If that’s “the last word” on gay marriage, we need a new dictionary.
Ask what the function of a social institution such as marriage might be. Its prestige and desirability derive from its function, not the reverse.
Ask what the surrounding social context of the institution is, and whether a proposed change to the institution runs in accord with the social context and its incentive structures, or in opposition to them.
Ask what covert reasons there might be for trying to compromise the institution’s mission and structure — and pay attention to the breadth of possibilities, rather than focusing only on the parts that sound good to you.
And for God’s sake, don’t try to foreclose the argument with strawman arguments or irrelevancies as Mr. Totten has done. There are far better arguments against State recognition of homosexual marriages than Mr. Totten is willing to confront, at least if we go by the post you cited. Moreover, one can disapprove of a behavior without manifesting it in vocal personal or political opposition. To imply otherwise weakens any argument one might make.
…Or, we can stop using the legal definition of marriage as a hammer to design, maintain, or recreate a “surrounding social context” (in other words, trying to force people to live how you want them to live).
Marriage is a human institution that’s had countless forms over history and in different cultures. Religious dogma aside, there’s no one true definition for it. If some consenting, informed adults want to marry each other under commonly-acepted terms or terms they agree upon, let them. Anything else is being an asshole.
Gay marriage is a straw man argument, the true agenda is acceptance. Unfortunately there many tens of millions of people who while willing to accept homosexuals, are not about to equate gay marriage as the same as a normal marriage. Homosexuals would find a better climate if they would police their own ranks and eliminate NAMBLA and the activities like the descreation of St Patrick’s cathedral from their activities before pushing for an acceptance from a populace that must witness annual “gay pride” activities. This is like going to the Playboy Manson for a lecture on the sacred bonds of matrimony.
If that’s “the last word” on gay marriage, we need a new dictionary.
Ask what the function of a social institution such as marriage might be. Its prestige and desirability derive from its function, not the reverse.
Ask what the surrounding social context of the institution is, and whether a proposed change to the institution runs in accord with the social context and its incentive structures, or in opposition to them.
Ask what covert reasons there might be for trying to compromise the institution’s mission and structure — and pay attention to the breadth of possibilities, rather than focusing only on the parts that sound good to you.
And for God’s sake, don’t try to foreclose the argument with strawman arguments or irrelevancies as Mr. Totten has done. There are far better arguments against State recognition of homosexual marriages than Mr. Totten is willing to confront, at least if we go by the post you cited. Moreover, one can disapprove of a behavior without manifesting it in vocal personal or political opposition. To imply otherwise weakens any argument one might make.
…Or, we can stop using the legal definition of marriage as a hammer to design, maintain, or recreate a “surrounding social context” (in other words, trying to force people to live how you want them to live).
Marriage is a human institution that’s had countless forms over history and in different cultures. Religious dogma aside, there’s no one true definition for it. If some consenting, informed adults want to marry each other under commonly-acepted terms or terms they agree upon, let them. Anything else is being an asshole.
Well said, Francis.
I’ve always been partial to the following quote (paraphrased, and I have no idea about the source):
“Elizabeth Taylor has done more damage to the sacred institution of marriage than gay marriage ever will.”
One could say the same for the damned Fox Network (the broadcast station, not the cable news channel).
Cheers!
Gay marriage is a straw man argument, the true agenda is acceptance. Unfortunately there many tens of millions of people who while willing to accept homosexuals, are not about to equate gay marriage as the same as a normal marriage. Homosexuals would find a better climate if they would police their own ranks and eliminate NAMBLA and the activities like the descreation of St Patrick’s cathedral from their activities before pushing for an acceptance from a populace that must witness annual “gay pride” activities. This is like going to the Playboy Manson for a lecture on the sacred bonds of matrimony.