As someone who frequents political forums and debates hot button issues extensively, I’ve found that there are common arguments and logical fallacies that are often presented in the debate over same sex marriage. Let’s address some of the main talking points from a different perspective.
Redefining Marriage Won’t Hurt Your Marriage
Advocates of gay marriage proclaim that promoting gay marriage will not affect individual marriages. Most people concur. Those who don’t believe in the “new” marriage aren’t worried about their personal relationships. Their concern is with marriage as an institution and how it will be broken down through redefinition. The concern is with the overall affects on society, not with one’s relationship with his or her spouse.
Redefining Marriage Won’t Harm the Family Unit
Activists claim that “married” partners offer a child a two parent household. A two parent household has been shown to be the best possible environment for raising children. They leave out the fact that the dynamic shown to be most beneficial includes one male and one female parent, or a family unit prescribed by the natural order. Gay marriage is not at all the same thing. By design it eliminates at least one natural parent as well as eliminating one gender from the equation. This is a complicated issue, but we’ll leave it at that for now.
It’s a Civil Rights Issue Just Like Interracial Marriage
Race is inherent. There is no scientific evidence that proves sexual preference is or that it is not simply a predilection or proclivity, a choice. A sexual preference should not be the basis for extraordinary special rights that radically transform an institution that is the foundation of this society.
Conservatives Want a Theocracy
No one wants a theocracy. Religious freedom is far superior to any form of forced religion. Many who support gay marriage claim that only religious people, namely Christians, are against gay marriage. The truth is that while many different religions or religious factions disagree, so do many people that are not religious at all. Disallowing special statutory rights to protect a time honored component of society is not strictly about religion.
People Who Oppose Redefining Marriage are Intolerant
Disagreement does not equate to intolerance, bigotry, homophobia, hatred, or any of the other commonly used buzz words. Such intimidation tactics are certainly not in line with cries for “tolerance” or embracing “diversity.” True tolerance is reciprocal.
*Your viewpoints are certainly welcome. Please feel free to comment.