Nightingale

the 16th amendment gave the feds power to collect income tax. I wouldn't say that's a direct infringement on personal freedom, since we help decide (by electing our representatives) how that money is spent.

nope. First amendment to deny a personal freedom was the 18th, prohibition. Luckily for us, a few years later, they had the sense to repeal it with the 21st amendment.

the "thanks" were directed at everyone. Souleh was just the last to reply.

the benefits they are seeking: 1. the ability to adopt each other's children, so legally they are both the parents of the child. 2. the ability to make decisions for their partner, both medical and financial, should their partner become incapacitated. 3. the ability to inherit in the case of one partner's death 4. the right to visit their partner in the hospital all of which have absolutely nothing to do with you.

bump

Politics. Religion is, by its very nature, based on belief rather than fact, and is therefore unarguable. You always just end up agreeing to disagree, because there's no way to prove either side. With political arguments, there's a lot more fact involved. I enjoy discussing religion, but not debating it. I see religious discussions as more of an opportunity for me to learn something new, whereas political discussions...those are just fun!

26 states in the US allow first cousins to marry.

no tats... got a piercing when I started teaching... I had to be so conservative in the way I dressed for work that I wanted a little bit of rebellion that I could hide under my clothes. Ended up taking it out later, because the guy I was dating didn't like it. After we broke up, I got it re-pierced, kinda as a reminder to never let someone else try to change who I am. The other piercings were pretty much just for fun, the one I wrote about above is really the only one with any kind of meaning.

awesome! thanks!

I wasn't planning on seeing it, but I'll go with ya. I've read the script, and who knows, the movie may be better than the script. Could be interesting.

planning on running away from something?? everything ok?

but that would mean I would have to get back to that computer to delete the cookies, which isn't an option.

the problem with that theory is that the film lacks context. people who haven't read the gospel would have trouble understanding the real meaning behind the story. (I haven't seen it, but I have read the script. I was curious about the film but don't have much of a stomach for movie gore)

I checked my email on someone else's computer. The email program will sometimes "cookie" the computer to remember you. I don't want this person in my email or dz.com account. Will changing my password make the cookie on their computer not work?

It takes a lot of guts to admit you're rethinking your position. I admire you for admitting that.

ooohhhh... a donorcycle! I like those!

parachutist, this month. Centerfold. they spelled out USA.

HOW is it different? you keep saying its different, but you have not explained why or how. You still have two people who can't have kids without medical intervention. oh, and I'm really hoping you mean to BEAR children. There's a pretty big difference. One means to carry a child, and the other is kinda on par with Michael Jackson.

by your argument, though, nature is being clear on who can and can't raise children by not permitting certain pairings to have kids. Your argument could be equally applied to gay couples as well as infertile hetero couples. you have not adequately explained the difference. you have two people who, when you put them together, can't have kids. seems the same to me.

how many homosexual couples have you observed personally? I'd just like to know where you're getting your opinion from.

I know my aunt went WAY out of her way to make sure her sons had good male role models growing up, after her divorce (husband paid child support, but wanted nothing at all to do with his three kids). She even moved from Virginia back to California so her sons would have their uncles to hang out with. All three turned out great, and are very close to their uncles too. No reason why a gay couple couldn't work with friends and family to provide opposite sex role models as well.

how old?

OMG!!! What a cutie-pie!

by saying that because nature has biologically prevented two people from having children, and therefore they shouldn't be married, you are also excluding all the hetero folks with fertility issues, my own parents included!

my aunt had Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride played at the end of the wedding. Also, I sang "The Wedding Song" by N. Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary at a friend's wedding. Lyrics for both songs below: ~~Magic Carpet Ride~~ I like to dream, yes I do Right between the sound machine On a cloud of sound I drift in the night Every place she goes is right Flies far, flies near To the stars away from here Well, you don't know what We can find Why don't you come with me little girl On a magic carpet ride Well, you don't know what We can find Why don't you tell your dreams to me Fantasy will set you free CHORUS Close your eyes girl Look inside girl Let the sound take you away Last night I found Aladdin's lamp So I wished that I could stay But before the thing could answer me Someone came and took the lamp away I looked Around A lousy candle's all I found Well, you don't know what We can find Why don't you come with me little girl On a magic carpet ride Well, you don't know what We can see Why don't you tell your dreams to me Fantasy will set you free ~~The Wedding Song~~ He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part. The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name There is Love, there is Love. A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one. As it was in the beginning is now and til the end Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again. And there is Love, there is Love. Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife? Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life? And if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for? Do you believe in something that you've never seen before? Oh there is Love, there is Love. Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name There is Love, there is Love.