Canada shelves Gay marriage legislation.

[Ben Kenobi]

You're damn right that we outlaw that ****.

I agree. But it's still up to the society to decide. Canadians have not had their chance to have their say.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
It's not the sole reason, but an important part of marriage.

Is it or is it not a critical part of marriage?

If it is, why are we not forcing all couples that can to have kids if married?

If it isn't, why is this an issue regarding gay marriages?

You've got two paths to take here, and each of them lead you off a cliff.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
I agree. But it's still up to the society to decide. Canadians have not had their chance to have their say.

What would happen if outlawing slavery in the south was up to a vote?

What would happen if women's suffrage was up to a vote?

What would happen to desegregation if it was up to a vote?

Majority support doesn't work well for protecting the rights of a minority, particularly one at odds with the majority of religions.

[Ben Kenobi]

Is it or is it not a critical part of marriage?

Intent to procreate, yes. Actual result, no.

If it is, why are we not forcing all couples that can to have kids if married?

Intent, not result is the important issue.

If it isn't, why is this an issue regarding gay marriages?

No desire to procreate.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


Where do I say that?

I want this put to a referendum. Society should have the right to determine civil marriage, rather than any one particular denomination.

Right there, Einstein. You want you and yours to have a vote so that you can continue to enforce your own morality on everyone else and their churches.

[Ben Kenobi]

want you and yours

My people are all of Canada? Sure, they should have a say.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Intent to procreate, yes. Actual result, no.

Intent, not result is the important issue.

No desire to procreate.

Why is desire to procreate a critical aspect of marriage?

Is there a population shortage that I'm not aware of?

Why do we not make sure married couples have a desire to have kids when they marry? We have several family friends that are merely husband and wife with no desire for children. Should they be forced to be divorced?

[Ben Kenobi]

Why is desire to procreate a critical aspect of marriage?

It sifts out the loves. I can love my grandmother, but it doesn't mean I want to have children with her. If I want to have children with someone, then I marry her. If I care about someone, but do not want children, I stay friends with her.

As for your example, why did they choose not to have children? Did one of them have a congenital defect?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


I agree. But it's still up to the society to decide. Canadians have not had their chance to have their say.

We didn't have a direct say on polygamy either. Nor on female sufferage. Nor going to war in 1914, nor 1939. Nor, nor, nor...

We did have a say in the government that ammended the Canadian Human Rights Act in 1985.

PURPOSE OF ACT

Purpose
2. The purpose of this Act is to extend the laws in Canada to give effect, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, to the principle that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted.

[Ben Kenobi]

We did have a say in the government that ammended the Canadian Human Rights Act in 1985.

We had a referendum in Quebec, in 1985, but I don't believe we had one on the Human Rights act.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


My people are all of Canada? Sure, they should have a say.

Dance, dance, dance.

How and why do you and yours own a monopoly on the definition of marriage?

This an issue for the two people in the ceremony, the church they are standing in, the clergman who is performing the ceremony, and God or whatever divinity they wish to relate to.

How exactly is it your concern if neither you nor your church is involved?

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
We had a referendum in Quebec, in 1985, but I don't believe we had one on the Human Rights act.

You keep repeating referendum as if it is some assurance for your cause. How are you certain that the people of Canada will agree with you, and if they did, would you want to live in a country where the mob ruled the clergy?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
It sifts out the loves. I can love my grandmother, but it doesn't mean I want to have children with her. If I want to have children with someone, then I marry her. If I care about someone, but do not want children, I stay friends with her.

The problem here is you assume too much of people. Why is it not enough to just love, honour, and comfort them, through sickness and health, til death do you part?

Not everybody wants children. Not everybody is capable of having children. Children are a frequent consequence of marriage, but they are not critical.

Marriage is simply two people who love eachother and want to be partners for life. Children are not required, and to argue that they are is a tad bit absurd.

As for your example, why did they choose not to have children? Did one of them have a congenital defect?

They just don't want children. Not everybody is like you, you know.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
We had a referendum in Quebec, in 1985, but I don't believe we had one on the Human Rights act.

We elected the Parliament that ammended the act. Or is our system of government that hard to understand for you?

[Asher]

For the record, what I think should happen is marriage should be removed completely from the law, replaced with domestic partnerships.

Marriages can be performed by the churches that wish to, and those heterosexual couples and homosexual couples alike can obtain a domestic partnership certificate instead.

What would you say to that, Ben?