Poll: Would you support an amendment to ban gay marriages?

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thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
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The Bush/Cheney 2004 Ticket Slogan:

Mars & Marriage









(Economy, what economy...............sez bush)
 

Wuffsunie

Platinum Member
May 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: ATLien247
Originally posted by: Skyclad1uhm1
Originally posted by: ATLien247
Originally posted by: redly1
Define the purpose of a marriage
The purpose of marriage is lawful procreation.
So men and women have to have a fertility check and sign a paper stating they will breed before we allow them to get married?
BS.

Marriage is giving a partnership a legal status, with all the obligations and benefits that come with it.
That may be what marriage has come to mean for a lot of people, but I don't think that was the intention of whomever invented marriage per se.
Heck, marriage up until about 1563 and the Council of Trent just wasn't something the church got involved it to any huge extent. It only did that to cut down on the number of fake marriages and marriages of intimidation and threat. Before, it only concerned itself with the moral dimensions of the relation and left actual legislation and mechanics to civil authorities. That changed due for a host of reasons. Background here, middle ages segment contains the relevant history

Heck, marriage almost always was a contract, either between families or the individuals themselves and thus fell under established contract law for the most part. The romanticism of the 18th and particularly 19th century led to the current definition and workings of marriage that we're squabbling over today. If we're talking about getting marriage back to what it USED to be, then it should be nothing more than a binding contract between legally consenting parties subject to existing laws for that area.

Of course, in the end nothing said here hasn't been said before in other threads, my stuff included. (nice to see Seperate But Equal was brought up, BTW)

-- Jack

Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution yet.
-- Mae West
 
May 10, 2001
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marriage up until about 1563
the covenant of marriage is over 4000 years old in the Judeo-Christian culture. The issuance of legal documents in regards to this are as old, at least, as the Visigoth empire which had penalties for adultery and minimum amounts for a dowry.

If we're talking about getting marriage back to what it USED to be, then it should be nothing more than a binding contract between legally consenting parties subject to existing laws for that area.
Who mis-informed you of this, Jack? it's simply outside the facts of the historical situation.
 

tw1164

Diamond Member
Dec 8, 1999
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Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: LordJezo
Originally posted by: nan0bug
Originally posted by: LordJezo
Well, as long as they also allow incest marriage and eventually the ability for me to marry my dog, then yes, I support it.

I also thing they should allow as many people to marry as they want, as in multiple wives. I also demand that I am allowed to marry my grandmother.

Otherwise it is discriminating against my human rights.

What does that have to do with our President pushing to remove rights for one class of people via A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

This crap doesn't belong in the constitution, period, end of story.

Most people don't care either way, and the people that do care should really focus their attention on more important things going on in the world today.

Marriage should be a religious ceremony with no legally binding contract whatsoever. There should be marriage, and civil unions. Civil unions should be available to any consenting adults who have lived together for a set period of time, lets say 3 years. Yes, that should mean if you and your grandma have lived together for 3 years and you want to build equity together and share bank accounts and have all the other insurance rights and stuff, you should be able to.


He's looking to protect marriage, not banning civil unions or what have you.

Marriage is an institution that is between a man and a woman. Alternative lifestyles have no right to change what has been a set way of doing something since the beginning of time. Go look it up in any dictionary.

Main Entry: mar·riage
Pronunciation: 'mer-ij, 'ma-rij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from marier to marry
1 a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage <same-sex marriage> b : the mutual relation of married persons : WEDLOCK c : the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage
2 : an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
3 : an intimate or close union <the marriage of painting and poetry -- J. T. Shawcross> Show me where it mentions religion. Go ahead....I'm waiting.


m-w.org isn't the only dictionary

http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn?stage=1&word=marriage

1. marriage, matrimony, union, spousal relationship, wedlock -- (the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce); "a long and happy marriage"; "God bless this union")
2. marriage, married couple, man and wife -- (two people who are married to each other; "his second marriage was happier than the first"; "a married couple without love")
3. marriage, wedding, marriage ceremony -- (the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony; "their marriage was conducted in the chapel")
4. marriage -- (a close and intimate union; "the marriage of music and dance"; "a marriage of ideas")

It doesn't mention "religion", but it does mention "man and wife".

*edit for spelling*
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain
I do not support a constitutional amendment to ban gay unions.
this is an amendment to ban gay marriages; civil unions are still the state's prerogative.

Great. Another advocate of amending the basis of the nation over a matter semantics.

I like the idea of them all being called "civil unions" but you can't legally restrict usage of the word. Are you going to make it a federal crime for a gay couple call themselves "married" when they are actually "civilly unified?"

This is an exercise in futility and waste. We're going to waste precious time and money drafting an amendment that will never pass the 2/3 vote, and in the unlikely event that it does, will not change anything and cannot be truly enforced.
 

