Letter to the Editor, Johnstown Tribune Democrat
Commonly invoked in Internet debate, Godwin's Law states that as a debate grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 100%. When this occurs the debate is automatically over. In comparing an opponent to Nazis obviously one has lost whatever argument was in progress by employing indefensible insult rather than rational and ethical debate.
A similar situation has emerged in the cultural debate over homosexuality. It is obvious to all that to resort to ad hominem terms such as "faggot" or "queer" must be and is roundly condemned. Just as with comparisons to Nazis, resorting to such offensive language ends the debate, proof that the individual is substituting indefensible insult for substance. Fortunately, those defending traditional marriage rarely if ever resort to such, and if they do their peers soundly rebuke them. There is simply no place in this debate for such indefensible behavior.
On the other hand, the opposition appears to have decided that they need not refute the issues advanced by those defending traditional marriage. Instead they resort to meaningless ad hominem attacks, employing such indefensible words as "homophobe" and "gay hater."
When such indefensible terms are employed, it is purposely done to impugn the motives and character of anyone who has the temerity to make a sincere defense of traditional marriage, based upon overwhelming scientific, sociological and Natural Law evidence.
It is time that the use of such ad hominem attacks are relegated to the same status as using words such as Nazi, Hitler, faggot, or queer. When the opposition refuses to address the overwhelming evidence of those opposing homosexual marriage, and instead resort to "homophobe" and "gay hater" labels, it is a clear admission that they have no rational refutation of these verified facts and that they have lost the debate.
If the topic of discussion was simply the merits (or lack of merit) to gay marriage, I wouldn't think of bringing up the Taliban label.
Defending traditional morals or protesting the weakening of the institution of marriage are one thing. Advocating a system of total prohibition of mortal sins is quite a different thing.
Godwin's law is useful when someone cries Nazi over welfare reductions or a change in the tax code. Would it still apply if someone advocated a system of racially based National Socialism?