Political Behavior

Gay_Cynic wrote about the behaviors that are not desireable, by ANYONE, when it comes to political debate. It is worth reading and passing on.

http://nwfreethinker.blogspot.com/2008/11/prop-8.html

While I am in favor of the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, or a man and several women, I fully agree with GC's analysis of the legal process. I find myself noting that even cultures that embraced homosexual relationships (Japan, Rome, some Native American) did not recognize a homosexual relationship as "marriage". It is my opinion that we can respect the historical meaning of marriage that is important to quite a few people as well as respecting the relationships of the GLBT community.

We live in a society where "marriage" is a legally binding contract that gives the participants some rights and expectations that you don't normally give someone who just happens to live with you, no matter how meaningful the relationship. Those rights and expectations are tied in with our past history and culture. Just because something is "traditional" or "historical" doesn't make it necessarily the best thing for us here and now. After all, there the traditional form of slavery is a time honored tradition, written into the Torah and Koran. Heck, "The Zero" want to "move beyond the limitations of the Constitution" (those are his own words) because our Government just isn't big, powerful, or intrusive enough to suit him.

But times change, cultures change, and not always for the better. Sometimes things fall apart and life sucks for a while. As much fun as "RenFaires" are I wouldn't actually want to live in such a time.

How our generation deals with the legal issues of homosexual relationships is something for us to work out. And we can work it out without resorting to violence, intimidation, or other uncivil behaviors. The GLBT community will not rest until they have their version of equality, and I have no doubt that like any other special interest group they will get what they want if they can hold out longer than the opposing special interest group. I expect this issue to be old news within my lifetime.

But no matter my personal view on the matter, I have to support individual freedom. Whether someone else owns a Lamborghini or a Schwinn, has sex with a man or a woman, drinks red wine or white wine, doesn't impact my life one bit. Unless I happen to be a busybody who can't stand the thought of someone actually LIVING THEIR OWN LIFE as they see fit.

After all, the guy telling the gay man that he can't get married today is going to be the same guy that wants me locked up tomorrow for being a menace to "public safety" for owning a firearm. I may not agree with someones choices, but I will defend to the death their right to make those choices. I could only hope that those who don't agree with my choices feel the same way, but if the internet is any indicator of a Liberals true feelings and actions they would have me forced into subjugation.