How does it affect your life?

It's a new year and that means it's time for new debates and new laws about old topics.

I have been a part of many internet debates about various topics. I believe I have explained before that I am pretty good at seeing other people's points of view, Therefore, I am usually pretty good at playing devil's advocate. There is a topic I have a hard time doing that with; and that topic is gay marriage.

I am not a religious person, but I know a fair amount about the major world religions. I have been to a variety of Christian churches. I spent a year in Catholic school and also worked for a Catholic retreat. I have participated in bible studies and have also studied many things on my own time.  I think religion is very interesting thing and it can be a wonderful thing. I personally believe faith is an amazing thing and often wish I could know how it feels to have such strong faith.

I have no major qualms with religion, I do, however, take issue with people at times. I do not understand how another human being loving someone of the same gender is detrimental to anyone. As long as the relationship is between two consenting adults, I see nothing wrong with it at all.  Like faith, I believe love is an amazing and beautiful thing.

I understand that in the bible we can read about how being homosexual is wrong. I also understand that the bible was written in a different time period. I even understand that there are many passages in the bible that instruct us to do or to not do things and we do not heed those passages. Many people claim that those passages which we do not follow today were meant for the time period... times have changed. Why is it that we must pick and choose?

I understand some people believe being homosexual is a choice. I can see why this would make sense on the surface.Two people of the same gender do not "fit together", it serves no biological purpose as we are supposed to procreate and it doesn't fit many long held beliefs on what love is and should be. However, if you dig deeper below the surface, we can see it doesn't truly make sense that it would be a choice. These days, being homosexual is more accepted, but, for a very long time it wasn't. Even today there are hate groups and hateful individuals who target those the believe to be gay with violence and cruelty. Why would someone choose to live a life where others treat you as a lesser being? Why choose to be fearful of revealing who you are? Wouldn't it just be easier to choose to live the life deemed to be the "norm"?

I do not believe being gay is a choice at all, but there are many who do. These people do not want to allow two people in love to marry. They do not want them afforded the same rights as those given to a partner of the opposite sex. Why? I hear people claim is will destroy the sanctity of marriage.  I hear people quote scripture. I hear people "remind" us that marriage is between one man and one woman.

Marriage is no longer a christian or even religious thing. It is a legal document stating that two people are now a family. It's a legal document giving kinship. It allows a partner to make critical decisions in dire situations. It allows ones partner to be covered under health insurance and it has some tax benefits. What does giving two people of the same gender do to you?

Divorce rates are high. Spousal abuse rates are high. Do these things not destroy the sanctity of marriage?

Let's pretend for a moment that being gay is a choice. Even then, how does two people who love one another who pay for a legal document to create kinship in the eyes of the law affect you? How does this hurt your well being or day to day life in any way?

There was a time when people of different races were not allowed to marry. We learned that was wrong. There are many inter-racial marriages now and it has not hurt any of us. Why is gay marriage so different in the eyes of some people?

I know that if someone is not "that way inclined"  it is hard to grasp wanting to be in a relationship with someone of the same sex. I know the very idea seems alien. I know some people feel disgusted by it and just plain don't like it, but, really, just because you can't fathom something doesn't mean everyone else is or should be feeling the same way as you. If you don't like it, why not just turn your head?

Homosexual behavior has been noted in almost all species. To me this proves it is more natural than some would like to believe. I also believe this shows that homosexuality serves a purpose and is part of our existence whether some like it or not.

The bottom line is a human being is a human being. We should treat eachother as we would want to be treated. You will never like everyone you meet, just as not everyone you meet will like you, however dislike should not cross the line to hatred and desire to hurt another human.

Gun Control Freak Out

After the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook elementary in CT, it seems every one is up in arms about gun control in this country. I want to say first and foremost that what happened at that school is beyond comprehension. Even with mental illness, very few would think to take the lives of children like that. It's something that will never be completely understood. At first it seemed that the shooter may have done it out of some bizarre jealousy regarding his mother, but as reports have shown, she wasn't even on staff at that school.

Onto gun control. I enjoy target shooting. I do not currently own any guns have not been target shooting in quite some time.  I would like to eventually own a gun and start target shooting again. So, as you can see, I am not anti-gun.

I have noticed some gun advocates want everyone armed and some anti-gun groups want all guns banned. Honestly, neither one of these extreme ideas will work. Look up the shooting on that military base not long ago, or at the police station in NJ that was even more recent. In both places, there were people who had access to guns and knew how to use them. In both places, people lost their lives and not one of the people who were around the victims shot the perp. People freeze, they panic, most people respond with flight instead of fight in these situations. There is also the risk that if there are a lot of "fight" oriented people that bullets will fly recklessly. Honestly, there are not many people who are a good shot without lining up their sites.

On the opposite side, banning all guns won't stop guns from being used. We already have an incredible number of guns coming into this country illegal, imagine what would happen with a full ban? This would cause far more problems than we already have. It would be a disaster.

Between both groups, I have also noticed a misconception that gun control means banning guns. That is not what it means. No one is going to come in and take your rifle, shotgun or handgun. Gun control means better background checks, and  restrictions on who can own a gun. It also means working out a plan to have better control on the weapons that come into this country. It also carries the possibility of a type of ban over assault weapons.

I agree with better background checks, psych checks and drug tests to buy a gun. I also agree with developing a plan to have better control over the weapons that come into this country. To an extent, I even agree with a type of ban on assault weapons. One does not use an AK for target practice or hunting, these weapons are designed to kill.  There should only be select people who are allowed to own one.

The biggest thing this country needs to do is to look into why we have more murders and specifically more mass murders of these type compared to other first would countries. Why are we flying off the handle, why are we killing eachother? Is there a higher incidence of mental illness here? If so, why?  Is it something to do with our culture? What is going on?

If anyone happens to read my blog, please feel to leave your thoughts.  I only ask that you are respectful and refrain from name calling. This is topic many people have strong opinions on. If someone can back up their opinion in a respectful manner, you can respond in the same respectful way.