When conservatives Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh (who between them have five divorces and seven marriages) claim that President Barack Obama is out to ruin the sanctity of marriage by supporting gay marriage, it's time to wake up.
Obama is the first black president whose motto was to bring changes to the White House. However, when he tries to bring equality to all Americans, he is criticized and ridiculed.
The only changes the conservatives (especially the tea party group) want is to get rid of the president who is now occupying the White House.
Obama was blasted by Republicans because he once belonged Trinity United Church of Christ, a predominantly black church in Chicago's southwest side. He left that church after controversial remarks by Pastor Jeremiah Wright.
I wonder if Mitt Romney will leave his Mormon Church to join a conservative Christian church if he is elected? (I doubt it.)
He will do fine as long as he speaks the conservative language — that marriage is a sacred institution that should not be destroyed by allowing the gay and lesbian community to enter and break the long, long tradition.
Rolande Caron, South Paris
Report a correction
As I read this letter...
... I wonder what is worse. A conservative candidate that clearly states his values or a liberal incumbent who is willing to change his stance in the apparent attempt to garner votes from a certain voting block? Oh wait, he isn't actually campaigning on this issue he is endorsing states rights on same sex marriage??? Hmmm, that can't be, Obama endorsing states rights?
Oh, of course. The only way to flatter the gay community and his liberal base was to say that he "personally feels in support of same sex marriage" but his official position is that it's a state issue. So... Roland Caron, you have credited the president for standing up for gay rights when, in fact, he has done just the opposite. He has endorsed individual states rights to vote on the issue. We all know how most of the state votes have gone. They have voted opposed to same-sex marriages. That would lead me to believe that Obama actually opposes same-sex marriage.
"Obama is the first black president whose motto was to bring changes to the White House. However, when he tries to bring equality to all Americans, he is criticized and ridiculed."
Saying and doing are two different things... BHO has said plenty.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.All distractions from the
All distractions from the real issues - Jobs, debt, the economy.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."He will do fine as long as
"He will do fine as long as he speaks the conservative language--that marriage is a sacred institution that should not be destroyed by allowing the gay and lesbian community to enter and break the long, long tradition."
I would ask the writer, when in the history of mankind has marriage ever been defined by anything other than a union between a man and a woman of human descent? Another long, long tradition also comes to mind; you can't plug a lamp into a lamp.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (3) Disagree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Very odd letter
The question is when in the history of mankind has it been defined as a union between a man and a woman. In western culture, for the last few hundred years. In eastern culture, Africa, Asia, India, only that period of western colonial occupation. The biblical definition of marriage was polygamy. Practiced by almost every biblical group. Heterosexual exclusive civil and religious marriage is the rare exception not the rule. And even more rare was when it involved love and committment. And then there is "common law" marriage.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."when in the history of
"when in the history of mankind has marriage ever been defined by anything other than a union between a man and a woman of human descent?"
Here you go. From Wikipedia
Various types of same-sex marriages have existed,[71] ranging from informal, unsanctioned relationships to highly ritualized unions.[72]
While it is a relatively new practice to frequently grant same-sex couples the same form of legal marital recognition as commonly granted to mixed-sex couples, there is a long history of recorded same-sex unions around the world.[73] It is believed that same-sex unions were celebrated in Ancient Greece and Rome,[73] some regions of China, such as Fujian, and at certain times in ancient European history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Wikipedia? You might as well
Wikipedia? You might as well have gotten your information out of a comic book.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Yet a comic-book with foot-notes, non the less!!!
When you can't attack the facts, throw in a red herring or twa'!!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.No one knows the
No one knows the unreliability of getting factual information from Wikipedia better than Veritas. Their specialty is making 3 plus 5 come out to anything a person wants it to be.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Pirate yet failed to attack one single fact presented...
And could only throw Wikipedia up as the 'Strawman'
Certainly not like the Pirates of Yore!!!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.That what is being presented
That what is being presented as fact remains questionable since the so called source for presenting these facts is, at best, laughable. But, I agree with you that these are savage times, indeed.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Could you detail the laughable pages of this source mentioned in
Could you detail the laughable pages of this source mentioned in the footnotes??
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/same-sex-unions-in-premodern-europe-john...
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Marriage has been defined by whatever need it met.
Geo-political - As arranged marriages between the offspring of tribal leaders.
Marriage is actually a fairly recent social phenomena in our history - for many centuries there was merely an 'understanding.
Extension of Religious Control - Permission to marry can be granted or withheld by religious authority.
The list goes on and on.......
The 'Tradition' of marriage until fairly recently was that the husband literally owned his wife - or wives..
It's not necessary for procreation, it may or may not be satisfying to both participants. Marriage has continually evolved - and that is the one long, lasting 'Tradition'
Same-Sex Marriage certainly fits within that dynamic.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Geo-political as arranged
Geo-political as arranged marriages between the offspring of tribal leaders--probably male & female.
For many centuries there was merely an "understanding".--probably between males and females.
The 'tradtion' of marriage until fairly recently was that the husband literally owned his wife or wives.--Again, probably males and females.
Marriage has continually evolved, and that is the one long, lasting tradition.--Are you saying that the only constant in marriage is change?
