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16 new of 293 responses total.
rcurl
response 278 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 21 18:02 UTC 2003

Re #275: I had the same problem with that episode. Such a metaphoric
language seemed extremely limited in ability to communicate. There are endless
situations for which a metaphor would not be available, for example, to
discuss metaphors. Would mathematics be possible? 

The news media are reporting polls showing a majority of those polled oppose
gay marriage and favor a Constitutional amendment to ban it. However the
"majority" is something like 55%, which is not enough (if translated into
congressional action and state voting) to adopt such an amendment.

It also strikes me that the purpose of the Constitution is to rein in the
passions of the majority, unless they are well seasoned over a
considerable period of time. The urge of a majority to amend the
constitution to resolve every controversy is antithetical to the nature of
a Constitution.

jp2
response 279 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 21 19:22 UTC 2003

This response has been erased.

gelinas
response 280 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 21 20:13 UTC 2003

Re 276:  How can you tell?  I'm not willing to give them the information they
asked for, so I won't be polled.
remmers
response 281 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 21 21:02 UTC 2003

Re #278:  Right, that kind of thing doesn't belong in the Constitution.

A few years ago I was asked by a couple of lesbian friends of mine to
sign a petition to add a "right of gays to marry" amendment to the
Constitution.  Although I support the concept of gay marriage, I
refused to sign, on the same grounds that I would oppose an
amendment forbidding such a right.
jmsaul
response 282 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 00:12 UTC 2003

Re #280:  If I find the link again, I'll post it, but someone was watching
          their poll and noticed the total number of votes going down over
          hours, with greater reductions in the votes for the "yes, gays
          should be allowed to marry" and "okay, as long as they call it
          something other than pweshious marriage" answers.
gelinas
response 283 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 01:35 UTC 2003

That's good enough.  Thanks, Joe.
gull
response 284 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 16:38 UTC 2003

Re resp:267: I think this is a problem with fundamentalism in general.

Re resp:278: As a friend of mine put it, this is an "oops, we 
accidentally gave too many rights to a minority" amendment.  I think 
putting such a thing in the Constitution is distasteful.  There aren't 
any current Amendments that *take rights away*.
mcnally
response 285 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 17:35 UTC 2003

  re #284:

  >  There aren't any current Amendments that *take rights away*.

  Not currently, no.  But of course the reason you needed to add
  that qualification is because of Prohibition, which should serve
  as a reminder to all of us that even the substantial barriers
  we have in place are no guarantee that poorly thought-out
  amendments won't make it into the Constitution.
jp2
response 286 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 18:31 UTC 2003

This response has been erased.

bru
response 287 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 20:10 UTC 2003

I sure hope that if we do end up with an ammendment prohibiting gay marriage,
that we do not end up with organized crime smuggling in homosexuals from
across the border...
twenex
response 288 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 20:26 UTC 2003

I hope if the US ends up with an amendment banning bigotry and general
right-wing stupidity they don't end up smuggling Tories from Canada.
mcnally
response 289 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 22:01 UTC 2003

  Watch me make bru's head spin..

  re #287:  that's right!  with benefits costs so much lower
  (because they're not allowed to have legally-recognized spouses
  or in many places to adopt children) employers will have a strong
  incentive to employ lower-cost homosexual workers and as a believer
  in unregulated market forces, you'll have to support their decision!
twenex
response 290 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 22:06 UTC 2003

Heh. Wondrous.
gelinas
response 291 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 22:09 UTC 2003

(I'd think you'd _want_ to get rid of some Tories, twenex. ;)
twenex
response 292 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 22:14 UTC 2003

I don't live inthe US or Canada, joe.
gelinas
response 293 of 293: Mark Unseen   Dec 22 22:30 UTC 2003

(I know.)
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