On 3/12/06, Jim Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Of course they are. More than that they're religiously based. But of > course they date to times when our governmental and religious leaders were > the same people. > > They persist today through nothing more than tradition.
They exist because alot of the leaders and alot of society still think the government should be allowed to control what people do based on their own personal morals and religious viewpoints. It's all about social norms and it doesn't really matter what shapes those norms, whether it be religion or other forces. For example, legal age of consent is a fairly recent law. In many societies in the recent past (and present actually), it was/is perfectly acceptable for someone to be married at the age of 13. I don't think that's ok in the USA, and you likely don't either, but that's because it's an overwhelmingly prevalent social norm. WAY moreso than drinking, homosexuality, an so many other issues. Gay marriage really isn't black and white at all when so much of the nation thinks it's wrong. It's about changing people's viewpoints over time and not about legislating it. You can make it legal all you want, but until people are convinced it's not the downfall of western civilization, it's going to be an issue and going to be a battle, legal or not. -Cameron ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:199702 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