I can't marry my sister, who happens to be drop-dead gorgeous, but it's o.k. for two guys to get married.
Can't marry my first cousin, who's also a real looker, but it's o.k. for two 'women' to get married.
What am I missing?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What you're missing, Pirate??
What too many of Maine's ancestors obviously didn't miss.....
Consanguinity
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The parrot wants to know if
The parrot wants to know if that means the same thing as consentual sex.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Depends.
Depends how you define a lamp.... Example - Christmas lights. Provide light, can be plugged into other Christmas lights.
And as for this line "when in the history of mankind has marriage ever been defined by anything other than a union between a man and a woman of human descent?"
Let me ask you - How many times in the history of mankind has the law been on the wrong side of the argument? We have had laws outlawing marriage between, which most people agree now that the law was on the wrong side of it. Hell, I could write page after page of examples of where the law was wrong, even in the face of facts and evidence.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (3) Agree (2)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.As is often the case, you're
As is often the case, you're unable to come up with a real response, so you've once again treated us to cute off the wall analogies and semantics. I made no mention of Christmas lights and laws pertaining marriage. You objectively addressed neither of my statetements; probably because you can't. But, on the lighter side, where've you been ? I thought you might have gone into hibernation like a few others.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (2) Disagree (3)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.No hibernation
Maybe I have been busier at work - I use posting here as a palate cleanse. I didn't realize I had been posting less.
The Christmas light part was because you said you couldn't plug a lamp into a lamp. Which, you can. Christmas lights are one example of plugging a lamp into a lamp. Also if you get one of these you can:
Anyway, my point is that tradition has, on numerous occasions, been the justification for stupid laws. When the government denies people the right to be happy, it needs a damn good reason, more than "religion says it's icky".
So Pirate, what's the reason?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1) Disagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What do you suppose is the
What do you suppose is the government's reason for not allowing you and me to marry our sisters? Is that 'religion' generated or is the law just on the wrong side of tradition?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Deliverance perhaps - fad to
Deliverance perhaps - fad to dueling banjos.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Deliverance perhaps - fad to
Deliverance perhaps - fad to dueling banjos.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Deliverance--The reason why
Deliverance--The reason why the Pirate will often pack heat when he goes in wooded areas hiking, etc. Guess I've seen the movie too many times.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.BTW-That's a great picture of
BTW-That's a great picture of a fuse blower.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Fuse blower?
Your still using fuses?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.It's a pirate ship; not a
It's a pirate ship; not a castle.
Last house I lived in, if the refrigerator went on while you were using the toaster; a fuse blew.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Yes, and you cannot screw the
Yes, and you cannot screw the male end into another male end, but it fits well in the female end does it not?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Excellently stated, Mark.
Excellently stated, Mark. That is the crux of the whole matter, is it not?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I spin on the fuse blower
I spin on the fuse blower picture above, so don’t get shorted.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Paul, I think in some cases it's ...
... forced hibernation.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.In this case, it wasn't.
In this case, it wasn't.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.=)
There you have it, my good name affirmed by the mods.
It helps that I have debates about this stuff with my parents, who are very conservative. It reminds you to keep emotions in check, and that people on both sides of the issues are not bad people just for disagreeing with you.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (4)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Yup, sort of suspected that.
Yup, sort of suspected that. The line between acceptability and the penalty box is often blurred.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Perhaps he just got tired of
Perhaps he just got tired of being hammered on. Hope it isn't a health issue.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Are we talking about Tron?
Cause I haven't ever received a ban, or even a warning from a mod(at least that I can remember) - from this account or my alter ego that I used to post under until they implemented the real name verification.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The Pirate got a warning
The Pirate got a warning once; had it coming, too. Threatened kick a guy's butt. As soon as that missive was released he knew he'd done the wrong thing. Apologized to both the moderators and the guy. The guy was not very receptive, but **it happens.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Who was your alter ego?
Who was your alter ego?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Well, that would defeat the purpose of an alias
Well, that would defeat the purpose of an alias, wouldn't it? I mean, does Bruce Wayne take off his mask(well, except when he wants to get the girl)?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.If memory serves me well, you
If memory serves me well, you were that guy whose banner portrayed Jesus and His Cross riding the back of a dinosaur. Those were the days, when a pirate could be a pirate. So, you put on the Hazmat headgear and went underground?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Actually....l
I did that with this account(Jesus and His Cross riding the back of a dinosaur).
And this isn't hazmat gear. It's a picture of "the Stig" from Top Gear on BBC America(I highly recommend it). Hence why Steve Dosh calls me Stig.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What did Jesus and the Cross
What did Jesus and the Cross on the dinosaur symbolize? I've never been able to figure it out. I assumed you weren't trying to be disrespectful, or I'd have called you on it.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.It was a knock on creationism.
Many creationist who subscribe to a strict interpretation of the bible believe the world is less than 10,000 years old, and was created exactly as stated in Genesis. They also believe that dinosaurs existed at the same time as man. So that was on of the many images on the internet depicting biblical figures with dinosaurs.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Thank you; the Pirate stands
Thank you; the Pirate stands enlightened.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The parrot sez he thought
The parrot sez he thought Steve was misspelling Sting.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.