tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17595589.post3831241441924958632..comments2023-08-19T07:50:51.818-05:00Comments on Lyn Perry, Writer: Marriage Is Not A RightLynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998346902027037420noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17595589.post-31792596930964390352010-07-02T21:33:21.977-05:002010-07-02T21:33:21.977-05:00Thoughtful response, Robert. Thank you for your pe...Thoughtful response, Robert. Thank you for your perspective. My statement on legislating morality was, of course, ironic. One can not help but legislate from a moral position - we are moral beings, after all. So both sides claim a "morality" that supports their position. <br /><br />The question, to me, is why the insistence that marriage is a fundamental right. It would seem upon reflection (given the few examples I mentioned above) that it is not. It is, by definition, discriminatory. It provides certain benefits that are not available to single individuals, for example (or those wanting to marry their sibling or parent or have multiple partners, etc). So even if same sex marriage were to be broadly legislated, the discrimination would continue against these and other various classifications of people. <br /><br />And again, no one is preventing gay people from the rights that are guaranteed by the constitution (I know you're from Australia, but I imagine Aussies have one like ours, lol). (Even then, these rights have limits, like age or felony restrictions on the right to vote.) And, as you mentioned, marriage is open to anyone - even gays, given the relationship is with a person of the opposite sex. <br /><br />Which is, I guess, the fundamental difference between our positions. Scrape everything away and the crux of the matter is the definition of marriage. Is it already defined as a relationship between a man and a woman (like a triangle must have three sides). Or is it a flexible concept and therefore open to redefinition? That discussion, however, is big enough for another series of posts and interchanges.<br /><br />Thanks again, LynLynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11998346902027037420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17595589.post-35986562407236969712010-07-02T19:49:08.654-05:002010-07-02T19:49:08.654-05:00Though I see the reasoning behind this argument it...Though I see the reasoning behind this argument it does over simplify the difficulties faced by gay people and rights. The acceptance of gay marriage is a legal issue and thus does require legislature - or what is really a redefining of the laws in regards to marriage - these exist and are often used to refuse rights normally obtained by married (in the legal sense) couples.<br /><br />It is easy to say you cannot legislate morality when it is morality that is used as the argument not to recognize gay marriage.<br /><br />The idea of marriage was never a moral right, it was just an agreement between two people - but over centuries legislation has been introduced to define the meaning of marriage, the rights each person has within the marriage and even the rights of women within the law of marriage. All these are legislated variants of a moral standing.<br /><br />The idea of legislating morality or even just legislating gay marriage isn't what is required, what is required is as redefining of marriage as it pertains to people of any sexual persuasion.<br /><br />Two partner swappers can marry, provided they are man and woman. Bisexuals can marry, provided they are man and woman - and dare I say two pedophiles can marry provided they are man and woman. The homosexual position is not as threatening to any social structure as the ones mentioned above, and yet they are privy to all the legal protections provided under the recognition of marriage.<br /><br />So, it is not a simply idea to be deal with simply - there is a great deal a stake here and I feel more needs to be done to remove the inconsistencies of law and allow two people of any sexual (private)persuasion to marry, legallyRobert N Stephensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17846982349433428044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17595589.post-81192597552640209782009-10-22T15:42:53.929-05:002009-10-22T15:42:53.929-05:00Way to be bold in a college classroom. And you are...Way to be bold in a college classroom. And you are right. It all comes down to whose morals are deemed right by society...which flows right into your previous post.Brandon Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03850891283015240498noreply@blogger.com