Posted by Snoozin on December 14, 2004, at 10:31:36
In reply to Re: Gay people, posted by ed_uk on December 14, 2004, at 7:16:05
Oh, I know this is a hot topic, and forgive me for jumping in.
I know the idea of condoning gay marriage is very weird to a lot of people. But if you can remove yourself from the *weirdness* factor, I think gay marriage makes a lot of sense on so many levels, all of which are good for our society.
I think gay marriage actually validates and strengthens the institution of marriage, promoting the idea of fidelity, family, and monogamy, regardless of sexual orientation. The family looks different than what we are used to, but it still promotes a family unit. And I think a family unit is desirable and preferable in our society.
The whole point of marriage, under English common law, was to provide for inheritance and property rights. It was a legal union, kind of like creating a corporation, but on a social vs. business level. In the eyes of the law, a married couple is one entity for all legal purposes. To provide legitimate heirs vs. illegitimate ones.
The religious side of marriage was nd is an entirely separate issue. I don't think that permitting legal, civil marriage for gay couples would force churches to marry couples they didn't want to. I know my church won't marry people who aren't members, and I'm sure many churches wouldn't marry gay couples even if it were legal.
But by making gay marriage legal, or even civil unions legal, we would help reduce the number of uninsured persons. We would create safe financial environments for children of gay couples (regardless of what you think the moral environment might be; I know many straight married couples who create a horrible moral environment, including my own parents,). We would be encouraging fidelity and monogamy.
I don't think it devalues traditional marriage between a man and a woman at all. First off, gay people are a very small percentage of our population. Not all gays would actually marry. Their children would be raised to value marriage as an institution, which I personally think is a good thing.
I wish people could at least try and put aside their reservations on this issue and explore why it may actually be a *good* thing.
Just my measly 2 cents.
Susan
poster:Snoozin
thread:427221
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20041129/msgs/429389.html