DeadPoolX wrote:Since "marriage" is seen as religious, the religious organizations can weigh in on the subject. Most religions view homosexuality as "wrong" in some manner. Those who devoutly follow their faith generally agree.
The religious view is that marriage is defined as "a union between a man and a woman." Some go so far as to state that a marriage isn't valid unless offspring are produced. Neither of those I think are correct, especially the last one. What if a man and a woman decided to forgo having children? Is their marriage suddenly a fraud? It seems to me that there are numerous holes in this so-called logic.
I definitely agree, and I can certainly see some of the problems in this "argument". What about parents who physically abuse their children (seriously, not 'just' a slap on the rump)? What about male-female marriages that end in divorce, causing trauma not only for the parents but also for the child? What about parents who hate their children (or vice versa)? etc., etc. Do these kind of marriages count as wonderful, simply because a child had been conceived? *grumble*
DeadPoolX wrote:Regardless, the issue of homosexual marriage is a hot topic in the United States. The conservatives in the country (many of whom are from the "bible belt") refuse to budge on their decision. The more liberal groups can't understand why homosexual marriage is such an issue. Both sides are usually brought out and debated whenever an election is coming up. It's done that way to rally voters who're more in line with one party's viewpoint than another.
Heh. I suppose I sympathise with the more liberal groups, who can't understand why homosexual marriage is such an issue in the US. It has something in common with some of the other "hot-button" issues in the US for the past century, including Prohibition, the teaching of evolution, equal rights for blacks etc. As I understand it, the way many conservatives see it (particularly in the "Bible Belt") is this: this issue conflicts with the Bible/our way of life/the values that this country was founded on/the values of the Founding Fathers/etc., so I should be against it.
As for the conservatives refusing to budge... *G* It reminds me of a scene from the BBC show "Yes Minister", when the Minister, Jim Hacker, talks with his Private Secretary, Bernard Woolley, on the effect of client pressure groups on government policy:
Hacker: Bernard, I'm not happy about my meeting with the three Under-Secretaries for transport. They seem to be, in effect, briefed by the various transport interests to resist any aspect of government policy that might be unfavourable to their clients.
Bernard: That's right, Minister.
Hacker: No, that's wrong, Bernard!
Bernard: But that's how the Civil Service actually works in practice. In fact, all government departments - which in theory collectively represents the government to the outside world - in fact lobby the government on behalf of their own client pressure group. In other words, each Department of State is actually controlled by the people whom it is supposed to be controlling.
Hacker: Well, I don't think so...
Bernard: Why is it, for instance, that we have got Comprehensive Education throughout the UK? Who wanted it?
Hacker: Well, not the pupils or the parents...
Bernard: The National Union of Teachers wanted it, and they are the chief client of the Department of Education and Science. So the DES went Comprehensive.
Hacker: But...
Bernard: You see, each department acts for the powerful sectional interest with whom it has a permanent relationship. The Department of Employment lobbies for the workers, whereas the Department of Industry lobbies for the employers. It's actually a nice balance: Energy lobbies for the oil companies, Defence for the armed forces, the Home Office for the police, and so on.
Hacker: So the whole system is designed to prevent the Cabinet from carrying out its policy?
Bernard: Well,
somebody's got to.
(from the episode
"The Bed of Nails" - probably paraphrased a little bit, but the main gist of it is there). That whole thing would probably apply in the US as well - just substitute "client pressure groups" with "lobby groups". *grin*
By the way, what is the American equivalent of the British Civil Service? *wonders, curious*