Many gay couples feel the symbolic nature of the word "marriage" would be validating. I think many gay couples wouldn't care what you call their relationships except that marriage has become a symbol of acceptance and legitimacy for the gay community. If by calling gay unions "marriages" it soothes the hearts and minds of millions of people all over the world, I'm for it.
If calling gay unions "marriages" helps to heal the thousands of years of cruelty, fear, and ignorance that have been heaped on gays, I'm for it. Liz From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Clogtowner Sent: Monday, October 13, 2008 9:01 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [skeptics-145] My Philosophy Hi y'all - I agree. Marriage is simply a contract which gives some security and legality to a relationship. It's traditional (western) purpose has been to create an environment for reproduction and nurture. I don't say that this is the only method, but it is one I like and has worked for me. A gay relationship doesn't have the purpose of reproduction therefore it should have a different name. By all means give legal lifetime partnership rights to it. Here's an analogy to illustrate my point. Two machines produce electrictiy. One produces direct current and is called a generator. One produces alternating current and is called an alternator. The main purpose is very similar but with one difference hence the different name. I say no more than that. Please spank me. S. Imbibo ergo sum. _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [skeptics-145] My Philosophy Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:20:59 -0400 Quickly, marriage didn't evolve in the way of biological evolution. Humans have common feelings and urges, but marriage is defined in so many different ways cross culturally, that you can't define it as needing to be between a man and a woman or a man and a man, etc. Marriage is not even necessary in all cultures. There are some that have no marriage whatsoever and that lifestyle was a successful adaptation. Marriage is made of culturally arbitrary rules when it does exist, and there is no reason why gay marriages would not necessarily turn out to be the next successful cultural adaptation. I'm not saying it's likely, but as with biological evolution, it is nearly impossible to determine what kind of cultural adaptation will prove to be the most successful. Liz From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Clogtowner Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 2:23 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [skeptics-145] My Philosophy Hi y'all - I'll reply to the Buddhism post when I've had the time to digest it. On the question of gay marriage, for me it is simply a question of semantics and not separate but equal. I believe that natural evolution over milleniae has arrived at the present biologically efficient method of reproduction and nurture. We call it marriage and that's why I married. Admittedly some couples marry with no desire or even ability to reproduce - they should have the right to a civil union or a marriage. I believe a civil union is the right method of lifetime partnership for gays as it doesn't have the same purpose as marriage, and is therefore different. It should have all the rights granted to a marriage except those pertaining to childbirth. For me the jury is still out on gays creating families by adopting children - I need far more information before I can decide whether children in gay families grow up to be well balanced adults in the same proportions as the rest of the community. If it turns out that they do, then I may well change my view. Jason has quoted one paper on the subject but I'm afraid that is not enough. Some of my best friends have been, and are, gay. I have never met an adopted child with a gay family upbringing. Obviously, if gay marriage becomes the prime choice, humanity is doomed without artificial evolution. S. Imbibo ergo sum. _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [skeptics-145] My Philosophy Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:10:20 -0400 Hi Steve, While it is biologically true that gay couples cannot procreate, many straight couples have also found they are unable to do so. Since marriage is a contract of sorts with religious overtones, it seems to me that it should be enforced and allowed without prejudice. Civil Unions, while seeming to provide all the contractual benefits of marriage, still creates a kind of lesser contract, similar I think to the so-called "separate but equal" schools during segregation. It is only when the prejudicial aspects of that system we removed that the underlying prejudice could be seen. The schools were separate, but they were never equal. The idea of civil unions promotes the desire of those who wish to stigmatize homosexuality- for it to remain separate from a "normal" lifestyle. While it is preferable to gay couples having no rights, it's like giving someone partial rights. I say let people who wish to marry, regardless of the sexual orientation, do so. As long as I was separated from black people, I could never really know them or empathize with them. Since I was married to a black woman for 24 years and have always had black friends, I no longer think of them with the prejudice I was brought up with. It seems to me that those who oppose gay marriage probably have few gay acquaintances or friends and thus do not relate to them in an empathetic manner. Once restrictions on gay marriage are removed, society doesn't fall apart. That's been proven time and again. Rick S From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Clogtowner Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 10:21 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [skeptics-145] My Philosophy Hi y'all - this comes close to my philosophy - anyone agree, or want to kick the crap out of me? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/nyregion/12marriage.html?em S. Imbibo ergo sum. _____ See how Windows Mobile brings your life together-at home, work, or on the go. See Now <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093182mrt/direct/01/> -- Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to everyone on this mailing list ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) This message was sent by Clogtowner ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) from The Olive Branch <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/> Atheists Meetup Group. To learn more about Clogtowner, visit his/her member <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/members/921577/> profile To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings, click here <http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/> Meetup Support: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 632 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3515 (20081011) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com <http://www.eset.com/> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3515 (20081011) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com <http://www.eset.com/> -- Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to everyone on this mailing list ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) This message was sent by Rick Sadler ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) from The Olive Branch <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/> Atheists Meetup Group. To learn more about Rick Sadler, visit his/her member <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/members/4935087/> profile To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings, click here <http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/> Meetup Support: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 632 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA _____ Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. See Now <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/> -- Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to everyone on this mailing list ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) This message was sent by Clogtowner ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) from The Olive Branch <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/> Atheists Meetup Group. To learn more about Clogtowner, visit his/her member <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/members/921577/> profile To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings, click here <http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/> Meetup Support: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 632 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA -- Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to everyone on this mailing list ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) This message was sent by liz ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) from The Olive Branch <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/> Atheists Meetup Group. To learn more about liz, visit his/her member <http://skeptics.meetup.com/145/members/2813809/> profile To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings, click here <http://www.meetup.com/account/comm/> Meetup Support: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 632 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA _____ See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. 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