Making much of marriage

[CShine]

To America's social conservatives, President George Bush displayed a distinct lack of commitment in his State of the Union address when he declared that marriage should remain a heterosexual institution.

To those fighting for the rights of homosexuals, the president's election-year remarks formed part of an aggressively homophobic agenda which seeks to push US gays and lesbians to the fringes of society.

By emphasising his belief in marriage as the union of a man and woman, Mr Bush was seeking to placate those conservative voters outraged by recent advances in gay unions.

But by refusing to endorse an immediate constitutional ban on gay marriage nor ruling out "civil unions" for homosexuals, Mr Bush hoped to keep on board that all important electoral group - the middle ground.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3416025.stm

[jansu]

1. WHAT DO THE WORDS "PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS" MEAN?

If you take the words used against "Gay Marriage" and replace them with the words used against changing the laws in many states against the right of bi-racial marriage (black and white marrying), you will see that it is the same. There was a time, when you could not marry someone who was Irish, Catholic, Oriental, from a different "class" of society, etc., by now we should have advanced enough to leave what we do with our lives, only to those involved.

We should be expanding human rights! This country was formed to give every person their human rights. Those who opposed it in 1776 thought that their God and they knew best what everyone should do! Our Founding Fathers fought and died to give us a land of freedom. Honor them! Don't keep fighting them and their ideals of freedom! Let freedom ring throughout this land!

Just as I don't care and don't want to know what sexual activity that others do, and the Supreme Court finally ruled that the government did not have any business in my bedroom. No religion, no government, no group of people have any business deciding what combination makes a marriage!

What difference does it make to me or any heterosexual whom another person wishes to marry? Freedom means being able to love and live with whomever we want!

If you do not believe in Gay Marriage, don't do it! But, keep your religious beliefs out of my life and my bedroom!

We do not choose whom we fall in love with. But, heterosexuals have the right to marry whomever you fall in love with....that is all they are asking for, the same rights you have!

LIFE, LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!

[Adams Wulff]

2. OR THE WORDS"EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW"?

Married couples can enjoy benefits unmarried couples cannot, like death benefits, assumption of property by heirs, adoption benefits etc. But as of right now, only heterosexuals can enjoy these rights, as defined by the states and the federal government.
You know that ain't right.

[jansu]

3. GOOD POINT!

The one problem I have run into with bringing up the "Equal Protection" clause, is that you have now put money into the mix. People will sometimes change their minds, when you take the money out and put in the emotional. When you poll people on raising taxes to give to people on "Welfare" 80% are against it. If you ask them, should we raise taxes to feed the hungry, to house the homeless, to make sure that the poorest among us have medical help 89% are for that.

Yes, equal protection under the law is where the law is being broken, but I think, we need to change people's thinking on an emotional level!

What would you want done to you, is the question I ask and where does it do you any harm?

[CShine]

4. bump