Dear NY State-- aren't we past the point of discrimination? Really? You might not agree with how people live their lives, but it doesn't give you the right to tell them they cannot get married. I happen to HATE the way you guys run this state, and yet you still do what you want. Today I am extremely disappointed to hea...r that you're prolonging
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Dictating the conduct of people's lives is exactly what a government does. A government is a system of authority over a populous. In the case of a representative government, as opposed to a let's say a monarchy, the populous places individuals into authority with the premise that the individuals will make and enforce rules that reflect the desires and ideals of populous.
The government deciding on how can and cannot get married is no different than it deciding on speed limits, tax percentages, pollution regulations, education budgets, etc.
You mentioned the civil rights movement. There was a time when interracial marriages were illegal. That no longer is the case, but there are still other scenarios in which people can not marry.
A person can not be married to more than one person at the same time, even if all involved are willing participants.
A 12 year old and a 10 year old might love each other. They still have to wait until they are legal adults (or get parental permission in some states).
A person can not marry his/her offspring. In fact, incest is illegal at any age. Even if the participants are over 18 and the sex is consensual, it is still illegal.
For the time being, the majority populous has decided that marriage should be between one adult male and one adult female. That is what the majority wants. The majority has placed individuals into power to make sure that happens. Therefore, no gay marriage.
If the majority wants a community in which adults aren't allowed to have sex with children, the government will make rules and punishments to ensure that.
If the majority wants a community in which cigarettes have to have warning labels, the government will make rules and punishments to ensure that.
If the majority wants a community in which alcohol can't be sold on Sundays, the government will make rules and punishments to ensure that.
As far as reasons against it and matters of sin, I won't get into that. I can easily offer reasons for and against. I can offer statements about what is or isn't sinful, what is or isn't gods way. In the end, that doesn't matter. Our government is based on "majority rules."
A representative government is a reflection of the majority. By the definition of "majority", that means at least one minority is present. In other words, no matter how inclusive the government would like to be, there will always be a faction that misses out. Somebody winds up with the short end of the stick.
Imagine a group of 11 people. 5 want chicken for dinner. 5 want pizza. The 11th person votes for pizza. Thus, the group eats pizza. The pizza might be incredibly delicious, but 5 people didn't get what they wanted.
Imagine the same 11 people. 2 want to go to the movies. 1 wants to stay home. 1 wants to visit the park. 7 want to go to a concert. Thus, the group goes to a concert. The concert might be a fantastic show, but 4 people didn't get what they wanted.
My point is, the group had the right to dictate how the individuals lived because "majority rules." The minorities have to either adhere to the vote of the majority or succeed from the group.
In the case of the United States, we can't have mass meetings every time a decision has to be made. We use representatives to (hopefully) make decisions that are in the interest of the majority. We have a continuous election process so that (hopefully) the minorities of the populous will not have to overthrow the government. The minority just has to grow into a majority.
Well, that was a longer rebuttal than I had planned. Sorry.
-- Lance, xoxox
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