pro and cons of gay marriage

Traditionally in this country, marriage has been defined as a religious & legal commitment between a man and woman, as well as the ultimate expression of love. Homosexual relationships are increasingly gaining acceptance in this country; however, these couples have not been permitted to marry. Some states have considered a new form of commitment called a "civil union", which essentially is marriage without using the word "marriage". Many politicians have said they are against gay marriage but think it should be left up to the states to decide. However, the "full faith and credit" clause of the Constitution says that if one state makes a law, other states must recognize it. Thus, if one state allows a gay marriage and that couple moves to another state, the other state must recognize that marriage. This in effect allows one state to make same-sex marriage legal in the entire country. Many politicians are calling for amendments to their state constitution or the U.S. Constitution. Many areas of the country such as San Francisco have performed marriage ceremonies in defiance of the law. Lost in all the legal battles and political maneuvering is the basic question "Should we allow gay couples to legally marry?" Yes Denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions). The main reason for denying marriage to gay couples is that all major religions consider homosexuality a sin; however, the First Amendment of the Constitution clearly states that a person's religious views or lack thereof must be protected. Marriage by the state is a secular activity; the government cannot start making laws just because a religion says they should. What's next, should we make taking the Lord's name in vain a criminal activity because Christians consider it a breaking of a commandment? Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples. Marriage is more than a legal status. It affects many things in society such as tax filing status, joint ownership of property, insurance benefits, and agency law. It affects critical medical decisions. For example, if one member of a gay couple that has been together for 20 years gets critically ill, visitation may not even be allowed since the other isn't considered a "spouse or immediate family member". Also, critical medical decisions must often be made when one person is incapacitated; e.g. should a certain surgery be done or not? It is completely unfair to deny these privileges to people because their relationship doesn't fit the state's definition of one. Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with most evidence strongly supporting biological causation. For too long homosexuality has been considered a form of "deviant sexual behavior". Those making these accusations should examine the history books and the psychological research. Throughout our history going all the way back to ancient Greece, homosexual relationships have existed. The term "lesbian" comes from a Greek island called "Lesbos" where many such couples lived. An overwhelming amount of research has been done showing that homosexuality has a biological causation; not a genetic one, but a biological one. The easiest way to think of it is as a hormonal switch that gets thrown one way or the other. And if you think about it, it makes logical sense. Consider many gays and lesbians you've seen. Not always, but most times, some secondary sexual characteristics resemble the opposite sex. In other words, homosexual males often have softer voices. Lesbians may have strong cheekbones and a more masculine body shape. It's all affected by those hormone switches. And why would someone choose to be gay. Do people analyze the situation..."Let's see, I can be discriminated against, ridiculed by friends and co-workers, rejected by my family, told I'm going to hell by the church, subjected to beatings by gay bashers...hmmm, sign me up!" Now, there will be odd cases where people experiment with different types of sex, but you can't just teach people to be gay or not gay for a lifetime. Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination. America was founded on the concept that the majority should rule, but the rights of minorities should be protected. It is the main reason we have a Bill of Rights as well as anti-slavery and equal protection amendments. Denying marriage to a homosexual couple is no different than denying marriage to Hispanic or black couples. It doesn't hurt society or anyone in particular. A marriage is a relationship between two people. How does it hurt society or people not involved in the marriage? It is a personal commitment that really is no one else's business. Society shouldn't be dictating what two people can or can't do when no one else is hurt in the process. If the church or certain groups disapprove, that's their right, but it isn't their right to stop it. The only thing that should matter in marriage is love. The number one reason that heterosexuals marry is not to establish legal status, allow joint filing of taxes, or protect each other in medical decision-making. They marry because it is the ultimate expression of a person's love for another. Marriage is a commitment that says "I love you so much that I want to live the rest of my life with you. I want to share the ups and downs, forsake all others, and be together until death do us part." Should it matter that the couple doesn't fit into what society is used to? Some people talk about living wills and other legal contracts that can give homosexuals essentially the same rights as a married couple. If that is the case, why don't all heterosexual couples use these legal