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I can see no good reason to exclude same sex couples from all the same legal privileges of marriage as everyone else. Moreover, I can see of no good reason why this should have any legal effect on a personal freedom of religion. I know that right away some will read the above passage and think that there are indeed reasons to dispute my opinion. But please keep in mind that I wrote that there were no GOOD reasons, not that someone couldn't come up with something.
I do understand that for a vocal group of Christians, the issue of homosexuality is a deeply moral one. To them it is a choice to engage in a set of behaviors that are seen as sinful, perhaps even evil. Justifications for this view can be found in their holy book, so they do have theological grounds for their objection to homosexuality.
Often Christians like these also hold as a part of their expression of their religion the need to remake the society around them into one that is in line with their theology. Proselytizing is an integral component of their religion as it is done to help make mankind more like them and hence more beloved by God. Laws or policies that cannot be justified theologically or are in contrary to their theology are opposed. Laws or policies that are inspired by their religion are always promoted.
The problem with legislating from a theology is that it violates the Constitution as it effectively forces behaviors of a religious origin on non-believers or practitioners of another faith. I do understand that there are religious rules that also appear in the laws of our country, such as don't murder. However, those laws exist for perfectly reasonable reasons that don't require a theological basis. They can and must be justified in secular terms in order to be Constitutional.
The freedom of religion in our Constitution is absolute in terms of belief, meaning that we are free to believe as our conscience dictates. What the Constitutional freedom of religion does not protect is all conduct that might be associated with the expression of a religious faith. For example, a religion might require its faithful to cut out the beating hearts out of human slaves every morning -- but that would rightly be considered murder under the law and not protected under the First Amendment.
Christians do have the legal right to believe that all homosexuals are sinful abominations who will burn in hell for all eternity. They also have the legal right to believe that homosexuals should be stoned to death outside the city walls. Regardless of those beliefs, Christians are held to the same standard of conduct under the law as everyone else and aren't allowed to murder or force other citizens into second class roles as an expression of their faith.
So if we take the theological objections out of the equation of the LEGAL rights of people to get married in this country, what is left? |
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On ID
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Mar. 10th, 2009 @ 04:37 pm
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My views on religion sometimes even strike me as somewhat extreme when I recall past conversations. I think that might be more a case of overstating, rather than promoting a blanket condemnation of religion. However, I am an asshole. A fact which colors my ability to express myself with verbal grace and leaves me prone to antagonizing those I wish merely to converse with.
( Read more... )Current Mood:  discontent |
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Well... We are home. Our vacation to London is at an end.
I already miss England for the weather alone. What a strange thing to say and mean... missing England for its weather. But fuck all. It is cold back here at home. Take your breath away, cold. With snow.
United Airlines lost my luggage somewhere in the bowels of O'Hare. I know my luggage made it from London, because I gathered it and rechecked it through customs in Chicago for the flight home to Peoria. Maybe it will arrive on the last flight tonight, maybe on a flight tomorrow, maybe never if the beast that is O'Hare ate my luggage. If the latter, I home my dirty clothes give it fatal indigestion.
The flight to Chicago was an hour or so longer than the flight to London. West bound flights have to fight a headwind because of the jet stream. Despite that, it was a far better and more comfortable flight. Why? Because we had an extra 3-6 inches of legroom. On a whim, we upgraded our tickets to something between economy and business class.
I don't remember what United calls it. The seats are the same as regular economy, but set further away from one another. This seemingly insignificant amount of additional leg room does make a world of difference on long flights. Although I still didn't sleep, I almost never can on airplanes, I still arrived in a far better state than I had on the outbound flight to London.
Edit to add: I got my luggage. It arrived on the next flight from O'Hare to Peoria. Apparently the TSA gave my luggage extra attention, if the state of the contents and late arrival are any indication. |
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Hey all. This link is a slideshow of the pictures I'm taking here in London.
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a216/wmhickey/Liza/London/?albumview=slideshow
I've been updating as I go, so the slideshow will keep getting longer.
So far we've been in many tube stations, the airport, two train stations, the British Museum, and the town of Billericay for a nice dinner with family I have there.
The next few days will be busier. I'll keep snapping shots and updating the Photobucket. |
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Happy New Year, everybody.
Let's all collectively hope for a good 2009. |
| » Winter |
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Winter. Let me count the ways I HATE you.
