I have to admit, this blog thing is difficult. Trying to come up with something people want to read. I mean I'm not here to put on a show for anyone, but I"m still trying to convince myself that I am entertaining enough. Anyway, when in doubt throw out a couple controversial statementes and you have yourself a scandal! So here we go....
Who determines what is a god-given right? I mean the hardest part of having values and principles is you have to base them on what you know to be true, but as proven through out history, that's been wrong time and time again. I mean back in the 1800's people didn't even consider Blacks to be human, or how about 3/5 a person, so to speak. Well, you know, what's the majority say? They were dead wrong, and you can't judge people on appearance in anyway. So one universal truth for me is "Treat People with Respect" I believe that each individual has value, and until they prove otherwise (which so many do) they deserve my respect.
So, an on-going debate is gay rights issues. I am have struggled mostly with this because a) of the universal truth I've mentioned above, and b) I am part of a faith that forbids such acts. Sooo... I'm just going to through out some ideas. First off, the history thing bugge d me, the idea that we have withheld rights from people for so long and we shouldn't have. Women's suffrage, Civil rights, came too slowly, and it's still a struggle for equality today. However, I finally realized that Being Gay is not the same as gender, or race. Being Gay is a choice, and if you deny that, you are foolish. So, i need to examine what being gay is....
To speak of the subject of being gay, i think two things. I do not think that apart from obvious physical differences that men and women differ by a significant amount. Obviously everyone is unique, but not to an extreme cause where I see it's just as reasonable to expect a man to fall in love with a man as a man to fall in love with a woman If you strip away the physical attributes, you have the soul of the person, and souls know no gender. On the second note, i do agree that homosexual acts of love are not natural. Our physical makeup and years of animal instinct clearly tell us what goes where and why. That is where I would say homosexuality is "unnatural" But that is dealing with a purely sexual act. Which is what creates my conflict:
How do you differentiate from seeing homosexuality as a very human response to another being and taking gender out of the picture and completely rejecting the physical aspect as essentially not natural. I do struggle with this because I see it as a major conflict between two views, and I can't resolve it.
So these amendments being passed by States that ban homosexual marriages? how should it be? how should it go? I do not know, but I still hope to be able to resolve my conflict and that will give me a better idea on where I stand about these changes because I believe gay rights is an issue that needs to be addressed. Not addressed with blind fervor on one side, but by open discussion, examing the true nature of homosexuality. There is so much hate out there, and there is no place for hate in this world! That is another universal truth
9.29.2005
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Mike, let me offer my opinions on this matter, hoping they help you out at least a bit. First of all, most legitimate research on the subject has determined that homosexuality is notably influenced by genetics. There is no "gay gene," the same way there's no "smart gene," but there are combinations of genetic traits that highly increase the probability of a person to be gay. You don’t have to take my word for it; I’ll grab some links to recent scientific articles for you, if you want to read them.
And about being foolish... let me put it this way. If you're saying that homosexuality is a choice, you're saying that sexuality, in general, is a choice. I argue against that in two ways. First, think about yourself. If you decided it would be better for you to be gay, could you just "turn on" homosexuality in yourself? I certainly can't even imagine that. But, more importantly, if you believe that homosexuality is a choice, you instantly negate the idea that it is “unnatural.” If each person chooses their sexuality, then there is no “natural” default. Society, in this case, is the main influence, meaning any argument of naturality is moot.
Addressing the “naturality” issue, however, there are many things you haven’t considered. First, there is precedent. Homosexuality is found in nature. Most large animal populations have some percentage of homosexual behavior. Why? There are a number of theories, but the fact remains that it is an undeniable observation that some percentage of homosexuality in an animal population is a “natural” phenomenon. Evolution has clearly defined “what goes where and why” for the purpose of reproduction, but that does not mean activities outside of this realm are bad. After all, if you’ve ever kissed someone or found a pair of breasts to be fascinating, you are engaging in sexual behavior outside of the reproductive needs.
Finally, though, I’d like to dispel this myth: just because something is “natural” doesn’t make it good! In the animal kingdom, members of the same species are routinely killed over arguments as small as “hey, that’s my tree you’re near!” Prostitution has been observed in some primate societies, and often female partners are unwilling participants in the sexual act, known in the human realm as “rape.” If you’re going to argue that we are nothing more than slightly more communicative animals, then discussion of what is “right” based simply on our biological urges is fine. Behavior that is unnatural, such as not killing someone who has betrayed you, should cease immediately. But I, for one, believe that it is our ability to rise above or live harmoniously with our animal instincts that defines us as a person. Our discussion of right and wrong should center on doing what is good for people. Homosexuality doesn’t hurt anyone. That is the bottom line. The real hurt comes from the ridicule and “moral” scorn that such people have to receive. Once we, as a society, debunk the myth of homosexual immorality and welcome them as full equals back into our society, then we will have defeated the real sin: hatred in the name of goodness.
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