Stage set for possible showdown on gay marriage

[RACooper]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I could, I know how liberals hate opposition. You'd much rather everything be from your slant. Ironic then, that people on this site are open-minded, unless of course, you have an opinion like mine. By the way, Moveon.org called, and they want their talking points back.

To bad I'm not a Liberal (party or platform), but rather a Conservative - and I for one support Gay Marriage (and will continue to if Bush's sock puppet challenges it in Parliament).

We went through the arguement up here a few years back, and we pretty much heard it all in the arguement for and against... the Liberals argued Civil & Human Rights, while Harper and co. argued "God & the Bible" ~ needless to say the "conservative" platform lost because the fundies kept shooting themselves in the foot, while the Liberals fell back on the rule of law.

Well suffice to say, Canada hasn't been plunged into hellfire and the heavens haven't rained brimstone down on us... in fact everything is pretty much the same as before except in the minds of the far right up here. I don't know, I guess it's because there are a hell of lot more important issues in the world than stopping two people who love each other from getting married...

[shinerbock]

Well for one, I don't think putting academia and rationality in the same group is wise. What do you consider to be traditionally conservative? It obviously isn't George W. Bush, and I agree. By your reasoning it obviously isn't Bush Sr. or Reagan either. So how far back do we need to go to achieve what you consider to be true conservatism? Additionally, how are the neo-cons destroying the traditions of America? By attempting to preserve marriage? By protecting the right to bear arms and to worship freely? I believe that the marriage and flag burning issues are mostly to rally the troops and discourage the opposition, just as the left often does on issues involving gun control or seperation of church and state. Those issues are generally only of the highest concern within the very extremes of both parties. However, both parties use them as battle cries, and to strike blows against their most dedicated opposition. For the liberals, they go after the Christian right and southern voters, while the right often aims for academia. This being said, I remain opposed to gay marriage, but I don't think it is among the most important issues facing America.

[shinerbock]

As a follow up to your second section of that post, you're right there are more important things. However, I don't think comments that "Canada is just fine" are very reassuring. We are very distinct countries, and I think we value things differently.