Posted by Don Wallace on January 18, 19101 at 10:21:03:
In Reply to: Make it legal posted by Jan-Albert Hootsen on January 16, 19101 at 17:46:28:
While you are right that the US tends to be more
conservative than Europe on such issues, you give
the impression that same-sex marriage is a
fait accompli. The route taken by France, however,
is somewhat different and closer to what I
suggested in another post. The new French law
does not use the word "marriage" in connection
with same-sex couples but it does grant the same
civil rights to such couples (as it does to
many other domestic partnerships).
There are a number of different ways to approach
this issue. It is not simply a matter of
homosexuals vs homophobes. There are many people
who have no objection whatsoever to homosexual
couples but who also want to maintain the
unique status of male-female unions. Not only
do I think that this is right way to go morally,
it is also the most politically shrewd way
because I think it will unite a great many
people on this issue rather than setting
up battle lines.
Don Wallace
: As a citizien of the Netherlands I'm quite used to a marriage between two people of the same. I think it's totally acceptable, off course, because I too think that two people should be able to live the way they want to and love eachother the way they want to. Homosexual marriage is since last year fully legalized in the Netherlands, and several other European countries are expected to follow this example too.
: Off course, there is a difference between Europe and the US. Overall, the United States is a bit more conservative than Western Europe. This is mostly because of religion, which plays a more important role in the US.
: Overall, I strongly agree with those supporting homosexual marriage. At this time one might look at it as a bit odd, but trust me, within fifty years it will be fully accepted and considered just as normal as heterosexual mariage, whether it is in Europe or in the US.