maneuvers instead of marriage? Just maybe there's something more to it. The number of child adoptions should increase since gay couples cannot pro-create (although some might see an increase in gay adoptions as an argument against same-sex marriages). Like any heterosexual couple relationship, a same-sex marriage may fuel the desire for a family. Since gay couples cannot have kids naturally, this will likely increase the desire to adopt. Since there are so many kids around the country in need of adoption, this is a good thing. However, others believe a child reared in a same-sex marriage do not develop ideally. Evidence at this point is inconclusive since same-sex adoptions have yet to become widespread. It encourages people to have strong family values and give up high-risk sexual lifestyles. One of the main arguments against gay marriage is that it would further erode family values; however, the opposite is true. The problems related to sexuality in our society such as STD's stem from carefree, frivolous lifestyles; in other words, having frequent, unprotected sex with many partners. Marriage encourages people to settle down and to give up that type of lifestyle. Married people commit themselves to one partner and work to build a life together. Isn't that the type of behavior we want to encourage? The same financial benefits that apply to man-woman marriages apply to same-sex marriages. In today's economic environment, it often takes two incomes to live. A married couple shares rent, utilities, and other bills, which are often difficult for one person to take on alone. This is especially truly if a dependent person is involved such as a child. In addition, a married couple can often financially support each other when times get tough, such as when one of the two is out of work. The other can continue to pay the bills until the unemployed person gets back on his/her feet. Owning a house is often impossible without another person to share the financial burden, and owning a home is not only part of the American dream, it promotes stability and community pride. No Most religions consider homosexuality a sin. Virtually every religion in the world, including the major ones in this country, consider homosexuality unacceptable. It is offensive and a swipe to the religious freedom of the majority to have to recognize a relationship they consider sinful. The legal system in the United States evolved out of the laws contained in the Bible. We shouldn't go even farther to tear down those laws. It would weaken the definition and respect for the institution of marriage. The 50 percent divorce rate has already weakened the definition of marriage. We shouldn't be taking further steps to define what marriage is. A law allowing gay marriage would increase the number of joke or non-serious marriages, such as a couple of friends who want to save on taxes. Marriage is the most sacred institution in this country, and every society considers it the joining of a man and a woman. It makes biological sense since only a man and woman can pro-create. It would further weaken the traditional family values essential to our society. The building blocks of our society and the thing that makes it strong is the traditional family of man, woman, and children. It is what has sustained us through two world wars, terrorist attacks, a Great Depression, and numerous other challenges over the centuries. While friends & lovers come and go, your family is always there. The main reason our culture and values have started to crumble is the weakening of families. Introducing another form of "family" would only make the situation worse. It could provide a slippery slope in the legality of marriage (e.g. having multiple wives or marrying an animal could be next). Gay rights activists claim that these marriages should be allowed because it doesn't hurt anyone, but it could start a chain reaction that destroys the whole idea of marriage. If someone wants to marry his dog, why shouldn't he be able to? What if someone wants to marry their brother or parent? What if someone wants to marry their blow-up doll or have 10 wives? Unless we develop some firm definition of what a marriage is, the options are endless. If these options sound absurd, remember that all it takes is a few activist judges to use the statute to open the door. It doesn't matter if 95 percent of the population disagrees with the policy, one judge can interpret the case the way he or she wants and use the doctrine of stare decisis to impose a law on everyone. Do you remember how two judges in California recently declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional? If the decision hadn't been overturned, it would have prevented millions of children from being able to say the pledge every morning, despite the fact that 95+ percent of Americans disagreed with the decision. It confuses children about gender roles and expectations of society, and only a man & woman can pro-create. Children learn about expectations and gender roles from society. It's difficult to teach the importance and traditions of the family when such confusion is thrust upon them. Only a man and woman can bear children, and for thousands of years, a man & woman headed household has carried generations of people through life. The gay lifestyle is not something to be encouraged, as a lot of research shows it leads to a much lower life expectancy, psychological disorders, and other problems. Studies show that homosexuals, for a variety of reasons, have life expectancies of approximately 20 years less than the general population. Just like a lifestyle of smoking, drinking, etc., unhealth

