putting that in there, good stuff, we can all agree.
Q: Do americans have a freedom of religion?
A: Yep, we all know this
Q: Is marriage a religious ceremony?
A: Not exclusively, but it certainly can be and is.
Q: Does government have the authority to regulate religion?
A: No Freaking Way.
Q: Can churches decide who gets married?
A: Sure, if a church does not want to marry people, for whatever reason, that is their right of religion.
Q: Can a church decide to marry two gay people?
A: Sure, if a church wants to marry two gay people, that is their right of religion.
Q: Can people not like it that gay people get married?
A: Sure, freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Q: Should two gay people be allowed to pursue happiness anyhow?
A: Yep, as long as Gay people are still people and not toasters or coffee machines. They are people right?
It is ridiculous how people like to assign rights by group in this country. Groups do not have rights, Majorities do not have rights, Minorities do
not have rights.
INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE have rights.
Our USA is founded on the principal that even the most well intended majority can not impose their views by force of law on 3rd parties, unless the
3rd party is violating the rights of others.
The marriage of two gay individuals does not violate anyone's rights
Not allowing two gay individuals to marry does violate rights.
For a person to say "I think marriage should only apply to a man and a women" is just fine to say as an opinion.
For a person to say "I think the law should stop gay marriage" is the same as saying, I think that freedom of religion is BS. I also think the
american code of laws (the constitution) is crap. Rights should only be given to people I approve of.
I am not so sure Bachmann would say the constitution is crap and freedom of religion is BS. Though this is exactly what she is saying when she says
that government should limit marriage by law.
Unfortunately, the laws of this land doesn't hold so much weight, as everyone seems to think we live in a democracy of majority rules. NOT SO. This
is a constitutional republic, not a democracy.
Our constitutional republic was setup to protect the right of individuals, not groups.
This is coming from a straight, male, recently engaged to a female. I say this, not because it matters, only to show that you do not have to be gay
to support gays, you only have to be a good american. I came to this position using something I call common sense.
Do you have to like gay marriage? Nope.
Do you have to endorse gay marriage? Nope.
Do you have to tolerate gay marriage? Yep
Just as gay's have to tolerate traditional marriage. How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot? Would you appreciate the State telling
you that you couldn't marry your wife or husband?
Why should a gay person tolerate it then? Nonsense. The lack of common sense is amazing.
The reason they don't want marriage between gays has more to do with the tax code in my opinion.
edit on 14-8-2011 by sageofmonticello because: fixed a few items for the spelling police out there.
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edit on 8/13/2011 by drew1749 because: (no reason given)
