First of all, I'd like to not argue today about numbers, facts, or the morality of the issue. (We all have very different viewpoints, I'm sure) I'd like to focus more on your experiences in this issue, so that we can all see where the other is coming from. (Mostly because my mother told me not to argue on her day.)
Not that anyone cares, but I just had a wonderful weekend with some relatives I never knew existed, but were living within a few miles of me for the last two and a half years. I only mention this because one thing about them caught me off guard; I found out two of my relatives are lesbians.
As a God fearing man I've always had a strong moral objection to someone going against nature, and throughout my life have meet various people that claim to be gay. I'd avoid the subject because most of the time I like that person as a friend and didn't want to ruin the friendship by bringing up my objection. With my situation this weekend, though, I'll soon have to make a decision. Either a) Sit back and do nothing and act okay, thus condoning it, or b) Say something and create all sorts of waves. It seems that that side of the family is okay with it or just hasn't said anything yet.
Now, the reason I bring a small chunk of personal life into the mix: I don't think a majority of Americans have been cornered into making a decision like this. I'd like to relate this to gay's getting accepted into today's churches. Now I have no statistics for all of you, but I'm fairly confident that at least a simple majority of people is against homosexual marriages. Most people when asked on the street will most likely give an indecisive answer (based on reactions from many of the friends I've asked) and could go one way or the other. When confronted on whether or not someone wants to accept gay people into their own church, though, overwhelmingly most churches vote against. That's when it becomes personal to most people, and they are forced to make the decision they were too afraid to make before because they didn't want to offend anyone. When given the opportunity to vote anonymously, though, that's where their true feelings can show themselves without fear of being singled out.
Shawn Snyder is currently enlisted in the finest fighting force alive: the United States Marine Corps. He has served two combat tours in Iraq and will be doing another one shortly.
Not that anyone cares, but I just had a wonderful weekend with some relatives I never knew existed, but were living within a few miles of me for the last two and a half years. I only mention this because one thing about them caught me off guard; I found out two of my relatives are lesbians.
As a God fearing man I've always had a strong moral objection to someone going against nature, and throughout my life have meet various people that claim to be gay. I'd avoid the subject because most of the time I like that person as a friend and didn't want to ruin the friendship by bringing up my objection. With my situation this weekend, though, I'll soon have to make a decision. Either a) Sit back and do nothing and act okay, thus condoning it, or b) Say something and create all sorts of waves. It seems that that side of the family is okay with it or just hasn't said anything yet.
Now, the reason I bring a small chunk of personal life into the mix: I don't think a majority of Americans have been cornered into making a decision like this. I'd like to relate this to gay's getting accepted into today's churches. Now I have no statistics for all of you, but I'm fairly confident that at least a simple majority of people is against homosexual marriages. Most people when asked on the street will most likely give an indecisive answer (based on reactions from many of the friends I've asked) and could go one way or the other. When confronted on whether or not someone wants to accept gay people into their own church, though, overwhelmingly most churches vote against. That's when it becomes personal to most people, and they are forced to make the decision they were too afraid to make before because they didn't want to offend anyone. When given the opportunity to vote anonymously, though, that's where their true feelings can show themselves without fear of being singled out.
Shawn Snyder is currently enlisted in the finest fighting force alive: the United States Marine Corps. He has served two combat tours in Iraq and will be doing another one shortly.
2 Comments:
Why does my vote have to show my "true feelings" on homosexuality? Shouldn't my vote be more about what's better for the country, not what I personally find to be right or wrong?
And just a bit of advice - how about you just be up front and honest to your relatives about what your veiws are on homosexuality, and explain why. Don't make it personal to anyone but you and your reasons. Most homosexuals are totally cool with people voicing their opinions, even if it goes against their lifestyle, as long as you don't insult anyone personally (or insult homosexuals in general). That is, if your stance on homosexuality is based off of the Bible, and not the people themselves. I'm assuming this is the case.
I didn't mean your vote for the country. I meant if your church votes on whether or not to change their rules to make homosexuality acceptable.
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