Tennessee county beats hasty retreat from call to ban homosexuals

Associated Press ^ | March 18, 2004 | BILL POOVEY

[tomball]

The county that was the site of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution Thursday reversed its call to ban homosexuals.

Rhea County commissioners took about three minutes to retreat from a request to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature. The Tuesday measure passed 8-0.

[timm22]

Like the laws of this country a short 50 years ago that almost universally criminalized sodomy, adultery and homosexuality? Are you truly comparing America of 1954 to the TALIBAN?

I certainly disagree with those laws, but I do not think they were part of a comprehensive system of criminalizing mortal sins, like the system you suggest. I doubt many people in 1954 would have considered allowing the legislature to prohibit any activity which was found to be a mortal sin ("mortal sin" to be defined by the legislature) and which was harmful to society (also to be decided by the legislature). If they did, I suspect that the Court system at some level would have prevented it.

If I am wrong, and America in 1954 did follow your system, then I would compare them to the Taliban.

[narses]

"I have no problem with Catholicism beyond the fact that it is an fantasy."

And you claim to be NOT 'anti-Catholic! What basis for your claim of 'fantasy' resides behind your attack?

[AntiGuv]

I did not specify Catholicism. I specified Christianity. A lot of Popes should also consult their Testaments more carefully.

[AntiGuv]

You're being ridiculous again. Reread what I wrote; it's not unclear.

[AntiGuv]

I did not specify Communism. There was a reason for that.

[narses]

"If I am wrong, and America in 1954 did follow your system, then I would compare them to the Taliban."

Wow. You really need to study both general hsitory and legal history. You ARE claiming that America and the Taliban have the same structure with your posts. That is amazing.

[narses]

Yawn.

[wardaddy]

God bless the great state of Tennessee!

[TradicalRC]

I can understand not wanting to claim him. He was what he was and that was what he claimed to be. Such is life.

Hitler rose to power, not on the Catholic Democratic ticket but with the Nationalist-Socialist party. Nationalism and Socialism are both Secular creeds and That is what he claimed. I can understand if you want to disassociate yourself from him, though.

[AntiGuv]

...the Enlightenment made it all tolerable, this thread notwithstanding.

;^)

[narses]

You wrote: "I have no problem with Catholicism beyond the fact that it is an fantasy."

Where did you dig up proof that Catholicism is a 'FANTASY'?

[The Old Hoosier]

Fornication breaks up families, causes hard feelings, spreads disease and often causes pregnancy.

[jwalsh07]

Quite to the contrary, Christianity is an intrinsically and relentlessly socialistic creed. Perhaps you should consult your Testaments more carefully?

Perhaps you should consult Pope John Paul II.

[narses]

Amen!

[narses]

Or Leo XIII and Rerum Novarum!

[narses]

It is also often the proximate cause of violence and even murder.

[AntiGuv]

I don't need to dig up proof that it is a fantasy any more so than I need to dig up proof that the Tooth Fairy is a fantasy.

You are the one who need dig up proof of its veracity. Well, actually you don't unless you seek to persuade others.

I am sure you can find easier and more receptive targets for that. Perhaps you should go harrass one of them?

[timm22]

Wow. You really need to study both general hsitory and legal history. You ARE claiming that America and the Taliban have the same structure with your posts. That is amazing.

On the contrary, I compared the system you propose and the Taliban. I denied that America fit the system you describe. While America has and still does to some degree "legislate morality," it does not nearly do so on the scale or as thoroughly as the system you describe.

I will admit that structurally, your system would more democratic than that of the Taliban. It's possible that the punishments given by the Taliban would be harsher than the ones in your system- though also possible they would be as harsh. What's important, though, is that they would both give the government the same power, and would both violate individual rights and the rule of law.

[AntiGuv]

Why would I want to do a thing like that? I am indifferent to what version of Christianity one wishes to embrace. The Testaments are rather unequivocal; I'm just trying to avoid the tedious task of looking the relevant parts up...

[jwalsh07]

Why would I want to do a thing like that?

Perhaps for the same reason that one would consult a Cardiologist if one were having a heart attack rather than looking up the procedure for catheterization.