Republicans and right wing Christians

[GoofItUp]

It's been mentioned on here a couple of times that the government is trying to prevent gay people from being married. I disagree with that. I didn't see anywhere that it said people couldn't be married, set up a house, and live a lovely life together. What they were doing (IMO) was saying that the government will not officially recognize it and therefore they won't have the 'benefits' that heterosexual couples do. As I see it, those benefits are:

Insuring your spouse through your work. Companies could do this if they CHOOSE to. Why should it have to come from the government?

Well, actually, I can't think of any other benefits of being legally married. If you can think of some, please help me out. I guess I just don't see what the big deal is about being legally married. The love and committment is far more important.

I see the amendment as leaving companies the room to recognize gay marriages for benefit purposes if they choose to and not being forced into it. Thus, they are leaving the decisions to be made by others which is LESS government.



(I just wanted to make sure this post was offensive!)

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by GoofItUp

Insuring your spouse through your work. Companies could do this if they CHOOSE to. Why should it have to come from the government?

Well, actually, I can't think of any other benefits of being legally married. If you can think of some, please help me out. I guess I just don't see what the big deal is about being legally married. The love and committment is far more important.

Inheritance laws, visitation rights in hospitals, child custody matters...just to name a few of the issues confronting American citizens denied the right to marry those whom they love.

I have a dear friend who met his partner while touring Australia. The partner was a student so could come to America under a student visa, but was then asked to leave the country. If they could have married, his partner would have been able to stay, no questions. Just try to imagine what it would be like to be told not only that you couldn't marry the person you loved, but that because of thier nationality, you had to live on separate continents. I guarentee you that if that were the case, this would be a voting issue for you.

 

[caitycaity]

rcyannacci mentioned the hospital visitation rights. add all the rights that come with being the nearest living kin in a hospital too. deciding whether your loved one wants to be taken off life support is a big one that comes to mind.

 

[faithinkarma]

I believe most of you know I am a Canadian who married an American and moved here. My sister also moved to the US to be with her partner, after marrying her in Canada. I now have a work permit ( fat chance that this retired chick will use it any time soon lol ) a drivers' license, excellent health coverage through my husband's plan, and permanent resident status is only a few months away. My sister has none of this. She cannot even have a joint bank account with her partner.

At this point in my life I actually waivered about getting married again. It very quickly became clear that the benefits of remarrying would be tremendous.

 

[Lanshark]

Whether you condone Gay Marriage or not most people, Christians included, felt like amending the constitution was a very bad idea?

 

[septbride2002]

Miss Jasmine I think you misunderstand me. I respect your beliefs - entirely. I respect your belief that homosexuals should not be married based on the bible. Good for you! And your church should then make a statement stating we will not marry homosexual couples. I'm all for that! I fully support them making that stand in fact if a group tried to stop them from being able to make such a statement I would be on your side of the line with a sign.

What I am not a supporter of is the government and the church meshing together to form laws that deny people the basic rights to make an adult choice to form a marriage or civil union with someone that is of the same sex. It is not the governments place to play God and invoke those values on all of us. It especially worries me for their reasons for not wanting these marriages to take place. To protect the institution of marriage - please! That the reason for marriage is to have children - well I'm on a boat out of here because we have no plans to have children. They are scrapping for reasons because THEY are afraid.

And while yes I understand that you may elect representatives who reflect your values - I tend to vote for the representative that wants to reflect the people. Not everyone is a Christian and when a candidate whether republican, Independent, or Democrat gets up and begins to "preach" the bible to me that is an immediate red flag and I will not give that person my vote. This country (in some part) was founded by those escaping religions persecution- I am afraid with the way this particular government is going we are about to see history repeat itself.

~Amanda

 

[faithinkarma]

septbride2002,


That was a very well presented post.

 

[septbride2002]

Well, actually, I can't think of any other benefits of being legally married. If you can think of some, please help me out. I guess I just don't see what the big deal is about being legally married. The love and committment is far more important.

How about the right to be the one that makes the life and death decisons of this person you have a love committment with?

If my husband and I were not married and he had to go into the hospital and the only way to keep him alive was a feeding tube and I KNOW that he would not want that - it wouldn't matter. His mother or father would be the ones making that decision - even if it is against his wishes.

Also there is health insurance and life insurance issues - if he was to die suddenly without a will - I could get nothing.

Others have already mentioned the permanent residence status given to those that are not born here in the USA

Thankfully I work for a company that does extend benefits to domestic partners.

~Amanda

 

[septbride2002]

Thanks Faithinkarma - I always enjoy your post as well!

~Amanda

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I’ll admit to being a conservative Christian, meaning that I believe the Bible is the Word of God and represents absolute truth. The biblical definition of right and wrong is the standard to which I hold myself (often without a lot of success!).

Because I believe that the Bible is true , and that no man comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14 : 6), I would be thrilled if everyone in the world agreed with me.

BUT, I don’t believe anyone should be legally obligated to agree with me, or my understanding of what the Bible says is right or wrong.

My motivation for doing right, and for wanting others to do right, is to please God. I don’t believe that God would be pleased if someone adopted a lifestyle that I see prescribed in Bible if they were doing it against their will. I suspect that is why God created human beings with a free will.

Another reason I’m uncomfortable with “legislating morality” is that it opens the door to the possiblity that MY lifestyle could be outlawed some day!

 

[septbride2002]

Another reason I’m uncomfortable with “legislating morality” is that it opens the door to the possiblity that MY lifestyle could be outlawed some day!

What a great reponse!

~Amanda