Will gay marriage be a major issue in the 2008 presidential election?

[War on Want]

As there is separation of church and state, there ought to be separation of marriage and state.  The government has no right to interfere in a sacred and spiritual bond.

Which is why we should make civil unions legal.

[War on Want]

I have to agree with Phil. He is totally right on this issue. If gays really are progressive as they claim, they should care less about the stupid wording of their equal rights and more about other progressive issues.

[War on Want]

As there is separation of church and state, there ought to be separation of marriage and state.  The government has no right to interfere in a sacred and spiritual bond.

Which is why we should make civil unions legal.

Just because government does not mandate something does not mean it is illegal.

They don't recieve benefits though, which is very unequal and unfair. If the government is not supposed to interfere in something sacred and spiritual, we should not make distinctions between those who are straight and those who are gay.

[War on Want]

I have to agree with Phil. He is totally right on this issue. If gays really are progressive as they claim, they should care less about the stupid wording of their equal rights and more about other progressive issues.

If it's stupid, why is it so damn important to defend?

I am not one of those sanctity of marriage people, I just think it is very unimportant and if gays want their rights so bad they should suck it up and deal with Civil Unions because the word Gay Marriage turns off many fundies and causes measures to fail.

[War on Want]

As there is separation of church and state, there ought to be separation of marriage and state.  The government has no right to interfere in a sacred and spiritual bond.

Which is why we should make civil unions legal.

Just because government does not mandate something does not mean it is illegal.

They don't recieve benefits though, which is very unequal and unfair. If the government is not supposed to interfere in something sacred and spiritual, we should not make distinctions between those who are straight and those who are gay.

That is exactly what I'm saying.  The reason that gay marriage is such an issue today is because the proper function of government has been perverted.

If you think that the government giving out more aid and promoting family values equally among all is bad then yes the government's function has been perverted. I would like it to stay that way though.

[War on Want]

I have to agree with Phil. He is totally right on this issue. If gays really are progressive as they claim, they should care less about the stupid wording of their equal rights and more about other progressive issues.

If it's stupid, why is it so damn important to defend?

I am not one of those sanctity of marriage people, I just think it is very unimportant and if gays want their rights so bad they should suck it up and deal with Civil Unions because the word Gay Marriage turns off many fundies and causes measures to fail.

You seem rather pissed off at the idea that they don't want institutionalized inferiority of their relationships.  I can understand disagreeing with it as a matter of pragmatism, but you seem angry about it.

It is just my wording. I really could care less about this, I just wish they could see the truth and that progress takes time or else it can ruin your cause.

[War on Want]

I have never quite understood the whole gay marriage thing.  If two fags get married and have a wedding, do they both wear dresses?  Who cuts the cake?  I imagine it would be the 'dom'.  Is the 'male' part of the gay couple readily identifiable, or do they trade roles, like the transsexual?

lol, I actually think about this too. Gays can confuse me but it is their inherent right as Americans to confuse us all with marriage or a union.

[War on Want]

The gays can have the benefits all they want, but keep them out of my church. Marriage has and always will be first and foremost defined as a union between a man and a woman. Why they insist on coming into our churches and offending everyone in the process is beyond me. Why people defend them for having that right is beyond me. We can be intolerant if we want .. their practice is against almost every religion imaginable.

Yes.  How dare people offend me by disagreeing with my religion and requesting rights they believe they're entitled to!

This paragraph could be replicated verbatim, replacing gays with blacks.  That doesn't kind of freak you out?

My religion doesn't preach against blacks. In fact, we have black members. Just because tradition doesn't mean anything to you doesn't mean its that way for everyone. I think gays have the right to get the benefits that other married couples get, but why do they insist on calling it marriage? The very definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. They are trying to change the definition of a word. Please don't insinuate that I am a racist or a homophobe because I hold my religious beliefs close to me. I can't stand it when people get all high and mighty and treat those with any beliefs at all as inferior or bigoted.

I think you are missing the point of Alcon's post....