TheBanyanTree: A Question of Comittment

[Sharon Mack]

I am so with you Theta (and Pam).  I cannot understand any of this.  One
of my best friends (he eventually moved to Key West and I still miss
him) is gay and he lived with us for a while when he was here.  He was
the most wonderful person I have ever known and I would hate to think
that he could never "marry" someone that he loves.  How could I deny him
that???  How can I deny anyone that???  Who am I to say someone.....
anyone.... can or they can't???  It is THEIR personal decision within
their relationships just as it is mine.

And your right Theta, that the world could take a lesson from this
"Tree" would render it a much better place.  It is a shining example of
how it could be if we all relaxed and loved and respected one another
and the differences that make us who we are.

God bless you all and I am so thankful that I have found this place!

Sharon
>>> Theta <theta at garlic.com> 11/4/2004 10:38:42 AM >>>
At 08:05 PM 11/3/2004 -0500, Pam wrote:

>How can *I*, a mostly conservative voter, judge other unions of
"same-sex" 
>individuals - unions that involve two people who are COMMITTED to each

>other - how can *I* judge them as wrong??

That's a good question.  I don't get that whole issue.  How does any 
committed relationship somehow damage the whole institution of
committed 
relationships just because the mix is different?  We have a number of 
friends and neighbors who are in life-long, committed relationships and
who 
happen to be gay.  They don't make me feel any less married.  I just
don't 
get it.

There was a funny moment on the tv show West Wing last night where a 
congressman announced that he was proposing a bill to abolish marriage

altogether.  The government would not be in any way involved in
marriages, 
and if people wanted to be married, it would be up to churches and
casinos 
to perform the service.

>Somehow, I personally don't feel myself in a position to judge
anybody, 
>anywhere.

Ah, that's the key.  If a lot more of us were unwilling to judge
others, 
life would be more gentle all around.  That's one of things I treasure

about this space - we try really hard to treasure the other members of
the 
Tree for their differences rather than judge them.

Theta