SwimFinsSF

The Marriage Amendment

Thanks to the BoiFromTroy via the SoCalLawBlog I’d like to pass on these guidelines for those who support a constitutional amendment defining marriage based on biblical.

1. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women.(Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5.)
2. Marriage shall not impede a man’s right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)
3. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deut 22:13-21)
4. D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden.(Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)
5. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be
   construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)
6. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother’s widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10) *”

If you can sell THAT to congress and the American people more power to ya.

(I know this has made the rounds – but it bears repeating)

Friday Five

1. Do you like to shop? Why or why not? Not at all… And why? Because I don’t have the cash for the things I really want to buy. Clothes and toys are so damn expensive. The only thing I really enjoy shopping for are books – and my bedroom and office are evidence. I think I got that from my dad.
   
2. What was the last thing you purchased? A bunch of geek books from Stacy’s. I LOVE that store.
   
3. Do you prefer shopping online or at an actual store? Why? Depends on what for. When it comes to books I prefer going to the store – I like being able to thumb through them and see if it has what I need. Otherwise I kinda prefer online cuz its faster.
   
4. Did you get an allowance as a child? How much was it? 50¢ to $1 when I was a little kid.. When I got to high school it suddenly went up to $20 for some reason.
   
5. What was the last thing you regret purchasing? Damn fine question. Probably every computer game I buy. I keep buying them thinking I’ll like them only to be disappointed. I just need to deal with the fact that I’m not a computer game kind of guy.
   

Unconscious Mutterings – Week 43

1. Scrooge:: Dickens
2. Ribbon:: Yellow
3. Physical:: Pain
4. Income:: Disposable
5. Dream:: Scape
6. Notebook:: Computer
7. Disney:: Lion King
8. Combo:: Drive
9. Booty:: Pirate
10. Skin:: Cancer

Tis the season

To get REALLY stressed out… LORD… Don’t get me wrong. Christmas time is nice and all – but why is it that all the stresses in my life collide at this time EVERY YEAR. You’d think I’d have learned to deal with it by now – but it just gets my stomach tied up in knots… Work – House stuff – Travel for the holidays – Christmas shopping… It all is makin me CRAZY right now.. Oh.. And I would REALLY like to thank the city and county of San Francisco for making property taxes due on December 10th and my supplemental due on December 31st. I do appreciate it..

*sigh*… Ah well.. just gotta suck it up and do the best I can! 😉

Did enjoy having some time off from work though!

On Marriage

A friend of mine just pointed me at this article entitled Holy Matrimony: What’s really undermining the sanctity of marriage? By Dahlia Lithwick on Slate. She has done an outstanding job of distilling down the issue in a clear and meaningful way. Many of the arguments I’ve heard a number of times but and still ring true. However this part of the article really hit the nail on the head for me:

Here’s why marriage will likely survive last week’s crushing decision out of Massachusetts: Because despite all the horrors of Section 4, above, human beings want and deserve a soul mate; someone to grow old with, someone who thinks our dopey entry in the New Yorker cartoon competition is hilarious, and someone to help carry the shopping bags. Gay couples have asked the state to explain why such privileges should be denied them and have yet to receive an answer that is credible.

What really gets me about these arguments is the tone they take. Those who support basic human rights for gays and lesbians (marriage, domestic partner benefits, or whatever) consistently do so with clear logical arguments which seem to be presented with calmness and dignity. I was pawing through the archives that our GLTB group at work kept on the process of lobbying for DP Benefits back in 1992. After reading the justification, the research that backed the presentation, as well as watching the video tape of the presentation I couldn’t imagine any opposition to its adoption because they made it clear that it was just the right thing to do – from every angle.

Those who oppose these basic rights seem to base their arguments on historical dogma that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny and they do it with a very thinly veiled contempt (and hate) for those who don’t share their beliefs. I’m the FIRST to admit I’m clearly biased on this issue, however I would be very interested to read an opposing position that was introspective, well thought out and divorced from prejudice. Even if I didn’t agree with the points making I could at least respect the case presented. As it stands these arguments come across as thinly veiled justification for bigotry using the same arguments that have been used throughout history against numerous other groups of people. There’s a good reason why the keep finding the way they do – because they have to. The arguments don’t hold up to scrutiny.

I won’t even START on this Constitutional ammendment thing – I need breakfast and don’t need to get riled up.

Anyway… Enough preaching…

Queer Eye

Oh my LORD… The full hour long Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is on NBC at 8pm tonight.. Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention but 5 gay boys on the biggest network in prime time seems pretty big to me… This is the kind of shit that must send Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell into a RAGE.. I LOVE it! 🙂 ( I just checked too – its playing in central Illinois and North Carolina too – so its not just San Francisco… woo hoo! :):) )

And I really liked this episode too (the one with the 70s model turned taxidermist in the suburbs).. Was a really great family – very sweet.. :

Anyway – probably not news to anyone else but made my night… ( and I still think Kyan is still hot as balls! :):) )

oh – and Cirque du Soleil – Varakai is on bravo tonight. Kevin and I saw it when it was in town – FANTASTIC

( in case you can’t tell – I’m reveling in being a home body tonight… 😉 :):) )