Gay-marriage issue could expose divisions in GOP
I think President Bush is playing with fire if he insists on pursuing this constitutional amendment against gay marriage. The initiative is divisive, not only to gay and lesbian citizens, and those who support those citizens, but also among many Republicans in his own camp.
I know reports are saying that gay marriage will now be used as a "wedge issue" in the presidential campaign, but I would submit that any gains made in this venture would be minimal at best. In achieving these modest gains (capturing the votes of the religious-right-minded folks), you will also marginalize and alienate a large portion of Republican voters who are fair-minded. They may not favor or embrace the idea of gays being allowed to enter into civil marriages, but they are even more turned off by the notion of messing with the Constitution in order to impose the will of one groups against another. It's hard to argue that anyone would win in a battle such as that.
Imagine a vote on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage reaching the House floor this year. Now imagine Republicans voting against it. What kind of damage will that do the party in the November elections?
By advocating a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, President Bush may energize part of his conservative base to work on the 2004 election.
But if such an amendment actually reaches a vote in Congress, as many think it will, it could expose deep divisions within the Republican Party. (story)
The President has bigger issues to deal with. If he actually dealt with them, he would find that he would gather much greater support within his party, than to put his efforts into a divisive constitutional amendment against gay marriage.
For example, many in his party are in shock about the cost of his programs. The President doesn't seem to have a problem running up bills for programs we can't pay for. A large part of the Republican base care more about tax and spending cuts than social issues such as gay marriage.
Bush has cut taxes but the expansion of government and spending has many economic conservatives in shock. As long-time conservative activist Paul Weyrich put it, "A survey of economic conservative leaders reveals that all of them believe that their supporters will stay at home this election. Some of them are even pining for President Clinton, who cut the deficit and did not expand the size of government."
And this from The Oregonian
Gay marriage ban is a loser
...understanding that Americans are unwilling to accept gay marriage isn't the same thing as believing it would -- choose your hyperbole -- unravel the fabric of society, undermine marriage or doom civilization. No one's been able to explain how gay marriage would sink our society, because there's no evidence it would.
Shamefully, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage would engrave discrimination against gays into the U.S. Constitution. It would attempt to lock future generations into a prejudice that has already dissipated and that someday may disappear.
True, the amendment could be repealed at that point, but the mere battle to amend the U.S. Constitution would scar our country. Far from healing our differences, it would highlight and exacerbate them. No minds would change. But the fight would lavish energy and political resources down a deep divide in our nation. No matter what happens, huge numbers of citizens would walk away from the battle feeling diminished and disenfranchised.
Fighting the good fight? If Bush signs on to lead the charge to ban gay marriage, he'll be fighting an ugly retrograde battle. Both sides would caricature their opponents, gay-bashers would have their nasty moment to shine, gay progress would be set back -- and the greater cause of liberty and justice for all would be tarnished.
Maybe -- although we don't see how -- this battle would be a winner for someone politically.
But it would be a loser for our country.
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"Me"...
I would love to live in a society where being gay or straight was no big issue, in fact, in the best world possible, there would not be a distinction.
In such a world, there would be no gay bashings, there would only be people beating up other people, and it would all be treated and prosecuted equally.
There would be no need for hate crime legislation because all crimes truly would be equal and equally prosecuted. The impetus for those crimes would not be because someone belonged to a certain group.
Do you really think that we teach children to be gay or straight? I grew up in a fiercely straight society. Everything around me was absolutely the straight culture. Yet, by the age of six, I knew I was gay. I also knew I had to keep it a secret if I wanted to live. In my teenage years, when my prayers to God to "change me" went unanswered and our of fear of my secret being found out, I tried suicide to escape my dilemma.
I imagine a world where no child should have to live with that kind of fear.
I imagine a world where people are free to be who they honestly are inside without living a lie.
I imagine a world where the gifts of each child can be nurtured in an environment where the gifts of that child are more important than the child's orientation.
You are right. I am selfish. I want it all. I want it all for everyone. I want it for the kids who grow up feeling ashamed or feeling like their only real option is suicide. I want the feelings of inferiority that you offer to be abolished forever.
"Me", if you are so threatened by what I want for this world that you would say "it will destroy everything it means to be a man or woman", then I am sorry for you, because you have not found that meaning yourself.
You will not find that meaning wrapped up in the bigotry that you so desperately hold on to. You will not find enlightenment in that place. What you hold on to ruins lives – beginning with your own. What you hold on to pits people against each other. It is wrong, it is evil, and it should go.
This what I stand for, and I will make no apologies for it.
It’s a sad commentary to need to explain that everyone is not the same. Thank God that we have diversity in life and the wisdom to be ourselves without placating to a narrow mind. Don’t be so afraid of change, it will make you, your family, community and nation strong.
The problem with homosexual marriage isn't just for the rights for current homosexuals, its about future generations. Imagine a society where there is no distinction between gay and straight marriage, not just lawfully, but culturally. Imagine your children growing up in grade school and not knowing the difference between "liking" a girl or a boy. You Gays are so selfish in assuming that changing the meaning of marriage for your own present-time sake will equally serve society in years to come. It will not. It will destroy everything it means to be a man or woman. You just want it for yourselves, for *your* lives. This is not my religious or right-wing rant. Please reconsider your actions and the way you live your lives.
I hope this is true. I'd like to believe there are more fair-minded people out there who see a constitutional amendment for the injustice that it is. Writing prejudice into a document that represents our country's ideals is disgusting, and I hope will never happen.