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Originally Posted by haldir  Nate, keep in mind that it isn't the Republican pols that are wanting to change the laws to satisfy their sense of religion or morality. They simply don't believe we should change our laws to satisfy a few other people that violates the religious and moral values of most of their constituents. To me there is a big difference. |
That's the whole point, though, haldir, they DO want to change the laws. "Protection of Marriage Act" this and "Constitutional Amendment" that. If they didn't believe we should change our laws to satisfy some (what are perceived as the "base") of the constituency, none of this would be happening. If these laws had been in place requiring only one man and one woman for decades or centuries and only now was there talk of changing laws already in place, I would agree with you, but the only thing that's been in place is custom and tradition, and those are most clearly not the same thing as laws.
Sarge, you made the point about "forcing elementary age schoolchildren to learn about it". If they weren't going to learn about it anyway, I'd agree completely. If the basic fact that "two people love each other and want to marry." is all that's presented, I see no harm. When it's presented that one partnering is somehow superior in any way except the ability to procreate, however, then we're getting into morality. Let the churches teach morality or hey, here's a novel idea, how about the parents fulfilling that role? The basic fact, though, is that elementary age children are going to learn about same-sex couples, if not from personal experience (i.e. the neighbors, Adam and Steve or Karen and Diane) then from the news media (TV, newspaper) or hearing parents and friends talk. It's how some people live. It's not good. It's not bad. It just
is. Personally, I'd still like to know where in the US Constitution is granted the authority for a "Department of Education" in the first place.
ETA: I forgot to touch on the point about "hate crimes".
If a man is beaten because he is Black or a woman because she is a lesbian, is the beating (the fact of the crime) any worse solely because of who or what group the victim belongs to? If Mrs. Palin stands against "hate crime" legislation, more power to her. Punish crimes because of the enormity of the crime, not because of the group to which the victim belongs.
Blessings,
B