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: tw1164
Originally posted by: conjur
Main Entry: mar·riage
Pronunciation: 'mer-ij, 'ma-rij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from marier to marry
1 a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage <same-sex marriage> b : the mutual relation of married persons : WEDLOCK c : the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage
2 : an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
3 : an intimate or close union <the marriage of painting and poetry -- J. T. Shawcross> Show me where it mentions religion. Go ahead....I'm waiting.


m-w.org isn't the only dictionary

http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn?stage=1&word=marriage

1. marriage, matrimony, union, spousal relationship, wedlock -- (the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce); "a long and happy marriage"; "God bless this union")
2. marriage, married couple, man and wife -- (two people who are married to each other; "his second marriage was happier than the first"; "a married couple without love")
3. marriage, wedding, marriage ceremony -- (the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony; "their marriage was conducted in the chapel")
4. marriage -- (a close and intimate union; "the marriage of music and dance"; "a marriage of ideas")

It doesn't mention "religion", but it does mention "man and wife".

*edit for spelling*

Oh my! Some online word database mentioned "man and wife". Stop the presses! Call Merriam-Webster (pretty much the standard dictionary.)
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
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Oh my! Some online word database mentioned "man and wife". Stop the presses! Call Merriam-Webster (pretty much the standard dictionary.)

Also, we may need to remind some people that the lexicographer documents the usage of existing words, he does not create new words or definitions. Any lexicographer who defined the word to mean "man and wife" did so because that is how it is currently used, not because that is the only meaning the word can have.

Jzero-read-FRINDLE-and-so-should-you ;)
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
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I've not been in this thread really, but now that it's got a lot of posts, has anybody actually yet come up with a good legal reason why gay marriage should be banned, or is it all based in bigotry, ignorance, and homophobia?
 

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
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Before all this crap started, I didn't really care one way or the other. As long as I didn't see it, I didn't care. But now after reading all this stuff, I am HUGELY against it.

It probably has to do with the immaturity of the people who support it. They all act like 5 year olds.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain
if you would deny these people their rights, it may be just a matter of time until YOUR group becomes the next target. Then, we'll see how strong you feel about protecting the civil rights of others.
marriage is licensed just like driving is licensed, no one has a 'right' to either.

so you would agree to an amendment banning certain groups of people from getting a drivers license??

why not just ban gays from getting drivers licenses also.

do you NOT see the constitutional implications of this and how serious it is?
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: Skoorb
I've not been in this thread really, but now that it's got a lot of posts, has anybody actually yet come up with a good legal reason why gay marriage should be banned, or is it all based in bigotry, ignorance, and homophobia?

bigotry, ignorance, and homophobia
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
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Originally posted by: XZeroII
Before all this crap started, I didn't really care one way or the other. As long as I didn't see it, I didn't care. But now after reading all this stuff, I am HUGELY against it.

It probably has to do with the immaturity of the people who support it. They all act like 5 year olds.
How are they acting like 5 year olds? 3 year olds are the ones who are not allowing them to get married in the first place. :p
 

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
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Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak

President George W. Bush waded into a contentious U.S. election-year issue today, saying he'll back a constitutional amendment to prevent same-sex marriages.

The amendment is just reinforcing the definition of Marriage.

The amendment, which would have to be passed by Congress and ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures, would still allow states "to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage," said Bush.

Civil unions or whatever you want to call them aren't getting banned. Bush just wants it to be clear what Marriage is so runaway judges aren't bending definitions to fit their agenda.

I remember watching the news and someone was pointing out that Conservatives want States to hold their own power without the Federal goverment pushing them around, and they thought it was a contradiction of Bush using federal power to do so. But they missed the whole point of this issue. It's not the will of the people in the States that are supporting gay marriage in those states. This was not brought upon by elected legislators supporting this, the Judicial branch is excersizing a power they aren't supposed to have. So really the will of the people is being completely overthrown and in fact Bush is trying to correct that through legislation (which is by will of the people!).

Bush is not alone.

Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential front-runner, opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions that protect rights like inheritance and health benefits.

Former president Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act which endorsed the traditional view and stressed that no state must accept another's definition of marriage.

Thirty-eight states have also passed laws to uphold the definition of marriage as a heterosexual union.

I have to also stress that by making this an amendment, the Houses have to agree to this and it could take years of debate. This is how our government is supposed to function and if this passes it will be the will of the majority. So anybody bashing Bush because of this needs to have a reality check.


 

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
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Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
What's next that the gov't will decide to discriminate against. It all has to start somewhere and once it gets going it will never end.

No need to discriminate against people simply because of their secual orientation. I won't vote for Bush this election because of hsi stance on this as well...

Good choice, vote for Kerry. Wait, Kerry would do the same thing... okay how about Nader?
 

