Missing the Point on Gays

Washington Post ^ | September 5, 2003 | Alan Simpson

[mikeb704]

First, an honest debate on the criminalization of gay sex in Texas somehow gave rise to baseless fears about permitting bestiality and incest.

Justice Scalia doesn't consider these fears baseless.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[ConservativeMan55]

[ConservativeMan55]

What is this? Queer Eye for the Muslim Guy?

[templar]

For several weeks now a storm has been brewing in the Senate over just how homosexuals fit into the mainstream of American life.

They don't.

Homo's are on the fringe, nothing the senate, the courts, the fallen churches, or anything else does will ever change that.

[RLK]

As our country has gained honest and steady knowledge about homosexuality, we have learned that it is not a mental illness or a disease or a threat to our families.

-------------------

Sorry pal, I strongly disagree with you. On the whole, I am convinced it is a serious mental disorder containing an element of evolving thought disorder which is being sold to the American public and which you have bought into.

[BobS]

Let's just use the term "butthole surfer" in polite company from now on and see what happens:)

[weegee]

As someone who is basically a conservative, I see not an argument about banning marriage or "defending" families but rather a power grab. Conservatives argue vehemently about federal usurpation of other issues best left to the states, such as abortion or gun control. Why would they elevate this one to the federal level?

The federal government should be protecting everyone's right to bear arms (2nd Ammendment of the Constitution).

Aborting children is as much a violation of civil rights as slavery and lynching is.

Marriages are licensed. Do away with marriage license and then there should be no fear of a federal "power grab", it would merely be a private set of secular or religous vows to another person holding no legal weight or governmental oversight.

Are we still talking "states' rights"?

[Zack Nguyen]

My point exactly. Simpson should at least be honest enough to point out that the argument on bestiality and incest come from Scalia. But that might be asking a bit much of Scalia.

[mikeb704]

But that might be asking a bit much of Scalia.

Not to mention Simpson.

[Zack Nguyen]

Excuse me - "that might be asking a bit much of Simpson."

[weegee]

He quotes Dick Chaney yet I don't think he makes a compelling case for his point:

"The fact of the matter is we live in a free society, and freedom means freedom for everybody. . . . And I think that means that people should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into. It's really no one else's business in terms of trying to regulate or prohibit behavior in that regard. . . . I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area."

Dick sees clearly the other reason why federalizing marriage is troublesome.

So same-sex-marriage is an issue for each state to decide but the right to commit acts of homosexual stimulation are federally protected. Same sex interaction is protected but adult incest is not. Consenting acts of prostitution are not. Polygomous marriage was barred nationally (wasn't this a condition of Utah entering the Union?).

Need I add that it is illegal to grow pot in your bedroom closet and smoke it only at home?

Privacy provisions of the constitution would appear not to protect a citizen against government interference in a number of "private" acts. The activist supreme court set bad precedent by okaying this one act in private but arguing that it did not necessarily permit a bunch of other acts (sexual or non).

[Gamecock]

Tell ya what Bubba, try walking down the streets of Tehran with that sign....

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL!!!

[DaBroasta]

What is this? Queer Eye for the Muslim Guy?

I think this homosexual should try toting his "queer" Muslim sign around the block in a country ran by Muslims. He might just find them a bit inhospitable to his desire to proliferate GRID.

[tdadams]

It is not OK to be a homosexual/lesbian. These people need to be demonized for the perverts they are.

These people need to be demonized??? Wow, I see America's leftists aren't the only ones capable of irrational vitriol of a frightening degree.

[vpintheak]

The author needs to check his facts before saying that amendments have all been made to ensure liberty. The 16th Amendment sure doesn't ensure liberty, instead it restricts it. That is just one example. (Income Taxes)

[reagan_fanatic]

"You thought WHAT? That I was WHAT?
A homo-gay, wee-hoo? NO!
Mango is as STRAIGHT AS THEY COME!
You cannot have-a the Mango!"