bradleybadly wrote:
This is why you tolerance and open & free society people are so full of crap. Your tolerance ends when people speak opinions that you disagree with.
Sorry, wrong. The ACLU is full of folks who truly believe in freedom -- whether they agree with the idea or not. BUT, the point is tolerance for free speech is one thing ACTIONS are something else. When you refuse to allow homosexuals to marry, because YOU believe it is wrong -- that is action, not ideas.
You are absolutely free to think homosexuality is wrong, evil, etc. BUT when you wish to push your ideas into actions that the rest of the country, or your state or community must follow, you cross the line of freedom. You are no more justified in saying homosexuals don't have the right to live their lives, work and have families than you would be in saying that an atheist or someone who worships another God hasn't that right.
Bottom line -- when people can have different ideas about right and wrong, when they can READ the BIBLE and see different things, it is clear there is a debate. You don't have to like that. You can rail against all the "idiots" in the world who don't see things as "clearly" as you, but you do NOT have the right to insist that the rest of us follow your narrow ideas.
When there is a debate, it is the job of the state to ensure that ALL reasonable choices are allowed. This is called freedom. TRUE freedom. The same freedom that protects your right to pass on whatever narrow minded views you wish to your children. The same right that allows you to DISCUSS/argue these issues, the same right that even allows you the right to protest, PEACEFULLY if you feel that is what you need to do to try and convince others.
YOu claim that homosexuals are asking for "extra" rights. Strange, but I am old enough to remember (sadly still hear) that very argument levied for why blacks should not be afforded the same rights as the whites. "THEY won't stop at equality" the argument went " their REAL goal is to take over all us whites". You know what? The truth is there are and were some idiot black folk who did and do think that way ... just like there are some idiot whites who think they have some sort of superior right to dominate others.... And there are some idiot English who think the French are scum, Irish who hate the English, etc, etc, etc. ... (and THOSE individuals even have some partially legitimate reasons -- like the way their great grandparents might have been treated). If we wish to live our lives limited by these folk's hatred, then we have already lost the freedoms we cherish.
Those against homosexual marriage here have yet to really and truly give one concrete way that homosexual unions will HARM the rest of us. You give examples of how it is wrong, of how much you dislike the idea ... and point to some vague idea of how homosexual unions will somehow "demean" and "degrade" families. You ignore evidence that refutes your claim. You ignore the FACT that the homosexuality was removed from the realm of mental illnesses a long time ago .. BECAUSE it is not an illness! AND you ignore the "inconvenient" portions of the New Testament and choose instead to hold up Leviticus, though, as has been pointed out -- ONLY when it comes to these sexual matters.
You IGNORE the fact that whether this is or is not approved by the Bible is IRRELEVANT. You know what? BUDDHISM and HINDUISM are certainly not accepted by the Bible! Years ago, SOME folks even used the Bible to justify persecuting Jews! Others decide it is OK to persecute Catholics .. or Protestants. The list goes on and on.
BUT, sinc eyou bring it up, I will address the Bible issue. Do I know if homosexuality is "acceptable" under God? That is the wrong question. These people are not asking you to LIKE their way of life, to adopt it or to teach your children to live that way. They are simply asking that you let THEM lead THEIR lives they way THEY wish. What I DO know is that we are taught to love one another, to treat each other as best we can. What I DO know is that the sword is not a very good conversion technique. What I DO know is that the harm that comes from suppressing and limiting folks from living lifestyles that are not my own is FAR FAR FAR more harmful to US than simply letting them be.
Do I LIKE homosexuality? Honestly, "no". BUT, when I saw people offering anyone EXCEPT a homosexual couple a ride, offering snacks to everyone EXCEPT the homosexuals, when I see children being teased and rejected because their PARENTS are living a "different" lifestyle,... there is nothing at all Christian aboutt those actions. I cannot as a CHRISTIAN stand by and that be the representation of Christ that stands. When Disney offered health care benefits to its same-sex couples, the Southern Baptist church asked folks to boycott Disney and Disney products. A BOYCOTT because a company dared to offer HEALTH COVERAGE. Disney's response was classic "since when did DENYING folks health coverage become a Christian value." I am honest. If someone asks, I DON'T say that I think homosexuality is OK, but I DO say that I am taught to treat EVERY human being, EVERY sinner (we are ALL sinners, after all) with the SAME kindness and love.
You can call me hypocritical if you like. I am certainly no saint. But that is the point. NONE of us, except Christ every have been. You quote the Bible, to Leviticus .. Paul said that even the least sin is enough to take us from God. None of us is pure enough to judge other humans. None of us has such a clear and true and perfect line on the truth that we can FORCE others to think as we do. AND that was not what Christ OR his disciples did. Interesting isn't it? The WORST thing that Christ told his disciples to do was to "shake the dust off the feet" of places where not one person followed him. In this case, many of the folks actually DO follow Christ and DO follow the Bible, in their opinion.
Perhaps it is that which REALLY makes you angry ... that they are disputing your view of the Bible. That I am disputing your view?