Facebook stalker & gay marriage, Pt. II

Now you've read her initial message to me. Here is my response.

Ok… let me see if I can point out the fallacies of this argument. I feel like I’ve explained them before but you still fail to see the irrational basis on which these types of claims are based.

The first example. These two brothers want to get married “for the financial benefits.” So, is the argument that people will want to get married just for financial benefits or that incest could become legal? Well, let’s argue both.
I don’t really care if two people want to get married just for the financial benefits or other legal benefits. In fact, it happens all across this country now. Only these involve opposite-sex couples so people do not question the motives. So if you’re (or AFA is) opposed to this examples because the two men are taking advantage of the system, then you’re talking about reforming the whole marriage system. Plenty of people today get married to offer citizenship to non-citizens, provide health insurance benefits to friends that need medical attention, etc…
The incest argument. If you want to get real for a moment, Alabama actually allows incest. Cousins can get married in the State of Alabama along with about 18 other states in the U.S. The reason incest, such as siblings or parental relationships, is because we know that incestuous relationships can actually be harmful to people. Offspring of incestuous relationships often have children with severe mental and physical deformities. Those relationships are proven to be detrimental to society.

The second example. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say because... you just seem intent on not hearing and understanding this: bisexuals do not necessarily want to be with multiple people at one time. Just because a woman is bisexual does not mean she wants to be married to both a woman and man at same time, two other men at same time, or two other women at same time. Again, these relationships- polygamous relationships- are harmful to society. I’m sure there are studies that have shown that children face detriment because of polygamous relationships.
Let’s look at this another way, too. There are actually polygamous couples in this country, particularly Fundamentalist Mormon groups. Their religious beliefs teach that polygamy is acceptable and should be practiced. IF marriage is religious, then they should be allowed to practice their polygamous relationships because that’s how they practice their faith- and we are guaranteed the right to practice our faith in any way we choose, thanks to the 1st Amendment.

The third example. I’m sorry...but that one is just ridiculous. Let’s suppose that someone with Disasociative Identity Disorder (multiple personality disorder) presents themselves as personality A and personality A wants to marry personality B. Well, let’s think about this. At it’s basic, civil root, marriage is a contract between two people. It is a legal piece of paper that requires certain legal standing between two individuals. In someone with DID, there is only one personality (their true personality) that is a legal person. That person has a birth certificate and a social security number. They can’t create a new “person” and that “person” have legal standing.

I know you’re a fan of AFA and other conservative organizations that are opposed to equal rights for gays and lesbians, but you really do need to expand your pools of knowledge and the places/site you find your sources. Look at other sites and see their arguments. Look, read, understand the other side. Understand the arguments for and against same-sex marriage and look at them logically.

If you keep up with the fight for/against same-sex marriage then you should know that the last few weeks Prop 8 in California went before a Federal court. Experts from all sorts of fields, with years of experience doing research related to same-sex couples and marriage, parenting, etc., testified. Experts testified over and over again that research (research with validity and reliability) shows that same-sex marriage has not hurt marriage in any way. Opposite-sex couples still get married as they did before gay couples could marry in countries and in states where it’s legal. Children of same-sex couples are just as well adjusted as children of opposite sex couples. Even the “experts” for the side against gay marriage said that marriage would be beneficial to the gay couples and their children.

Sweden is not an appropriate place to refer when talking about same-sex marriage because it just became legal in May 2009. That is not even a whole year to the beginning of gay marriage. Yes, Sweden has a low marriage rate but it’s part of an overall trend that started way before same-sex couples could marry. ...you of all people should know that culture is different in each country and we cannot assume our cultural values are the same as another country. In all of Europe, marriage has been in decline for years. It started before same-sex couples were ever allowed to marry and will continue.

Now, let’s go back to the polygamous and incest and how these groups will be arguing for marriage as soon as same-sex couples are allowed to marry. This has not happened in Massachussettes where gay marriage has been legal for 6 years now. It hasn’t happened in other states where same-sex couples are allowed to marry. What makes one think that suddenly it would become popular when it hasn’t been a factor before?

Honestly, I keep telling you these facts over and over again and yet you find more information- or emails- with unfounded information and beliefs and try to present it as fact. I know that you’re smart or else you wouldn’t have graduated college. Please look at the other side to this argument. Look at the info without any bias. Do not go into it looking for info to fit your belief or mine. Just go into without any preconceived notions. Look at SCHOLARLY articles and not just opinions that Maggie Gallagher has thrown out there.