Dec. 19th, 2008 @ 09:10 am
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| » Prop 8 -- The Musical |
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Dec. 4th, 2008 @ 04:09 pm
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| » A slide show of pics |
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Most of these are from Graceland, but some are of the duck parade at the Peabody hotel.
Nov. 16th, 2008 @ 04:39 pm
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| » The ribs here are awesome |
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Although I've got to admit that the the whole Blues experience there was a bit over the top. I mean come on... A blind, harmonica playing, scratchy voiced, elderly black man on a stool on the stage belting out classic blues songs in a darkly lit blues club with BB King memorabilia everywhere?
I said I wanted blues club experience and we sure got it.
Nov. 15th, 2008 @ 07:47 am
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| » Star Wars, John Williams themes, and free time |
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Equals an interesting video.
Nov. 11th, 2008 @ 06:55 am
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| » Oh... Thank goodness |
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For the very first time I got to vote FOR a President, not just against another candidate. This is all the sweeter that the President I've hoped for actually won. I haven't the words to describe my relief.
And for the record, McCain gave a very classy concession speech.
Nov. 4th, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
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| » My turn to be political |
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OK, not really. Unless poking fun at Palin is political.
http://www.palinaspresident.us/
Nov. 3rd, 2008 @ 09:24 am
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| » Happy Halloween |
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I hope everyone had a great Halloween and for those who were here, thanks so much for coming over and celebrating with us. Post up your pics when you get a chance.
Nov. 1st, 2008 @ 07:37 am
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| » Will Chuck Blend? |
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Oct. 29th, 2008 @ 06:03 am
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| » What would you choose? |
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Hey, remember those "choose your own adventure" books? You know, the ones where at the end of a chapter you had to choose between options, each of which would direct you to turn to some other page in the book to read another chapter, face another choice, and so on?
Here is a movie version of that concept:
http://www.survivetheoutbreak.com/
Oct. 4th, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
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| » RTH 2008 |
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Another year. Another Return to Hogwarts.
Once again people put a lot of work and talent into this festival. Good job, folks!
Some pics can be found here: http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a216/wmhickey/Friends/
But I especially liked this one:
Sep. 28th, 2008 @ 07:15 am
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| » Peoria flooding |
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Yikes!
Sep. 20th, 2008 @ 04:33 pm
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| » Well, this pretty well distills it down into the basics. |
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http://www.jhuger.com/pamphlets/kha.pdf
Don't be lazy. Just follow the link and read. Laugh as needed.
Unless you are offended by religious humor. Then don't click that link. It isn't funny and you aren't missing anything.
Sep. 4th, 2008 @ 05:18 pm
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| » In response to CJ's compliments post |
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CJ wrote that men dish out a lot of compliments to women that are rarely returned. In the defense of women, most of these compliments are of a type we wouldn't want returned. For example I don't care if I look fat in these jeans and telling me I'm pretty isn't really a compliment. But CJ has hit upon a chord in relationships with his observation which got me jotting down a few observations of my own.
Firstly, as the male of the species it is our duty to pour out the compliments without any hope of equal treatment. I suspect that women think putting up with us at all is compliment enough. It isn't or at least not any more than us putting up with them is compliment enough. Such is life and there can be no correcting of this little aspect of the human condition. It's best if we work with it and quietly mock it.
Secondly, it is hard work. Proper compliments must be spontaneous, insightful, and delivered convincingly. God help you if she suspects your compliment wasn't genuine, even if it really was. She must believe that you believe what you say. Naturally it helps to actually be honest, but not as much as you might think. For whatever reason she might not believe an honest compliment which is more trouble than any man should want.
Thirdly, the power of the compliment will fade. Even a really good compliment has a lifetime of perhaps twenty uses. Thereafter it lacks the originality to have any impact. Its absence will be noted and cause trouble, but its continued use is subject to the laws of diminishing returns. A lack of creativity on your part will not be an acceptable excuse for giving up and paying no more compliments. Come up with something else.
Lastly, over time no matter how deftly you can deliver the most creative compliments, the fact that you said it will diminish its potency. We are required to compliment and often want to when in a relationship. Women know this of course. They made up the rule after all. Therefore they eventually come to see these compliments from their man as his obligation and that isn't nearly as desirable as a lesser compliment paid by someone new.
Sep. 3rd, 2008 @ 05:41 pm
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