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Stakes are high in Maine's vote on same-sex marriage
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Of course there haven't been any true conservatives since Barry Goldwater.
I think homosexuals should have visitation rights, insurance, etc, but there is no reason for them to be married. Talk to the hospitals, etc.
Please don't legally enforce homosexuality.
I don't fear gays or the gay lifestyle, I only fear that my religious, free speech, parental and civil rights will diminish by allowing the redefinition of marriage. I can love my gay neighbor and fight to allow him/her equal rights under a civil union, but can see clearly the long term damage to society that a redefinition of traditional marriage will cause. The 'why do you care' or 'how does it hurt you'? question takes very little careful thought or research to answer.
I totally agree with the Anonymous at 9:13 pm comment and CC at 9:40 AM. True conservatives (like Barry Goldwater) shouldn't care about this. The state should allow 2 consenting adults to form a union. As a conservative, there are much greater things that concern me - an ever expanding federal govt and unfunded entitlements, the influence of dirty union bosses over elected leaders, political favors for connected people and leaders (i.e. banks and auto unions).
For heavens sakes, gay marriage/unions is not going to affect you or me (or our kids) one bit - except that they might actually grow up to believe that people are actually born that way and it doesn't make them evil.
Marriage has not always been between a man and a woman - it has very often been between a man and many women. We have changed the definition of marriage many times and the definition will continue to change.
This is no more a threat to religious freedom than allowing any other choice your religion disagrees with. In spite of religious practices and teachings to the contrary, we allow birth control, we allow tattoos, we allow body piercings, we allow women to wear pants and cut their hair, we do not require women to cover their heads, and we do not lock people up in jail for swearing.
Even without marriage, your children will be exposed to children who are being raised in same-sex homes. Prohibiting marriage to those couples teaches children that marriage is not necessary for families and encourages people to live together without marriage. The best way to protect marriage and teach children how important it is is to allow it to same-sex couples.
so then what would you have gays do, Henry?
let me ask you. does the thought of kissing another man turn your stomach? does it just gross you out? me too. but did you know that for a gay man, the thought of kissing a woman does the same thing? and for a gay woman, the thought of kissing a man is just disgusting.
what if you were told you could only marry a man? and the entire idea just tears you up to even consider it. what would you do?
the very fact that you said "acceptance of homosexuality" tells me you actually have NO idea what it is like to be gay. I know lots of gays, and they all just say put yourself in their shoes.
if you couldn't marry the sex you want - in your case a woman - how would that make you feel? and if a group of people (in this case the LDS church) were to pass laws that prevent you from marrying the person you love, how would that make you feel?
think about it.
see - that's where you lose everyone. where did you get such a bizarre idea? marriage has never been about having children.
["gays do have the right to marry."]
no they don't. what if we said you could ONLY marry someone of the same sex (since I assume you are hetero)? would you say "ok - at least I can get married"? or would you be "no way I can marry my same sex - so I can't get married"?
instead of sitting on your high horse, why don't you take 5 minutes and put yourself in a gay person's shoes. Imagine that kissing the opposite sex is disgusting (as you feel kissing the same sex is).
none of you anti-SSM people have EVER put yourself into a gay's shoes. Think about it - whatever feelings you have about being intimate with the same sex, that is EXACTLY how gays feel about being intimate with the opposite sex.
you all need to step back and think about it - and actually "do unto others" since you would be DEVESTATED if you were forced to marry the same sex.
Are there people through a lascivious lifestyle have become that way from various sexual experiments? Sure.
Therefore, one reason why gay marriage can affect me and my children is if it becomes a "NORM" in society, then that promotes sexual lifestyles that, in my opinion, are wrong and can cause heartache and a bunch of other ills. If my children are raised thinking that that is normal, when it never has been in the history of the world, they are being trained to think or believe in a false idea.
I believe the world will catch up with the LDS church when it comes to alcohol, and the law of chastity, it will just take time.
Alcohol is prevalent in society. Chastity is not.
How do you deal with your children thinking this is the "normal" state of affairs?
Oh - you teach them in the home what your values are and what you expect. Interesting. Why are you not capable of teaching them that in regards to homosexuality?
Allowing Gay marriage goes beyond toleration, and actually encourages gay marriage. These practices are neither clean nor enlightening. There is nothing there worth encouraging.
Tolerate? Yes. Encourage? No.
legal enforcement of homosexuality? that's like saying if you let mormons build a temple, you are legally enforcing everyone to become mormon.
think before you post!!
All the persecution that has ensued has only increased my commitment.
Would same-gender marriage destroy our country? Yes. It is no exaggeration to give it all the apocalyptic predictions that one can. I acknowledge the problem in argument that there are no immediately apparent bad effects, and some now alive will die without ever seeing how bad things can get, but, as Spencer W. Kimball pointed out, the entire human race would become extinct in one generation if same-gender sexuality were universally practiced.
I am not apologetic about opposing same-gender marriage, either religiously or secularly, nor should anyone else be. I frankly honor those who lost their jobs or were attacked for opposing same-gender marriage. To me they are martyrs, and I pray that they will be blessed for their sacrifice.
Yeah, I know. That would also make the people who are protecting marriage liberal in another way: strong families are very powerful deterrent to poverty.
Tekakaromatagi
Jeff in CA, you can still marry the person of your choice.
I cannot.
Please don't tell me your persecuted.
Your lying.
Maine has voted to repeal marriage of american citzens.
C'mon anti-gay marriage crowd! Only 5 more to go! Just think! By the time your done, the other 45 states will probably allow it!
gay families are strong - just as strong as hetero marriages. so it is unclear what you are trying to say....
People just don't believe we should be forced to accept marriage between two men (or women) as NORMAL.
yes, there are failed marriages, but that is outside the point of argument, because there will be failed gay marriages too. All things being equal, heterosexual marriage (when it works) creates the ideal arrangement for children.
So, you need to be married to have kids?
The 40% of children in America being raised in single-parent households says otherwise. Check the CDC.
Don't try to hide behind the children. If you hate gay people say as much.
I thought we were talking about gay marriage?
what does that have to do with gay mariage? gays can adopt or have children now. although you say hetero marriage is ideal, is it not fair to say that marriage in general is good for the children, providing them with a stable home and less fear?
your dismissal of gay marriage has nothing to do with kids and you know it. if you were for the KIDS then you would be all for marriage - at least for all couples that have kids...
you do realize that gay couple have kids, right?
and do you think that gays are going to kidnap the children of straight couples? no? well then where do the children of gay couples come from? foster care? state homes? isn't a kind loving gay family better than a state home?
and if gays get pregnant - are you suggesting abortion? no? then they have kids. isn't marriage better than no marriage?
HOW DO YOU THINK A CHILD FEELS WHEN SOMEONE TELLS THEM THEIR PARENTS CANNOT GET MARRIED BECAUSE SOME RELIGIOUS PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THEM?
Heterosexuality isn't normal....it's just COMMON.
When you can make them ALL work, then you can deprive American Citizens of the same privileges and benefits that you enjoy.
Maried couples may or may not add children to this world. They are still married either way.
The fact is 9 million children are being raised by gays. Those children deserve more than a "too bad for you that your parents are gay." They deserve to grow up in the most stable environment that we can offer them. That includes allowing their parents to marry.
It is just and right. It is the American way. Equality for all, not just those you think are righteous.
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