Comments Posted By bsjones
Displaying 61 To 70 Of 237 Comments
THE CONSERVATIVE CASE FOR GAY MARRIAGE
Oh, you elusive ghost in the machine...
Comment Posted By bsjones On 22.04.2009 @ 16:48
cdor,
I posted the pew research poll that shows the amount of public support for gay marriage and it went into the ether... I'll post it again in abbreviated form. It has some interesting data.53% to 55% of American people oppose gay marriage.
54% of American people support civil unions.
59% oppose a Federal ban on gay marriage.
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=290
Is this going into the ether too?
Comment Posted By bsjones On 22.04.2009 @ 16:16
cdor,
I posted the pew research poll that shows the amount of public support for gay marriage and it went into the ether... I'll post it again in abbreviated form. It has some interesting data.53% to 55% of American people oppose gay marriage.
54% of American people support civil unions.
59% oppose a Federal ban on gay marriage.
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=290
Comment Posted By bsjones On 22.04.2009 @ 16:15
Now you see it, now you don't
Comment Posted By bsjones On 21.04.2009 @ 22:18
cdor,
Opposition to gay marriage runs from 51% to 55% according to Pew. A majority of Americans support civil unions. A majority of Americans oppose a federal ban on homosexual marriage according to Pew.
http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=290About half of North Carolina adults oppose a constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage, according to a poll released Monday that suggests state voters may be unwilling to follow their Southern peers in approving such a ban.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/03/poll-half-nc-adults-oppose-marriage-amendmentA majority of Americans oppose a Federal ban on homosexual marriage, preferring it be decided at the state level. For example, a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll conducted June 13-14 found that a plurality of respondents believe that states should decide "whether gays and lesbians can legally marry"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200607200001A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, backed by President Bush and conservative groups, was soundly defeated in the Senate yesterday after proponents failed to persuade a bare majority of all senators to support the measure.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700830.htmlAmericans are torn about recognizing same-sex couples, said Scott Keeter of the Pew Research Center. A Pew survey in July showed 56% of respondents opposed gay marriage, but 54% favored civil unions.
Comment Posted By bsjones On 21.04.2009 @ 22:10
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-12-gay-marriage_x.htm
cdor,
The point of post #66 was:first, that being a self described christian does not necessarily mean you believe that homosexuals or homosexuality or homosexuals getting married is wrong or bad.
and
second, that only about half of Americans are interested in making homosexual marriage illegal.
It is possible for both of these things to be true and at the same time popular votes making homosexual marriage illegal in most states. There are many reasons that this could be true, but I'll give you just one. (This is based on anecdotal evidence.)
Most of the people who oppose homosexuality and homosexual marriage are vehemently opposed. The issue usually makes their top three list of things that they find the most vile. Most heterosexuals who I know that "support" homosexual marriage are mostly indifferent. When guy I know said ,"Yeah, I guess. Whatever..." I would say his conviction on the issue is weak.
The few homosexuals that I know have strong opinions about "gay marriage", just like those in opposition do.
Considerably less than ten percent of people identify as homosexual.Given all this it is easy to see why save marriage amendments could pass with large numbers even if only 50% of the population supports them.
Comment Posted By bsjones On 21.04.2009 @ 21:44
I have a few Christian friends (Catholics mostly) who believe that the historical role of the Church has been to control people.
Unitarian Universalist and Unity Churches are two christian groups that believe that homosexuality is A O.K.
Perhaps given the diverse opinion of Christian Churches themselves and the even more diverse opinions of the congregants in those churches, the number of people who I am speaking for is more than 20%.
I think there are many people like myself. I do not attend church regularly. I think the Bible is mostly historical fiction (no 7 days creation, talking snakes, removed ribs, trees of knowledge, virgin births, resurrection, etc...). Yet, I was raised by christian parents. I am familiar with the stories. So, I would self describe as a christian who believes the Bible has nothing important to say about homosexuals or homosexuality.
There are another group of people who ATTEND CHURCH, but still think it is nonsense. Many of them do not want America to be ruled by "Christian Law"
My point is that even if only 20% of Americans identify as atheists, it does not mean the remaining 80% of Christians believe that homosexuality is wrong.
I would guess only about 50% of the nation is interested in making homosexual marriage illegal with save marriage amendments. I would imagine that 50% to be skewed towards an aging demographic.
Comment Posted By bsjones On 21.04.2009 @ 14:57
Manning,
Comment Posted By bsjones On 20.04.2009 @ 22:17
Many believe the stories in the bible are fairy tales at best and an oppressive attempt at control over individuals at worst. While acknowledging Christianity and Judaism as profoundly influential in Western Societies, I see no reason that what the Bible says about homosexuals or homosexuality being the deciding factor in how the United States writes its laws regarding marriage. Homosexuality is a problem for very many Christians. It need not be for the State. Perhaps homosexual Christians should refrain from marrying.
cdor,
1. What/where is the disdain for the Constitution of the U.S. you speak of?
2.Where in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights does it say Gays have do not have a right to get married?
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.
If I am homosexual and I want to be married to someone of the same sex and my church wants to sanctify the marriage in front of God, why shouldn't I get married? I would be pursuing my unalienable rights to Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness that were bestowed upon me by my creator. Do I not have an explicit right to equal treatment under the law?
3. The horse has already left the barn. Homosexuals live together openly. Homosexuals adopt children and raise them. Homosexuals split up and have to divide their property and have custody battles. Having government sanctify homosexual marriage would allow homosexuals to do this things under the law.
Comment Posted By bsjones On 20.04.2009 @ 17:30
It seems our rights are guaranteed unless we really really need them. Everyone knows the wheels of justice are exceedingly slow, but did the SCOTUS do anything at all to protect these American citizens during a time of war when the citizens really needed protection?
Comment Posted By bsjones On 20.04.2009 @ 01:57
