equality blooms with spring, pt. II

[martha]

Originally Posted by AEON

Because I already answered it.

Then please direct me to the post. It may have gotten lost somewhere in the adoption sidetrack.

[martha]

Originally Posted by Irvine511

I'm not seein' anything wrong with that.

[financeguy]

Originally Posted by phillyfan26

Wow.

I'm going to just skip to the main question I have after reading this: Do you honestly think allowing gay couples to adopt (mind you, this like 5% of the population) would increase teen pregnancy?

Why do you keep trying to paint me as someone that is opposed to gay couples specifically from adopting?

[AEON]

Originally Posted by martha

Then please direct me to the post. It may have gotten lost somewhere in the adoption sidetrack.

If I find it, and re-post it, what will you do to entertain us?

[martha]

I can't tap dance, although I took lessons once.

And no one wants me to sing. :shudder:

I could fall off my bicycle. I haven't yet, but I think we all know it's going to happen at some point.

[melon]

Originally Posted by martha

I can't tap dance, although I took lessons once.

And no one wants me to sing. :shudder:

I could fall off my bicycle. I haven't yet, but I think we all know it's going to happen at some point.

You can do it!

"Everything gays can do straights can do better...."

[AEON]

Originally Posted by melon

You can do it!

"Everything gays can do straights can do better...."

Okay, that actually made me laugh out loud

[martha]

Originally Posted by melon

You can do it!

"Everything gays can do straights can do better...."

[corianderstem]

So now that's stuck in my head.

Gee, thanks.

[financeguy]

YouTube - The Day Today - Gay Desk

[martha]

AEON, I have to go to bed, so I'll check back in the morning.

[phillyfan26]

Originally Posted by financeguy

Why do you keep trying to paint me as someone that is opposed to gay couples specifically from adopting?

What other reason would you have for bringing this line of thinking up?

[AEON]

Originally Posted by martha

I'm addressing the belief that the state shouldn't be involved in marriage at all, yet you refuse to engage in this discussion. Why is that?

Originally Posted by AEON

Because I already answered it.

Originally Posted by martha

Then please direct me to the post. It may have gotten lost somewhere in the adoption sidetrack

These quotes are from this thread...

Originally Posted by AEON

...and I'm leaning toward entirely removing incentives for marriage...

Originally Posted by AEON

...Let’s just move to some sort of flat tax model and I’ll be happy.

Originally Posted by AEON

best left outside of the government's interference. It does not need incentives any more than it needs protection

Originally Posted by AEON

Legal affirmation of romance is not necessary when there are no legal incentives. However, if any two (or more) people want to draft any sort of "contract" regarding property, inheritance, money...etc. - they a free to do so and the court system can and should be used to protect these contracts just like any other contract between people.

Originally Posted by AEON

Concerning taxes, I am in favor of a flat tax across the board for every adult - married or not married

[AEON]

Originally Posted by martha

Oh please. You'll do anything to avoid the real issue.

While I don't think this is the least bit accurate - it did make me realize something - it appears you actually view conservatives as enemies instead of people with different viewpoints.

At the end of the day, emotions rarely help make sound decisions...

[melon]

Originally Posted by AEON

While I don't think this is the least bit accurate - it did make me realize something - it appears you actually view conservatives as enemies instead of people with different viewpoints.

Although I think I've done a very good job of separating ideas from people (which I chalk up to all the philosophy I've read), it's worth remembering that it's much easier to do this when the outcome of one's opinions one way or another has no bearing on one's life. That much different than being gay or even female, really, where conservative viewpoints, if enacted, would enact terrible hardship and would certainly make it much harder to see conservatives as allies in any respect.

[BVS]

AEON and Fguy, you guys put on quite the tap dancing show last night after I went to bed. I'm sure your friends would have found it very straight of you guys.

[martha]

AEON, thank you for the quotes you provided. I see that, to you, you've answered the questions, and I appreciate the effort you went to to get the quotes.

However, your answers are general and based on theory. The denial of rights to a specific group that has no effect on you whatsoever is a very real thing to the members of that group. Therefore, a few more specific questions may require more specific answers.

Right now, you and I have a privilege that is denied to gays and lesbians: we can get married and enjoy countless (although I think someone has actually counted them) benefits, both legal and financial, from that marriage. You think that gays and lesbians should be denied that privilege, based solely on their sexuality.

How, then, do we reconcile this in the real world? The world right now? How do we make things equal and fair? You've proposed eliminating state-sponsored marriage as a solution. Fair enough. You're willing to give up your state-sponsored marriage (taking mine with it against my will, but that's another story). How do we implement that as soon as possible to really follow through with your somewhat severe method of making things equal?

[martha]

Originally Posted by AEON

While I don't think this is the least bit accurate - it did make me realize something - it appears you actually view conservatives as enemies instead of people with different viewpoints.

At the end of the day, emotions rarely help make sound decisions...

Originally Posted by melon

Although I think I've done a very good job of separating ideas from people (which I chalk up to all the philosophy I've read), it's worth remembering that it's much easier to do this when the outcome of one's opinions one way or another has no bearing on one's life. That much different than being gay or even female, really, where conservative viewpoints, if enacted, would enact terrible hardship and would certainly make it much harder to see conservatives as allies in any respect.

melon has hit it right here. When all I hear from conservatives are ways to take things away from groups they don't like, what else are they but enemies?

[AEON]

Originally Posted by martha

...When all I hear from conservatives are ways to take things away from groups they don't like, what else are they but enemies?

Do you honestly think a conservative goal is to "take things away from groups they don't like"?

[BVS]

Isn't that what social conservatives have been doing(by definition)? Either taking away or desperately holding on to those means of seperating people.