VTrider

Golden Member
Nov 21, 1999
1,358
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The fact still amazes me that certian religious groups think they own the "COPYRIGHT" to the concept of marriage, as if?!
rolleye.gif


This topic is going to be one of the last great civil/human rights issues in this country. In 50 years, Our children's children will look back into American History and just shake their heads in disbelief that a president actually tried to pass a constitutional amendment to deny this god given right to certian Americans.

Unbelievable

I can't express enough the amount of pride I have about living in a state which is on the forefront of this issue and helped get the ball rolling....

-VTrider (Vermont)
 
May 10, 2001
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Are you going to make it a federal crime for a gay couple call themselves "married" when they are actually "civilly unified?"
the homosexual community can get 'married' however they like, the movement now is to try to get society to accept homosexual sex as acceptable; they desperately want social confirmation that their decadence is acceptable and natural, because they know in their heart's what is right and what isn't.

The crux of the issue is that I don't belive creating a state stamp-of-approval for immoral behavior;

****
I'd like to see the covenant of marriage removed from the state to sanction, leaving only communal property contracts for any number of people who want to share equally all they have.
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
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Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain
The crux of the issue is that I don't belive creating a state stamp-of-approval for immoral behavior;
The crux of the matter is, their behavior is only immoral in your bigoted, narrow mind. If a gay couple is not invading your personal space or insisting that you live as they do, and they are not otherwise aggressing on others, who the fsck are you to judge them, let alone impose your values on them? You are entitled to your opinion, but under the U.S. Constitution, you are not entitled to deny others the rights you claim for yourself.

Even your own alleged deity preaches, "Judge not lest ye be judged." Seems like you have some explaining to do to yourself before you continue spewing your biases on the rest of us. :disgust:
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: Harvey
Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain
The crux of the issue is that I don't belive creating a state stamp-of-approval for immoral behavior;
The crux of the matter is, their behavior is only immoral in your bigoted, narrow mind. If a gay couple is not invading your personal space or insisting that you live as they do, and they are not otherwise aggressing on others, who the fsck are you to judge them, let alone impose your values on them? You are entitled to your opinion, but under the U.S. Constitution, you are not entitled to deny others the rights you claim for yourself.

Even your own alleged deity preaches, "Judge not lest ye be judged." Seems like you have some explaining to do to yourself before you continue spewing your biases on the rest of us. :disgust:

i have to agree with harvey, i'm a devout christian and i can admit that throughout history, the GROSSEST abuses of mankind came as a direct result of a group of people trying to force their morality on another group of people, inquisition etc.

to NOT understand it that is to be ignorant of history.
 

przero

Platinum Member
Dec 30, 2000
2,060
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It's a free country, and as an excercise of my freedom to choose, I choose to support a ban. Why I support that idea is of no concern to anyone but me. after all it is about "freedom" isn't it?
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Originally posted by: przero
It's a free country, and as an excercise of my freedom to choose, I choose to support a ban. Why I support that idea is of no concern to anyone but me. after all it is about "freedom" isn't it?

i'm going to assume that this is sarcasm.

 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,698
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Originally posted by: przero
It's a free country, and as an excercise of my freedom to choose, I choose to support a ban. Why I support that idea is of no concern to anyone but me. after all it is about "freedom" isn't it?

You have the Freedom to support the ban, but what of the Freedom to Choose for those you wish to ban from Marriage?
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
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PlatinumGold -- I'm an atheist, and you're my kind of Christian. That's NOT sarcasm. Some of my friends are very religious in their respective faiths, and one thing that keeps us friends is our mutual respect of each other's right to believe what we will about the unknown.

Thanks for your intelligent post. :)
Originally posted by: przero
It's a free country, and as an excercise of my freedom to choose, I choose to support a ban. Why I support that idea is of no concern to anyone but me. after all it is about "freedom" isn't it?
If you're serious, you seem to have missed the part about your freedom to swing your fist stops somewhere short of the other guy's face. You do NOT have the right or the freedom to limit the rights and freedom of other citizens. It's about equal rights.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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Originally posted by: Harvey
PlatinumGold -- I'm an atheist, and you're my kind of Christian. That's NOT sarcasm. Some of my friends are very religious in their respective faiths, and one thing that keeps us friends is our mutual respect of each other's right to believe what we will about the unknown.

Thanks for your intelligent post. :)
Originally posted by: przero
It's a free country, and as an excercise of my freedom to choose, I choose to support a ban. Why I support that idea is of no concern to anyone but me. after all it is about "freedom" isn't it?
If you're serious, you seem to have missed the part about your freedom to swing your fist stops somewhere short of the other guy's face. You do NOT have the right or the freedom to limit the rights and freedom of other citizens. It's about equal rights.

i think most christians have never understood what christianity was all about. that's probably why there are so many athiests. now that we live in a society that no longer attempts to force religious beliefs on the citizens, a great many people turn to atheism, me i'd rather deal with honest athiests than christians who are decieving themselves.