Hey Dennis!
I'm sorry to hear about your panic attack. My cousin used to get them and said she just had to breathe through them and repeat a mantra over and over. I think hers was, "Slowly, slowly, slowly." I hope you feel better.
I have a question for you, though. So I'm a democrat and pretty politically active for my age, but I'm having a tough time chosing the candidate I want to support in the primaries. My big issue is that I want a candidate who will make firm statements and stand up for what they really believe in. I know, I know, that's tough in politics, but my main concern this election is getting rid of the issue of gay marriage. I thought you might have a take on this and be able to answer a question or two for me. My gay friends here aren't really into politics.
I think the whole gay marriage debate is really silly because the constitution clearly states that you cannot deny any citizen a right that you grant another citizen (paraphrased). So gay couples are entitled to the same rights non gay couples are, right? Most of the candidates are tipy-toeing around the issue, but I saw Obama on Ellen and he said that he wanted to make it a federal law that recognizes same sex unions. My thing is, I want the law to be such that everyone is given the same protection under the law. Like, if two gay men are together for thirty years then break up, there's no court that will separate property and everything for them. If you're married, divorce court handles all that. And if one of the partners were to die, I don't think the surviving partner would be eligible to receive the deceased's social security or anything, right? That's just wrong.
My main question is, is what Obama says he'll do enough? I guess I'm just looking at it from a legal standpoint. If churches don't want to perform a ceremony, the government can't really do anything about that, so it seems like a civil union, that entitles the gay couple to all the same rights and protections (and tax benefits!) of a straight married couple, that should be fine. What does it matter what it's called?
That's my main question. Are you just boiling the issue down to symantax or are the words important? I guess maybe no gay couple wants to even hear words that imply they're different than a straight couple. Is that it?
Help if you can. I'm talking to as many people as I can to make sure I put my support behind someone I both believe in and think can be elected. Electability I think is all Hillary, but her wishy washy comments at the debate bothered me. Stand up, People. Speak your mind. No one will respect you if you don't.
Thanks!
Ashley