Africas resources and growing economy

Mining and Drilling Africa is a major producer of important metals and minerals. Metals exported by African countries include uranium, used to produce nuclear energy; platinum, used in jewelry and industrial applications; nickel, used in stainless steel, magnets, coins, and rechargeable batteries; bauxite, a main aluminum ore; and cobalt, used in color pigments. Africa’s two most profitable mineral resources are gold and diamonds. In 2008, Africa produced about 483 tons of gold, or 22 percent of the world’s total production. South Africa accounts for almost half of Africa’s gold production. Ghana, Guinea, Mali, and Tanzania are other major producers of gold. Africa dominates the global diamond market. In 2008, the continent produced 55 percent of the world’s diamonds. Botswana, Angola, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Namibia are Africa’s largest producers of diamonds. Unfortunately, several African conflicts and civil wars have been caused and funded by the diamond industry. Diamonds that come from these regions are known as conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. In 2002, the United Nations created the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in order to certify diamonds from sources that are free of conflict. The KPCS also aims to prevent diamond sales from financing wars. Countries that do not meet KPCS requirements are not allowed to trade with much of the rest of the world. The Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire have all been expelled at some point in the last decade. Africa is home to select deposits of oil and natural gas, which are drilled for energy and fuel. In 2007, the continent produced 12.5 percent of the world’s total oil production and 6.45 percent of the world’s total natural gas production. Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, and Angola dominate Africa’s oil industry. Oil exploration has significantly increased on the continent, and many countries are looking to become first

the study on if there is more blacks being gay then whites

Contrary to stereotypical images, which peg LGBT people as disproportionately white, male, urban and wealthy, a new survey shows that the LGBT community is actually largely African American. According to the report, released by Gallup earlier this week, 4.6 percent of African Americans responded "yes" when asked if they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, along with four percent of Hispanics, 4.3 percent of Asians and 3.2 percent of Caucasians. "This data reveals that, relative to the general population, the LGBT population has a larger proportion of non-white people and clearly is not overly wealthy," said study author and demographer Gary Gates, of the UCLA School of Law's Williams Institute. "It helps to counter what I think are some inappropriate stereotypes of the LGBT community," he added in an interview with USA Today. "If you spend a lot of time watching network television, you would think most LGBT people are rich white men who live in big cities. These data suggest the LGBT community reflects more of the diversity in the U.S. population." Others say the findings help to debunk stereotypes about blacks and Latinos being overwhelmingly homophobic. "These findings show that Latinos aren’t going to be as easy to mobilize against gay marriage as the right might wish,” said Rinku Sen, president of the Applied Research Center, which publishes the news website Colorlines.com. Latino support for gay marriage was reportedly outpacing the general population earlier this year, while African-American support waned by some estimates. Other surveys, like an ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted in May, found that support was up by 59 percent. BLACK VOICES Black Gays Make Up Largest Share Of LGBT Community, Survey Shows Oct 19, 2012 While my views on this subject is one how can you only study a small percentage compare to the amount of Americas there are,on top of that if there wasn't a huge amount of gay rich white men (with wife's) pushing gay marriage how are they moving forward while the rights of blacks in America decline more and More and how is a it makes no sense to me

love poem

our spirits intertwined one heart beat I know your feeling me lasting memories when I'm sleep reappearing to me ....as our personas fade with the wind all I ask is you honor my love n will my genuine touch n feel encompassing you body with goosebumps n chills it's my humble soul that's keeps my from crumbling or even fold lessons learned with the lies told if I told you earnestly my heart still beats for you ...Will you answer why yours have turned so cold?

lost love!!!

we could live in a moment filled eternity if you could see what I see elevating life to what love should be a chemistry between you and me heaven sent meant for destiny if I told u I love you would you believe me? would agree with me? I'm looking past the physical into unobtainable intimacy the remedy of our essence uplifting me yet killing me

don't not pray to this false image

Cesare Borgia, (nobleman, politician, cardinal 1475/6-1507) was a cruel son of Pope Alexander VI, who made him bishop and cardinal at a very early age. In 1498, Cesare became the first person in history to resign the cardinalate and he became the Duke of Valentinois. Borgia was renowned for his deceptions and had no trouble crushing and executing his enemies. Cesare befriended Leonardo da Vinci during his life and it is rumoured that Leonardo used Borgia’s likeness as a base for his depiction of a caucasian Jesus. Apparently it was common place for artists to do such things to please popes and monarchs. It seems that the image of Jesus that many worship today is based on Cesare Borgia’s likeness.

