major sparks wrote:That definition in this nation is made by the will of the people voting their conscience through state and local governance. It is my opinion that it remains there. There are many "gray" areas when it comes to defining marriage. It would be impossible to enforce a federal definition on over 300 million people without forcing reasonable definitions of 10's of millions to be stifled. It is my opinion that they be left to the states and the people to decide. As the constitution directs.
Lets not forget FairwoodKing & Isadore, if the federal government's law trumped the states, there would be no place where same sex marriages would be recognized. A large majority of the states reject that definition as well as the feds. Some definition of marriage will be made by some level of governance. It is unavoidable. Otherwise we will have anarchy in marriage.
Any yes in this country it will be determined by the moral compass of the people. At all levels of governance.
major sparks wrote:I think his point is to the reality of a situation in his opinion. There is a time and season for everything. There is a time for peace and a time for war. What good does it do for your cause to die on the hill of futility? Maybe by some small chance you become a martyr for your cause. Very small maybe. There is a time to "lay low" and a time to fight. A wise and frugal fighter is quite aware of these principles. He knows when to speak and when to be silent. He knows when to tear down and when to build.
Wise judgments of these principles are of great value to any pursuit in life. Once you get out of school and head into the "real" world you will come to the full realization of the wisdom of these principles. There is a time to stand up and a time to sit down. Your personal judgment on what to do and when, will define your success or failure. I am not saying you violate your moral compass. Just be wise and evaluate the bigger picture. In the end maybe you determine you see a need to die on a hill. No matter the futility.
One of my favorite songs. By the Byrds. Priciples taken from the book of Ecclesiastes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LSTc...ext=1&index=10
The voting conscience of the people as through their state and local government. Their conscience in Ohio voted to deny blacks and women suffrage and gays the right to marry or even have civil union. Now that is a conscience suffering from racism, misanthrope and homophobia. Not something to admired, praised and placed on a pedestal. Yes and of course several states have not seen gray areas on the issue of marriage, just black and white. Those two could not mix, these states with their great consciences would not allow blacks and whites to marry, an example of enlightened state opinion. Of course they federal supreme court forced its definition of marriage on tens of millions of bigots who controlled southern state governments to your obvious dismay.
At present the federal government is moving toward a more enlightened view toward homosexuality with the repeal of the don’t ask, don’t tell policy. Without federal efforts homophobic state governments will be preventing gay marriage well into the 22nd century. Thank God for the Full faith and Credit clause, equal protection clause and substantive due process.
Wow! “Time to stay low,” something anyone needs to deal with the states. Wells that is your great state governments in action. As the Byrd might sing. A time to deny the right to marry” which never ends until the federal government forces them. As it was the denying blacks a proper education, denying them access to public accomodation, allowing them access legal system, the right vote, serve on juries. People waiting nearly hundred years after the 14th Amendment passed to get their state governments to allow them to exercise their basic rights. People like you telling them to stay low and wait their time. \We would not want to interfere with states rights. Finally it is the federal government that comes to their rescue from these atrocities. States rights is crap. The large majority of the states were created by the federal government with its rules and with it setting up their boundaries and approving their constitutions. The rest created by a king, the colonists his subjects who identified themselves as Englishmen and women through almost all the colonial period.
