Biden sure hit a raw nerve here at DU last night.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Personally, I'm all for gay marriage. Live and let live. And I suspect most DU'ers agree.

But I don't quite see how all the outrage is at all productive. Nor do I see how telling the GLBT community to "stuff it" is productive either.

We're all on the same side here. Let's try to be respectful of each other? "Straight" DUers - don't minimize the GLBT community's concerns, and GLBT - don't take offense and post snark about innocent things (such as posting an article about the Obamas' anniversary).

Sound like a plan?

:hi:

[elleng]

1. Sounds good to me,

squirrel.

[leftofcool]

2. I am for all rights for gays and I think they should be hammering

at this until those rights are granted. Gay people have been fighting this crap for at least 50 years and still people want them to shut up. And no, I am not gay, just an advocate for gay rights

[mth44sc]

3. For whatever reason

marriage is pretty much a religion thing. We have long refered to a "marriage" by the Mayor or some other civil authority as a "civil union".

I think chirches ought to be able to define "marriage" how ever they want. I think law ought to protect any union equally.

[MrModerate]

4. Drives me crazy, but I'm convinced that supporting . . .

full civil rights for same-sex couples (aka "gay marriage") would be instantly fatal to Obama/Biden. A significant number of Americans are just insane about this issue, and frankly so are a lot of other more-or-less tolerant electorates around the world.

A majority of adults don't care that much that there are such things as homosexual couples, but the magic word "marriage" makes them lose their reason. I'm neither a sociologist nor psychologist, and I don't have a solid theory why, but that's the way it seems to me.

Five years from now . . . I think cultures generally will have evolved a bit and you'll see 10-20 countries legalizing same-sex marriage.

[rateyes]

5. I'm against all marriage.

Don't tell my wife. :evilgrin:

[leftofcool]

6. Honey is that you?

[rateyes]

7. ...

:hide:

[leftofcool]

11. Thought for a minute you might be my hubby

[rateyes]

17. Why do you think I'm hiding?

:rofl:

[swishyfeet]

13. DUZY!

You're killin me... :rofl:

[Patchuli]

9. I think you need another DUZY for that doozy!

:rofl:

[npk]

8. I just wish people on DU could be more respectful

Understand that part of being a democrat or a progressive is about being respectful of other peoples lifestyle choices and decisions. I am tired of all the STFU threads. With so many people on DU it is only natural that some people are going to disagree, but we should do so respectfully.

[Patchuli]

10. Exactly!

And not try to badger the other poster/s into our own way of thinking. There comes a point for respectfully disagreeing and disengaging.

[Gman]

12. Business allows 2 people/entities to form a joint partnership

versus individual sole proprietorships. Marriage amounts to the government licensing 2 people, only of opposite sexes, to conduct business as a single partnership. Licensing this private partnership to conduct business is the only interest the government has. Religion and/or social mores have deemed this partnership must not be same sex. For all practical purposes, it makes no difference to the government's functions.

The argument must compare business to private individuals. The government does not prohibit two people of the same sex from forming a business joint partnership. It should be no different for two private individuals. Religion and government must be separated.

[cbc5g]

14. Supporting gay marriage is a sure way to DOOM your campaign

Just like supporting marijuana legalization is a good way to doom your campaign as well. But you don't see me crying about Joe Biden creating the Drug Czar meanwhile hundreds of thousands of nonviolent users go to jail over really nothing. Whats so great about marriage anyways? Civil unions are far better. Fuck that religious bullshit.

[elocs]

15. I think that "marriage" should be considered religious and we should not have to go around

and around over the terminology. As far as the law goes and for all the rights concerned it should be a "civil union" for everyone. If people want to be "married" they can find the religion of their choice to attain that, but as far as the government goes it should be a "civil union".

[TheDonkey]

16. it's just the Fauxrage of "past" rearing it's head again

much like Putin over Alaska in Palin's world.