WHY IS A BLACK PRESIDENT PUSHING THIS GAY MOVEMENT ON KIDS WHERE IS THERE RIGHTS THE PRENTS RIGHTS

WHY IS THIS MEN PUSHING GAY MARRIAGE SO MUCH WHY DID HE MAKE A POINT OF SHOWING THAT HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF A CHURCH I WONDER HOW THESE BIBLE BELIEVER ARE THINKING WITH THE WORLD WORD SUPPORTING THE LGBT COMMUNITY WHY IS HE ALSO PUSHING IT ON OUR YOUTH JUST TEN YEARS AFTER REMOVING THE RIGHT TO PRAY GOD HHHHHMMMM

meet your strawman

Meet Your Strawman Let's have a little quiz: 1. Who meets there? 2. What do they do there? 3. Do they help you in any way? If your answers were: 1. "Members of the government" 2. "They represent all the people living in the country" and 3. "Yes, they create laws to protect me and my family" Then let me congratulate you on getting every one of the answers wrong. Didn't do too well on that quiz? OK, let's have another go: 4. When was slavery abolished? 5. Was slavery legal? 6. Are you in debt to a financial institution? Here are the answers: 1. The serving officers of a commercial company. 2. They think up ways to take money and goods from you. 3. No, absolutely not, they help themselves and not you. 4. Slavery has NEVER been abolished and you yourself, are considered to be a slave right now. 5. Yes, slavery is "legal" although it is not "lawful" (you need to discover the difference). 6. No. You are NOT in debt to any financial institution. Does this seem a little strange to you? If it does, then read on: THOSE IN POWER HAVE A BIG SECRET Paying tax is OPTIONAL !! Getting a licence is OPTIONAL !! Registering a vehicle is OPTIONAL !! Paying a fine is OPTIONAL !! Attending a court is OPTIONAL !! YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO Surprised? Well - try this for size: Every Mortgage and Loan is FULLY REPAID from day one - you can pay it again if you want to, but you don't have to !! _______________________________________________________________________ If nobody has told that you that you have a Strawman, then this could be a very interesting experience for you. Your Strawman was created when you were very young, far too young to know anything about it. But then, it was meant to be a secret as it's purpose is to swindle you, and it has been used very effectively to do just that ever since it was created. Perhaps it is about time that you learnt about your strawman and how you can stop it being used against you. Knowing about it is the most important first step. You need to go on a journey of discovery, and I'm afraid that what you are about to discover is not very pleasant. However, if you decide to act on what you learn, it could change your life for the better. If you think that you are in debt, then you can get out of it if you are willing to stand up for your rights and refuse to be swindled any longer. Interested? If so, then let's start at the beginning and find out where your strawman came from and why you should care about it. It all started when your parents had a happy event and you entered the world. You don't know exactly when that was, because you were not aware of the days of the week, the months of the year or even what year it was. Even after some months had gone by, you still were not aware of these things, but by that time, your strawman had already been created and it was being used to make some very unscrupulous people rich. None of this was your fault. It happened because your parents were fooled into thinking that they needed to register your birth and get a birth certificate for you. So, they APPLIED for a birth certificate, not understanding what would happen when they did. Well then, what did happen? According to the Local Authority:

