tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post4234786624634851752..comments2024-01-29T22:15:00.519-05:00Comments on Mod-Blog: Thoughts on Same-Sex MarriageWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03233407619762435670noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post-72594892932664535152008-12-29T17:00:00.000-05:002008-12-29T17:00:00.000-05:00It is all a discussion on words. The religious ri...It is all a discussion on words. The religious right's disagreement to the concept to gay marriage has always been a definition issue. A change in definition is what's being asked for. Yes, homosexuals want the legal rights that heterosexual married couples have. So we give everybody the same rights, change the terminology being used and then everybody is happy. Nobody is forced to redefine anything and there is a definite separation between the legal act of being bonded to somebody and the religious/social act of committing to another person.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15343760684164879351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post-54757891178764567382008-12-29T09:47:00.000-05:002008-12-29T09:47:00.000-05:00Sean, The problem with such a solution is that it...Sean, The problem with such a solution is that it doesn't really resolve anything. It is just reshuffles the words. And if we're going to grant rights to adopt, rights to inheritance, rights against testifying against one's "civil union person", rights to child visitation/support/etc in case of divorce, rights to make health decisions, etc. then why not just call it "marriage"? At that point, all we are "savings" is a religious recognition, which is already a right. No church is forced to marry any two people they feel are unfit to be wed. Just ask my jewish friend who wanted to get married in a catholic church, or my divorced friends who wanted to marry in an Evangelical church.<BR/><BR/>This is what I struggle with. How much of my opposition to same-sex marriage is just to words, and how much is to some independent reality. Any either way, am I better focussing my effort on opposing same-sex marriage in general, or molding the legislation to protect churches and other morally-based institutions from being forced to recognize what they believe is wrong?Nomadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10419122266777226774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post-59885692710371915162008-12-28T10:23:00.000-05:002008-12-28T10:23:00.000-05:00My opinion for some time now has been that marriag...My opinion for some time now has been that marriage should become a non-legal term. All couples (gay or straight) would be granted civil unions. If they want to be 'married' that's between them and the religious/spiritual/whatever person of their choice. This does 2 things. First it puts everyone on a level playing field, which is what I feel the homosexual community wants. Second it doesn't deflate the moral/religious implications that 'marriage' has - because any deflation has already occurred - and anyone can be married and the definition of marriage is based upon the tradition of their choice. Maybe it's simplistic, but I think this could work.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15343760684164879351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post-74526018114991755262008-12-27T09:48:00.000-05:002008-12-27T09:48:00.000-05:00Anonymous, Thanks for posting!I have no problem wi...Anonymous, Thanks for posting!<BR/><BR/>I have no problem with individuals calling their relationship "marriage". I know a number of different-sex couples who call themselves "married", but have never had a ceremony or made any sort of real commitment to each other, beyond sharing expenses for their new HDTVs. None of my business, even though I think it is inappropriate.<BR/><BR/>But when society formalizes the name, it becomes something different. It implies religious and societal endorsement of what was previously a private arrangement. This is what I struggle with.Nomadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10419122266777226774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post-86764504749062979732008-12-26T23:22:00.000-05:002008-12-26T23:22:00.000-05:00As long as I can remember, all my gay and lesbian ...As long as I can remember, all my gay and lesbian friends who have been in long term relationships have called it marriage. . .we the gay community have always asked, "Are you married?" And this for decades before SSM was an issue. The point is that we use the word and will continue to use the word marriage for as long as there are same sex relationships.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6775781.post-76506976598095313372008-12-26T13:00:00.000-05:002008-12-26T13:00:00.000-05:00I think we are headed for winner-takes-all. The i...I think we are headed for winner-takes-all. The issue is social acceptance, and until people view homosexual couples in the same way they view heterosexual couples, homosexual activists will continue to push for it."Nick"https://www.blogger.com/profile/06155986199115437170noreply@blogger.com