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Let others live own lives

RE:Mariana Kartchner

"I'm not asking people to support homosexuality, just support their rights as Americans."

That's exactly what you are asking people to do and what you don't seem to grasp is that legal marriage is more than people living their lives as they see fit. It is a three way contract with the majority of Americans agreeing to provide certain things to the people who choose to get married and who agree to do certain things for the majority.

The courts have repeatedly ruled that the state is a party to every marriage and the state is a majority and the majority is made up of individuals so when the state is party to a homosexual union then every citizen is party to that union when they vote for or agree to gay marriage or take part in legal marriage in any form.

Their heterosexual marriage becomes a recognition of the right of the majority or courts to solemnize gay relationships. You can't call something a sin and then take part in something that promotes that sin unless you are a hypocrite.

I may not be a religious person but others are.

gender is not race
There is a huge difference which society still (rightly) ackowledges. It may make you feel morally supperior to argue otherwise - but reality is reality whether PC or not.

Why not promote legal polygamy instead? It has much more precedent
(didnt think you would go for that)

All Adult Americans have the rights granted by the Constitution for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness so long as they do not impinge on the rights of others.

Adult American Gay people have the right to live their lifestyle, including getting married if that is their choice.

Children while having those same rights, have not been given the freedom in our society to exercise those rights. It is the purpose in the family setting to constrain children’s rights until they have developed their adult ability to make proper judgments in life.

It is right and proper for society to promote by law the best family setting for children and therefore not permit children to be raised in deviant family settings.

Gay people should not be allowed to interface with children in any capacity.

I appreciate letters where someone doesn't feel the need to childishly ridicule those they oppose, simply to make their point.

One thing I've noticed regarding the whole same-sex marriage debate is the fact many people don't seem to think or realize, the issue of "rights" is a two way street.

For example, there are many people who are angered by the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8, even demanding they lose their tax-exempt status. But when it comes to liberal leaning churches, who openly support all kinds of other legislation, these same people don't say a word.

I personally would have no problem with gays and lesbiands wanting to marry, if I didn't feel those who oppose such acts will not be legally punished in some way. I'm not convinced of this yet.

Thank you Ms. Kartchner.

I've never understood the mentality of my fellow Americans that believe they are entitled to certain rights/privileges while feeling somehow justified in denying those same rights/privileges to another.

I too, think that everyone has a right to live their own life, but if marriage were to be granted by law to same sex partners; then, might it become "illegal" for a church to NOT to provide marriage services for them?

Even if a church felt it was morally wrong, they could possibly be forced to provide services for a wedding that would go against their own beliefs. Church Bishops and Pastors would have a terrible delemia -- obey the law of the land or the law of the Lord.

rights to get married as everyone else has. They want special rights that no one now has. These special rights will force me as a taxpayer and as a consumer to subsidize a lifestyle that I don't agree with, which interferes with my life. How about dropping the whole thing and letting me live my own life in peace.

Let others live their own lives and then they will be judged for their own choices.

Re: "Do you think that every man and woman should have the same rights in the United States? I do."

So why shouldn't every man in the United States have the right to marry 20 women? Or a three-year-old? Or his daughter? Or a gerbil? Why shouldn't every person have the right to live outside of jail -- including felons? Why shouldn't everyone have the right to hang around elementary schools -- including convicted child molesters?

Like it or not, there IS such as thing as right and wrong. A government of decent people has both a right and a duty not to promote wrong.

Exactly.

"So why shouldn't every man in the United States have the right to marry 20 women? Or a three-year-old? Or his daughter? Or a gerbil? Why shouldn't every person have the right to live outside of jail -- including felons? Why shouldn't everyone have the right to hang around elementary schools -- including convicted child molesters?"

Once there is a way to address the complexities that arise from plural marriage, there is no reason men and women shouldn't be allowed to have multiple spouses if that is what they desire and all are in agreement.

There are genetic and social reasons why closely related people should not marry and reproduce.

Three-year-olds and gerbils cannot legally consent.

Criminals have victims - they have caused a harm in society for which they are required, by society, to atone for.

Children do not have the means necessary to protect themselves and therefore society has an obligation to do its best to protect them.

If you really cannot see the difference between actions by and between consenting adults and actions that victimize others, you obviously have very little understanding of the concepts of right and wrong.

@ 9:19 a.m.

"Like it or not, there IS such as thing as right and wrong."

Great. Then PLEASE, please, tell me what exactly is so wrong about allowing gay people equal access to the civil right of marriage?

"We all finally realized it was their choice as Americans."

Actually this is an innacurate statement. The supreme court ruled that you couldn't bar inter-racial marriages.

While I agree with the bulk of the letter, I think it is important to note that the biggest changes are inacted by the judicial branch. Many people will call them radical activist judges. I like to think that they are just trying to look out for the best interests of everybody.

No one has been able to prove, or even theorize why "traditional marriage" would be harmed if gays were allowed to marry. What would be the detriment to society if they were allowed this?

Please no religous allegory here. We are talking about secular law right now. I know what people say God says, (I am fully antiquated with all of the LDS scriptures). Please let me know.

Why do you think the First Ammendment would be repealed if gay couples would be allowed to marry? I do not understand this thinking.

You lost credibility there Bob. Every study done about gay people raising children has shown that the children are just as well off if not better than their heterosexual counterparts.

Its more about acceptance than it is about rights. Homosexuals already have all the rights that straights have, they just want straights to accept and condone their lifestyle. It is the straits that live and let live. The Homosexuals just won't leave it alone.

Ummm what?

Gays define themselves by their sexuality. Homosexuality. They believe that is who they are. So by supporting gay marriage, I would indeed be supporting homosexuality.

We can't let people speed by schools, dump poison in to rivers or murder people. I hate smoking. I'm not telling my neighbor not to smoke because the smoke invades my yard. I value freedom too much.

I have my belief system I don't impose my beliefs on people who don't impact my life. I'm personally accountable for me. If I believe some act is morally wrong, I don't do it.

Gay marriages isn't going to effect me. I have my life to live. Have you ever seen anyone who did such a great job of living there lives that you wished they were living your life?

This as got me thinking. Do you send doctors to treat the healthy? What if hospitals told sick people they weren't welcome? Could the ill be treated?

Look at religion. Religion claims to advance spiritual health. Churches constantly tell people who have spiritual problems that they aren't welcome in your church.

If the sinner is unwelcome, haven't you lost the ability to have any influence on them in the future? Religion is very strange.

There are no laws forbidding homosexual marriage - any gay couple can get married anywhere in the US - it's just not recognized by the State and I've never heard a good argument in favor of State -sanctioned gay marriage