I actually didn't even realize that you had written it incorrectly, I read what you intended.
This is only tangential to the topic, but it made me think about it. Something I have a hard time getting my head around is why anyone (but specifically people I like and respect that I know in real life) would care whether or not gay people get married. I don't want to get into a debate about it here, but I'm more looking at it from the point of view of understanding other people and me being more tolerant (because I have problems sometimes being tolerant of people not as liberal as I am). I strive to understand. And often, when you get to the root of it it somes down to either "It is just wrong" or "God says it is wrong", which means that something in this person's moral compass is butting up against the "Who does it hurt?" in mine. And I long to figure out what that is.... I am not even sure if anyone here can help me with that, but I am in some ways fascinated and some ways frustrated when meatspace family members just don't think like I do!
Something I have a hard time getting my head around is why anyone (but specifically people I like and respect that I know in real life) would care whether or not gay people get married.
You can find several Bible passages that indicate that homosexuality is wrong so there's that. Then there's people who get all squicked out about the idea of two guys having sex together. Then there's tradition.
I think one true test of whether your religion informs your morals, or vice versa, is whether you would behave in a way that's contrary to your morals if dictated by your religion.
I think Wolfram has just shed some light on the above question I had-- my family/older friends are religious in a religion that frowns upon homosexuality (Catholicism). I always that Jesus didn't really follow his religion, so if we are taking him as an example.... But then, I am a blasphemer who has a soft spot in my heart for Judas (too much Jesus Christ Superstar).
See, I don't have a problem with religions thinking homosexuality is wrong, but the insistence that the government shouldn't legalize the unions bothers me. I blame the conflation in the US of church and official marriage.
I think it's sunny someplace in the world.
Here!
Also, warm (for MA in March - it's in the 60s). I went out to lunch with a friend. Coming back to the office was very difficult.
Then there's people who get all squicked out about the idea of two guys having sex together.
Tom Delay recently proposed a campaign to inform teens of the explicit details of being gay (i.e., The Butt Sex), the theory being that if they knew how icky it was, they'd stop. His exact words were something like "we need to bring the shame back into homosexuality."
(Personally, I think it's hysterical that the right wing thinks that the "cure" for homosexuality is to show gay porn to teens, but that's just me.)
[eta -- oops, not Tom Delay, Peter LaBarbera. Most of this article is about Delay, so I'd conflated the two:
Peter LaBarbera, who heads the Illinois Family Institute and is known for his obsession with gay men's most outré sexual practices, told the audience, "My greatest frustration has been our side's inability to make homosexual behavior an issue in the public's mind." In order to inspire the kind of revulsion he wants to see more of, he read from a posting on a gay message board: [non-work-safe graphic sex details omitted]
"I don't think so-called GLBT teens are told anything like this" by their school counselors, LaBarbera said. "We need to find ways to bring shame back to those who are practicing and advocating homosexual behavior."]
OK, that's really funny. I remember being 10 or so and learning about what sex in general was, and thinking that was really nasty, but you know, I went through puberty and got over it.
Because only gay people have anal sex.
(Personally, I think it's hysterical that the right wing thinks that the "cure" for homosexuality is to show gay porn to teens, but that's just me.)
Oh, they should totally give it a try.
Oh, they should totally give it a try.
Why do I suspect part of the plan is to keep an eye out for anyone who doesn't act grossed out?