50 interesting facts about South Africa

50 interesting facts about South Africa 1. Table Mountain in Cape Town is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in the world. 2. The world is divided into six floral kingdoms. All these kingdoms encompass several countries, and in some cases, several continents. South Africa, which has a floral kingdom wholly contained within the country, is the one exception. The Cape Floral Kingdom has 9,600 plant species, 70% of which are not found anywhere else in the world. 3. Table Mountain alone has over 1,500 species of plants, more than the entire United Kingdom. 4. South Africa is the second largest exporter of fruit in the world. 5. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world. 6. Kruger National Park supports the greatest variety of wildlife species on the African continent. 7. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are tearing down fences between the countries' game parks to create a 13,500 square mile game park, which will become the largest conservation area in the world. It will be bigger than Switzerland, Belgium or Taiwan. 8. South Africa has a penguin colony, which thrives thanks to the cold Antarctic currents on the west coast near the Cape. 9. South Africa is rated 3rd in the world in supplying safe, drinkable tap water. 10. The Palace of the Lost City resort hotel is the largest theme resort hotel in the world as well as the largest building project undertaken in the southern hemisphere. 11. Walt Disney serves South African wine exclusively at its 73-acre Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States. 12. South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world. 13. The deepest mine is a gold mine in South Africa. in 1977 the Western Deep Levels Mine reached a depth of 11,749 feet. Most mines descend to about 3,300 feet. 14. South Africa is the only country in the world to voluntarily abandon its nuclear weapons program. 15. South Africa has 19,004 miles of railway track - 80% of Africa's rail infrastructure. 16. South Africa generates two-thirds of Africa's electricity. 17. The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 2,789 feet. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 3,212 feet. 18. Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world - and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the U.S. is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second, but both are very dry. 19. South Africa is home to the world's smallest succulent plants (less than 0.39 inches) and the largest (the baobab tree). 20. Kimberley may have the biggest man-made hole in the world, but did you know that the southern Free State town of Jagersfontein has the deepest vertical man-made hole? 21. The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prizewinners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses on Vilakazi Street in Soweto. 22. South Africa is the world's largest producer of macadamia nuts. 23. South Africa has the third highest level of biodiversity in the world. 24. South Africa is the world's leader in mining and minerals. It has nearly 90% of the platinum metals on earth, 80% of the manganese, 73% of the chrome, 45% of the vanadium and 41% of the gold. 25. South Africa is the first country in Africa to host the prestigious FIFA World Cup (will take place in 2010). 26. South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the world, just across the Vaal River near Parys, called the Vredefort Dome. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 27. South African grasslands have approximately 30 species per square kilometer, greater than the biodiversity of rainforests. 28. South Africa is the sole producer of the Mercedes Benz C Class, right-hand drive vehicles . 29. General Motors South Africa will be the only manufacturing site outside of the United States to build the Hummer H3 vehicle. 30. South Africa is one of the most generously endowed geographic solar hotspots in the world, soaking up just over half of the world's highest category of solar wattage per square yard of land. 31. South Africa has deserts, mountains, escarpments, plateaus, grasslands, bush, wetlands and subtropical forests. 32. Most of the world's proto-mammalian fossils are found in the Karoo region. 33. Dr. Christiaan Barnard, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, performed the first human heart transplant in the world in 1967. He was also the first to do a "piggyback" transplant in 1971, and he was the first to do a heart-lung transplant. 34. The vast majority of South African coal exports are shipped through the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). With the capacity to export 79.4 mmst annually, RBCT is the world's largest coal export facility. 35. The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels. 36. There are about 280,000 windmills on farms across South Africa, second in number only to Australia. 37. Three of the five fastest land animals live in South Africa - the cheetah (63 miles per hour), the wildebeest, and the lion. 38. The oldest remains of modern humans were found in Klasies River Cave in the Eastern Cape. They are well over 100,000 years old. 39. In eastern South Africa, scientists have found traces of blue-green algae dating back 3,500 million years. This is some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth. 40. There are more than 2,000 shipwrecks, dating back at least 500 years, off the South African coast. More than one of these, including the Waratah, simply vanished without a trace. 41. The Karoo region is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. 42. Although Pretoria is considered to be the capital of South Africa, the country actually has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). 43. In its eastern part, South Africa entirely surrounds another country - Lesotho, an independent constitutional monarchy. 44. Approximately 900 bird species are found in South Africa alone, which represents 10% of the worlds total bird species. 45. South Africa has the most luxurious train in the world, The Rovos Rail. 46. South Africa has the highest commercial bungi jump in the world (710 feet). 47. Mossel Bay is in the Guinness Book of records as having the second most moderate climate in the world. 48. Pietermaritzburg's city hall is the largest red brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. 49. Hippos are susceptible to sunburn, and spend most of their days with just their noses out of water. Their noses have special flaps that close when submerged, and they can stay under water for 25 minutes. 50. South Africa has the oldest wine industry outside of Europe and the Mediterranean, featuring Chardonnays, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cinsault, Riesling, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage varietals.