[Grut]

Marriage has not been taken seriously since the 1960s; consider how society accepts no-fault divorce or single moms, for instance. Against this backdrop, it's hard to get exercised over gay marriage and I suspect that conservatives who do will just get themselves written off as flogging a dead horse.

Besides, what harm does it do? I can see the Christian Viciousness movement flogging this particular dead horse, but in a world where most people don't know the names of the people two houses down the block or on the next floor of the apartment building, what those people are doing doesn't set a very important example.

We ought to be incensed about the courts getting above themselves, but that's another issue.

[Always Right]

We ought to be incensed about the courts getting above themselves, but that's another issue.

I see that as the same issue. I think this is not just a Christian homophobe position, but a mainstream American position supported in excess of 70% of the people. If the GOP can capitalize on this, they can gain in the Senate, stop the filibustering and fill the court with decent non-activist Judges.

[concerned about politics]

I suspect that conservatives who do will just get themselves written off as flogging a dead horse.

I see a Republican landslide comming in the NE. The press can spin this issue, but the polls say 89% of Americans are against gay marrage.
All those who are living in Mass. have to live in a gay hell forever. They're not going to be pleased by what they're about to witness. The demons will be urinating in the streets, and mothers will have to guard their children. It won't happen within a week, but by next year it will be the sodomote pit of vileness.
Things are about to change. The spirt of morality usually not found in Mass. will grow like never before.
The Lord works in strange ways. He's setting them up for their fall.

[Sam Cree]

"Besides, what harm does it do?"

Well, IMO, the family, which is based on heterosexual marriage, is really the cornerstone of society, always has been, in any society. That is why heterosexual marriage has always, throughout the history of man, enjoyed a special status.

Granting the same status to homosexual marriage may damage the special status of traditional marriage, since it's suddenly no longer quite as special, and in turn, damage the family, and therefore, society.

[apackof2]

Besides, what harm does it do?

What good does it do?

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

I can see the Christian Viciousness movement flogging this particular dead horse...

WOW!!! What a vicious, hateful, thing to say about Christians.

[Grig]

"Besides, what harm does it do?"

The law of unintended consequences.

- get gay marriage legal
- wait for churchs to create a policy denying membership to those in gay marriages while allowing hetro married couples to join
- PR campaign to brand churches as human rights violators
- sue churchs for violating the rights of gays
- courts impose penalties on churches (require they change membership rules or have tax fee status revoked)
- party on as churches knuckle under to the courts or go belly up financially

That harm.

[MEGoody]

"Besides, what harm does it do?"

Depends on what you call harm. I believe it would be of benefit to society to have a nationally recognized definition of marriage. For example, it would allow transfer of spousal insurance coverage when one moves between states.

It also sets a societal standard. For example, where is the 'marital' line? Can one man marry three women? Can a woman marry a dog? You may laugh about those examples, but just 20 years ago, people would have laughed at the idea of legalized gay marriage.