Bush calls for calm in marriage debate

UPI ^ | 2-27-04

[Indy Pendance]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- President George Bush urged Americans Friday to behave properly in the debate over gay marriage despite the sensitivity of the issue.

"This is a sensitive debate and it is important people hold true to their beliefs without condemning anybody else, so therefore I call upon all sides in the debate to conduct themselves with dignity, and honor and respect," Bush said. "But this is a debate the nation must have and the people's voice must be heard."

Tuesday, after weeks on the sidelines, Bush declared support for a constitutional amendment to enshrine heterosexual marriage and protect and defend it from those he called activist judges trying to change the definition of the institution.

Massachusetts will begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses in May under orders from its highest court. Under the Constitution now other states would be required to accept those unions as legal and therefore afford benefits due traditional married couples.

[Indy Pendance]

.

[ambrose]

"This is a sensitive debate and it is important people hold true to their beliefs without condemning anybody else, so therefore I call upon all sides in the debate to conduct themselves with dignity, and honor and respect," Bush said.

Hopefully these words will ring LOUD and CLEAR to those among us who insist on using terms like "queer" and "sodomite"...

[King Black Robe]

The ugly fighting is coming from the left. They have no intention of fighting with dignity. I believe Andrew Sullivan is the one who started the "this is war" line. President Bush, with all due respect and gratefulness for your support albeit delayed, you've chosen some questionable friends. You'd better watch your back.

[King Black Robe]

I use queer because they use it for themselves. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy ring a bell. I figure we can use it if they can. As for sodomite, I only use it rarely as a technical term. It is what it is.

[ambrose]

We're supposed to be better than the leftist scum... don't sink to their level.

[King Black Robe]

It is hard to show respect for people who are trying to corrupt the children of America. I am not even sure respect is the right thing to give them. I do think it is wise to debate calmly. But make no mistake, I am outraged at what they are trying to do.

[King Black Robe]

How is using the term queer sinking to their level? Seriously. They use it constantly.

[SolutionsOnly]

To quote a famous Brit:

"You're not going wobbly on me George, are you?"

[Dane]

"You're not going wobbly on me George, are you?"

No, just giving the rabid leftists the rope to hang themselves.

[onyx]

Personally, I prefer to use the words "homosexuals" and "lesbians" rather than "gays."

President Bush has exhibited leadership once again.

Thanks for the ping, Ambrose.

[ambrose]

How is using the term queer sinking to their level? Seriously. They use it constantly.

Which means you're sinking to their level if you use the term as well.

[ArGee]

"This is a sensitive debate and it is important people hold true to their beliefs without condemning anybody else, so therefore I call upon all sides in the debate to conduct themselves with dignity, and honor and respect," Bush said.

One of the reasons Conservatives and Liberals have such a hard time debating the issues these days is the way they hear and use the words, "I disagree."

When a conservative hears, "I disagree," he interprets that as meaning, "I have analyzed the facts as I understand them, but I draw a different conclusion than you do. Perhaps you can provide some more facts, or a different analysis, that could allow me to share your opinion."

When a liberal hears, "I disagree," he iterprets that as meaning, "Jane, you ignorant slut. I've heard more intelligent opinions from a baboon in a mating frenzy. In order to have such an opinion you must have fried your brain with years of illegal drugs. Calling you a moron would be an insult to morons everywhere. I'm ashamed that we share the same species. I am degraded by breathing in the same air as you do. For having the temerity to put forth such an opinion you should burn in hell for an eternity before you are truly punished."

That's the way they use the phrase, too.

Makes civil debate hard.

Shalom.

[King Black Robe]

No it doesn't. They use it as though it is not derrogatory. Would I be insulting you if I called you "ambrose"? They gave the name to themselves and I like it.

[Prodigal Son]

Hopefully these words will ring LOUD and CLEAR to those among us who insist on using terms like "queer" and "sodomite"...

Which words shall we use then? I've heard queers use the word to describe themselves. Which word, for you, is dignified?

See, this is the thing. I can't use the word gay anymore to describe 'happy, carefree' because the gays co-opted it. I can't use queer to describe 'strange' because the queers took that one too. They took the words and now I'm not supposed to use them because they find it undignified?

Here in Britain, people speak English. But if I come across the pond to America I have to remember not to use the word fag because it might offend someone who doesn't know I'm talking about a cigarette?

If I use homosexual, cutting it to 'homo' for short is an insult. If I talk about two women who are gay, homosexual isn't appropriate either- it's gotta be lesbians.

This is what this is all about. Queers constitute a very small portion of the population. Yet, we're supposed to rework all of society around them, to include the language. We're supposed to rework the definition of family and pretend that gays can 'make a family' because they went to the adoption agency and signed for one. We're to pretend that the relationship between two men is the equivalent between the holy union between a man and woman. We're to pretend we're not revulsed. We're to pretend 'they're just like everybody else'.

And worst of all, we're to pretend that we normal people are the ones with the problem.

I'd like the gays/queers/fags/homos to quit calling me straight. I find it highly insulting. What I want them to call me is very simple. I want to be called Normal. That'll do just fine for me.

I understand Dubya's need to inject some sanity in this situation. But I, personally, in my own thoughts, cannot use the terms 'dignity' and 'homosexuals' in the same sentence. For me, it is a contradiction in terms. There is no dignity in what they're doing to each other or to society.

[ArGee]

queer means different.

Whether homosexuals are born that way or exhibiting a behavior, and whether that behavior is benevolent, malevolent, or neutral, homosexuals are different. They represent, at most, 2% of the population. So calling them queer is reasonable.

Calling them a bunch of perverted queers is probably not. Calling them flaiming faggots is definately out.

One of the reasons they would rather not be referred to as queers in the debate is because they don't want the rest of us remembering that they are asking us to change over six millennia of tradition for a very small minority. They also don't want us to think of them as "abnormal."

Unfortunately, both are true, and it can be valid to remind everyone of this on occasion.

Similarly, there would be nothing wrong with calling someone who puts salt in his coffee "queer."

Shalom.

[ArGee]

And worst of all, we're to pretend that we normal people are the ones with the problem.

Bump for an outstanding post.

Shalom.

[Owen]

It is good that Bush said this to fan the flames a bit, but I do fear the fire going out too soon. This is a GREAT GOP issue and it can destroy Kerry, but not if it's resolved before November.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

When a liberal hears, "I disagree," he iterprets that as meaning, "Jane, you ignorant slut. I've heard more intelligent opinions from a baboon in a mating frenzy. In order to have such an opinion you must have fried your brain with years of illegal drugs. Calling you a moron would be an insult to morons everywhere. I'm ashamed that we share the same species. I am degraded by breathing in the same air as you do. For having the temerity to put forth such an opinion you should burn in hell for an eternity before you are truly punished."

Wellllllllll... actually: that's pretty much what I'm thinking, whenever I utter the term "I disagree" to a liberal... :)

[ArGee]

Wellllllllll... actually: that's pretty much what I'm thinking, whenever I utter the term "I disagree" to a liberal... :)

So, you're saying it's all your fault? ;)

Shalom.