"It's my birthday, so vote against 'Gay Marriage'"

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A sexy lamppost you can't take home with you? That's not going to work, is it?

Because I'm not making that argument.

The point I'm trying to make is that by redefining marriage to make it something that it is not, never has been, and can never be essentially makes the word meaningless. If marriage fails as an institution between two people of the opposite sex--and there are good reasons to be married and stay in committed relationships for male-female couples--then why even bother getting married at all? I'm not just trying to be an old-fashioned, tradition-for-tradition's-sake homophobe here. It's just that when it comes to tradition, sometimes the winners actually deserve to win.

One of the worst things to happen to the institution of marriage in the west has been the legalization of NFD, which I think very well has resulted from the Hollywood mentality idealized romantic love and the idea that you can divorce someone if you no longer love them. Love is important in a marriage, but there's a lot more to being married than love alone--or at least romantic love. All couples hit tough times in marriage and divorce seems like a good, easy way out. Quite often you'll find that couples who hit a rough patch and decide to tough it out are much happier 5 years later. If romantic sentiment or sexual desire are the only things that lead you in the direction of getting married, perhaps it's best not to get married at all since those kinds of things do not make for anything that can possibly last long term.

The way I see it, expanding marriage beyond what it is further weakens the institution, just like NFD did a few decades ago. If the effects of divorce have proven harmful, then traditional marriage should be protected, and it doesn't matter where the threat comes from (whether NFD or redefinition). I'd predict an increase in divorce rate for traditional couples. We'll see if I'm right in 10-20 years.

Marriage based on romantic love Hollywood style sure beats the hell out of what marriage had once been - just legal contract. And the notion of romantic love doesn't necessarily have to lead to divorce just because the couple hits a rough patch.

I can answer that for you. None.

People who are unaffected by the wrongs that their fellow human beings inflict on each other lack compassion. What's better--to take a drunk friend home by force or to allow him to put himself and others in harms way because it's "none of your business"?

People who are unaffected by the wrongs that their fellow human beings inflict on each other lack compassion. What's better--to take a drunk friend home by force or to allow him to put himself and others in harms way because it's "none of your business"?

I also don't see how gay marriage in any way wrongs anyone.

People who are unaffected by the wrongs that their fellow human beings inflict on each other lack compassion. What's better--to take a drunk friend home by force or to allow him to put himself and others in harms way because it's "none of your business"?

I for one do feel compassion for my fellow human beings. That's why I find your comment quite offensive. Your drunk driving comparison is not only greatly insulting to gay and lesbian parents who are doing a terrific job, but also to single parents.

I was raised in a traditional family by two hyper-religious parents, who did a very poor job compared to the mothers of this young man:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSQQK2Vuf9Q&feature=g-vrec&context=G2a48a72RVAAAAAAAAAg[/youtube]

My guess is her fundie parents put her up to this.

I for one do feel compassion for my fellow human beings. That's why I find your comment quite offensive.

Then you completely missed my point. I also never said gay/lesbian parents did poor jobs, and neither did I say single parents do poor jobs. I just said that devaluation of marriage and the family has a negative impact on society. Marriage partners who fall victim to the mighty NFD are negatively impacted in obvious mental, emotional, and economic ways. Children accustomed to the stability of family relationships are negatively impacted emotionally and perhaps developmentally (at least in academic performance) over breakups, particularly when dealing with visitation and custody disputes. Single-parent families, while they certainly can function and function well, often suffer for the obvious lack of economic advantages and opportunities that stable traditional homes provide.

I'm sorry that you feel insulted.

Then you completely missed my point. I also never said gay/lesbian parents did poor jobs, and neither did I say single parents do poor jobs. I just said that devaluation of marriage and the family has a negative impact on society. Marriage partners who fall victim to the mighty NFD are negatively impacted in obvious mental, emotional, and economic ways. Children accustomed to the stability of family relationships are negatively impacted emotionally and perhaps developmentally (at least in academic performance) over breakups, particularly when dealing with visitation and custody disputes. Single-parent families, while they certainly can function and function well, often suffer for the obvious lack of economic advantages and opportunities that stable traditional homes provide.

I'm sorry that you feel insulted.