Same Sex Marriage in Iowa

[Arathena]

And the super awesome part of Vermont is that they did it through the legislature.

[Taxious]

And another one down:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04 ... ml?_r=1&hp

IIRC Vermont has been pretty back and forth with this over the years. It's definitely another step in the right direction in my opinion.

Personally (and obviously) I don't get why same-sex marriage is such a big deal. I don't foresee myself ever getting "married" but it would be nice to have the option available. I realize a lot of people are fans of the "civil unions, not marriage" stance, but that whole "separate but equal" response always pops into my head.

I think my favorite part of this whole ordeal is how combative the fundie-right gets when dealing with it. When was war declared? Why is it such a big fucking deal to some people??? A lot of these people care much more than I do about my homo-rights (or lack of).

Here is the latest newsletter I got from the AFA.

If your child's school allows "Day of Silence" propaganda, keep your child at home April 17.

April 7, 2009
Dear Jasper,

The Day of Silence, which is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), fast approaches. This year it will take place in most public schools on April 17. On this day, thousands of public high schools and increasing numbers of middle schools will allow students to remain silent throughout an entire day-even during instructional time-to promote GLSEN's socio-political goals and its controversial, unproven, and destructive theories on the nature and morality of homosexuality.

Parents must actively oppose this hijacking of the classroom for political purposes. Please join the national effort to restore to public education a proper understanding of the role of government-subsidized schools. You can help de-politicize the learning environment by calling your child out of school if your child's school allows students to remain silent during instructional time on the Day of Silence.

Parents should no longer passively countenance the political usurpation of public school classrooms through student silence.

If students will be permitted to remain silent, parents can express their opposition most effectively by calling their children out of school on the Day of Silence and sending letters of explanation to their administrators, their children’s teachers, and all school board members. One reason this is effective is that most school districts lose money for each student absence.

School administrators err when they allow the classroom to be disrupted and politicized by granting students permission to remain silent throughout an entire day.

Although I agree that politics and the classroom should be separated, it's kind of moronic to say that a classroom will be disrupted by silence...

[Partha]

When was war declared? Why is it such a big fucking deal to some people???

Because the instant you and your married boyfriend move into their neighborhood, you'll be breaking in their door and forcing hubby to repeatedly swallow cock while your lesbian friends take turns fisting wifey.

[Garrdor]

Those freakin homisetuas!

[Klast Brell]

It may take a few decades, but I'm pretty sure that it will become legal nation wide. Another state here, another state there. Eventually it will be legal in more than half the states. At that point congress will overturn DOMA and write some new law making it legal nationwide. Either that or there will be a case like Loving Vs Virginia and the supreme court will do it.

50 years from now it will be remembered like the civil rights struggles of the 50's and 60's.

[Select]

50 years from now it will be remembered like the civil rights struggles of the 50's and 60's.

Which is so stupid. You'd think people would realize that and learn from the past. I hate how every minority group has to struggle to be considered human.

[Rsak]

50 years from now it will be remembered like the civil rights struggles of the 50's and 60's.

In all honesty I think that is an insult to the blacks and whites that fought the civil rights battles back then. The scope is just too different with the opposition that was faced.

[Partha]

That's merely because bigots rarely are in power anymore, therefore no water cannons or dogs used on marching gay folks.

[Jarochai Alabaster]

In all honesty I think that is an insult to the blacks and whites that fought the civil rights battles back then. The scope is just too different with the opposition that was faced.

The late Mrs. King would disagree with you. While the scope was different, the inequality of any group of citizens threatens the rights of everyone. Mrs. King specifically has been quoted as saying that the struggles of gays are quite similar to the struggles of blacks, and that she believed in equal treatment, including marriage.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Ain't nothing better to cap off a Friday than some good ol fashioned Rsak pwnage.

[Klast Brell]

And another one down:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04 ... ml?_r=1&hp

IIRC Vermont has been pretty back and forth with this over the years. It's definitely another step in the right direction in my opinion.

Personally (and obviously) I don't get why same-sex marriage is such a big deal. I don't foresee myself ever getting "married" but it would be nice to have the option available. I realize a lot of people are fans of the "civil unions, not marriage" stance, but that whole "separate but equal" response always pops into my head.

I think my favorite part of this whole ordeal is how combative the fundie-right gets when dealing with it. When was war declared? Why is it such a big fucking deal to some people??? A lot of these people care much more than I do about my homo-rights (or lack of).

