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So I feel wonderful today. It's been a great day and I love you all. I found out my Dad is coming home from Iraq...*does the happy dance* I also found out I won't get to see him until Christmas but I can wait...He's coming home!!!
The debate on homosexuality still rages at our college so I wrote a post to reply to it...I'll cut and paste a copy of it below. I hope that someone actually reads it for a change instead of just screaming until their faces turn blue.
I have been waiting for another email from Jim today. It's amazing how excited I can get over a conversation that doesn't seem to have a point other than getting to know each other. I don't know what's going on but I do know that I have butterflies every time I think about him.
Ames...thanks for making me feel good today. I needed to feel beautiful.
Luscious...we should get together and hang out soon. I want to brush your hair and stuff *giggle*
A&J...*snuggles* I miss you guys. Thanks for making me feel better last night.
Chris...I will definitely take you up on that cuddle by the way...there is no escaping me *mwuahhh*
Ok...now for my post:
Having never replied to the roundtable I'm a little intimidated by the fact that my post will surely be ripped to shreds but I do not feel as if I can remain an observer any longer.
My question is this...Suppose two atheists get married in a legal ceremony at a courthouse never stepping foot inside of a church. This couple never goes to church their entire life and has no children. They never encounter the church nor wish to. Should this couple be allowed to marry? They are not Christian and have expressed no interest in becoming Christian. If you are going to reject the rights of gay/lesbian/bisexuals to marry those of the same sex on religious grounds shouldn't you also restrict atheists? Or what about pagans? They aren't Christian...should they not be allowed to marry? Pagans go through ceremonies that often differ from Christian ceremonies and receive the same legal rights as heterosexual Christian marriages.
The reference to Christian businesses in dealing with homosexual couples disturbs me. Yes, I would consider it discrimination if I were partners with a man and wanted to receive insurance for him and was denied solely because I was partnered with a man. So why would I find it any less of discrimination if I was partnered with a woman? The point is that if we refuse to recognize long-lasting serious relationships between those of the same sex we should also refuse to recognize long-lasting serious relationships with those of the opposite sex. Who are we to judge the seriousness/reality of any relationship? Heterosexual relationships fall apart just as often as homosexual relationships do...does that mean that heterosexuals don't have "real" love, as Kacie suggested homosexuals don't have in an earlier argument? No, I don't think so. I don't think that any of us have the right to judge a relationship we have never been in.
My parents are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this year. I grew up in a loving, supporting family that many people I know envy. I have seen true love in its finest...and I have also seen that level of commitment and love in homosexual relationships. I don't understand why my parents deserve a tax break, insurance rights and the few other concessions the government makes to them when a homosexual couple can have the same depth of feeling and commitment and have been together for the same amount of time and still have nothing of the sort.
I'm not asking you to change your view of homosexuality. It's not my place to tell you your religion is wrong or right. BUT, I am asking that you recognize that homosexuals are people. They eat, drink and sleep just like everyone else does. Why should they have fewer political rights merely because of who shares their bed? And what if a homosexual couple lived together and never had sex with each other? Would they still not deserve those political rights? Or is this lack of political rights based purely on the sexual acts that occur between two people behind closed doors? If that were the case should every person who practices sodomy be banned from marriage?
Just a few thoughts to stir the pot...
The debate on homosexuality still rages at our college so I wrote a post to reply to it...I'll cut and paste a copy of it below. I hope that someone actually reads it for a change instead of just screaming until their faces turn blue.
I have been waiting for another email from Jim today. It's amazing how excited I can get over a conversation that doesn't seem to have a point other than getting to know each other. I don't know what's going on but I do know that I have butterflies every time I think about him.
Ames...thanks for making me feel good today. I needed to feel beautiful.
Luscious...we should get together and hang out soon. I want to brush your hair and stuff *giggle*
A&J...*snuggles* I miss you guys. Thanks for making me feel better last night.
Chris...I will definitely take you up on that cuddle by the way...there is no escaping me *mwuahhh*
Ok...now for my post:
Having never replied to the roundtable I'm a little intimidated by the fact that my post will surely be ripped to shreds but I do not feel as if I can remain an observer any longer.
My question is this...Suppose two atheists get married in a legal ceremony at a courthouse never stepping foot inside of a church. This couple never goes to church their entire life and has no children. They never encounter the church nor wish to. Should this couple be allowed to marry? They are not Christian and have expressed no interest in becoming Christian. If you are going to reject the rights of gay/lesbian/bisexuals to marry those of the same sex on religious grounds shouldn't you also restrict atheists? Or what about pagans? They aren't Christian...should they not be allowed to marry? Pagans go through ceremonies that often differ from Christian ceremonies and receive the same legal rights as heterosexual Christian marriages.
The reference to Christian businesses in dealing with homosexual couples disturbs me. Yes, I would consider it discrimination if I were partners with a man and wanted to receive insurance for him and was denied solely because I was partnered with a man. So why would I find it any less of discrimination if I was partnered with a woman? The point is that if we refuse to recognize long-lasting serious relationships between those of the same sex we should also refuse to recognize long-lasting serious relationships with those of the opposite sex. Who are we to judge the seriousness/reality of any relationship? Heterosexual relationships fall apart just as often as homosexual relationships do...does that mean that heterosexuals don't have "real" love, as Kacie suggested homosexuals don't have in an earlier argument? No, I don't think so. I don't think that any of us have the right to judge a relationship we have never been in.
My parents are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this year. I grew up in a loving, supporting family that many people I know envy. I have seen true love in its finest...and I have also seen that level of commitment and love in homosexual relationships. I don't understand why my parents deserve a tax break, insurance rights and the few other concessions the government makes to them when a homosexual couple can have the same depth of feeling and commitment and have been together for the same amount of time and still have nothing of the sort.
I'm not asking you to change your view of homosexuality. It's not my place to tell you your religion is wrong or right. BUT, I am asking that you recognize that homosexuals are people. They eat, drink and sleep just like everyone else does. Why should they have fewer political rights merely because of who shares their bed? And what if a homosexual couple lived together and never had sex with each other? Would they still not deserve those political rights? Or is this lack of political rights based purely on the sexual acts that occur between two people behind closed doors? If that were the case should every person who practices sodomy be banned from marriage?
Just a few thoughts to stir the pot...