Here is the latest newsletter I got from the AFA.

If your child's school allows "Day of Silence" propaganda, keep your child at home April 17.

April 7, 2009
Dear Jasper,

The Day of Silence, which is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), fast approaches. This year it will take place in most public schools on April 17. On this day, thousands of public high schools and increasing numbers of middle schools will allow students to remain silent throughout an entire day-even during instructional time-to promote GLSEN's socio-political goals and its controversial, unproven, and destructive theories on the nature and morality of homosexuality.

Parents must actively oppose this hijacking of the classroom for political purposes. Please join the national effort to restore to public education a proper understanding of the role of government-subsidized schools. You can help de-politicize the learning environment by calling your child out of school if your child's school allows students to remain silent during instructional time on the Day of Silence.

Parents should no longer passively countenance the political usurpation of public school classrooms through student silence.

If students will be permitted to remain silent, parents can express their opposition most effectively by calling their children out of school on the Day of Silence and sending letters of explanation to their administrators, their children’s teachers, and all school board members. One reason this is effective is that most school districts lose money for each student absence.

School administrators err when they allow the classroom to be disrupted and politicized by granting students permission to remain silent throughout an entire day.

Although I agree that politics and the classroom should be separated, it's kind of moronic to say that a classroom will be disrupted by silence...

These are the same people who want prayer in the schools and if they can't get that they fight for "a moment of silence".

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Although I agree that politics and the classroom should be separated, it's kind of moronic to say that a classroom will be disrupted by silence...

The lack of participation by the students is a disruption of the learning process. If a student is silent for the entirety of the day, and as a result fails to share an intelligent idea to the classroom, then the purpose of the school is being compromised. I see it no differently from pulling kids out of academic courses so they can go play football, and it's counter to the reason they're in a God damned classroom in the first place. And to top it off it's pretty fucking arrogant to insist on an entire day for the silly little ritual. Let anyone who gives a fuck have a moment of silence on their own time. Or an hour. Or the entire fucking day, as long as it's entirely on their own time. Classroom time is shared, and is theoretically set aside for academic pursuits. Fuck you hippy liberals.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

I'm inclined to agree with Jaro. While I support my children on any endeavor they so choose to participate in I still want them to make sure they're being respectful of those to whom respect is deserved, including their teachers. Blatantly ignoring a direct question based on principle in this case isn't acceptable in my mind. Now if the teacher had molested some student and the children were protesting since the teacher was still there or something then I could be all on board with that one.

I remember Christian students gathering around the flag pole to pray, before school hours, on specific days (hell if i can remember why at this point) but they did it respectfully, technically on their own time and they didn't disrupt anyone and as such they were certainly allowed to do so. Now had they walked out of school to do so because they weren't allowed then I could probably be on board with that, as I'm a supporter of freedom of speech, the same as if there'd been a racial riot and a bunch of students staged a walk out, then they'd be still be disrupting the classroom, make no mistake, but they'd be doing it on principle to prove a point that wasn't imposed upon them by the propaganda of a specific group for their own agenda.

[Klast Brell]

In my high school I could have gone for weeks at a time without speaking. If you didn't raise your hand you weren't called on.
People could have participated in the day of silence and none of the teachers would have noticed.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

In my high school I could have gone for weeks at a time without speaking. If you didn't raise your hand you weren't called on.
People could have participated in the day of silence and none of the teachers would have noticed.

Thats not totally the point though, there's a difference between being a quiet and unnoticed kid and everyone blatantly ignoring direct questions.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

Morals have left our education system and that is a sad thing.

[Partha]

Morals have left our education system and that is a sad thing.

You really think you're being serious here, I bet.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

Tell me Partha, what do you think were the fundamentals of education in our society when this country was founded? Can you highlight where (if at all) we have strayed from that?

I'm willing to bet you have no fucking clue.

[Embar Angylwrath]

This is where Partha will bring up another imaginary thread, with imaginary positions, and then blow a gasket that you and he don't share the same psychosis.

[Ddrak]

Tell me Partha, what do you think were the fundamentals of education in our society when this country was founded? Can you highlight where (if at all) we have strayed from that?

Uhhh, are you serious?

In the late 18th century (I'm assuming you meant that time frame, not the 1600s) there was no widespread education. If you were wealthy enough (ie didn't need to work for a living) you could effectively pay for private tuition. That's about it. If you were really wealthy you got to go to England, which had much better universities.

The education itself ranged from church focused schemes to completely secular ones.

Dd