Proposing A Celebration

Jorge Borges is a writer whom I have enjoyed for many years, and I will occasionally include in this blog a few posts about some of his gems and their influence in my life. But today I want to write about one particular cacophony (see the quote heading this blog) that I've been thinking about lately which would benefit from some clarity: the debate regarding "gay marriage." I am against it, and I'm detailing here a few concrete arguments why:

• There are people in this world who classify, by some random metric, as "kleptomaniacs." These are perfectly wonderful people, who have desires, for whatever reason, to steal without rational motivations: it's just a drive they feel and it's not their fault. We as a society continue to love these people, while not condoning this behavior. And we do wonderful things to help encourage these people to make right actions regardless of their desires. I have friends who classify themselves as homosexual, yet they chose not to act on their desires -- and as a consequence, I have tremendous respect for them. Everyone on earth struggles to resist some natural desires they have, and it is a very important part of life. I applaud all efforts to chose right in spite of our desires, by anyone and everyone, regardless of the specific personal flavor these desires may take.
• Regardless of our personal beliefs, all people (with only a few exceptions) share a belief of sorts in a notion of "loving other people." This includes me having love for my father. Just because I "love" someone does not mean that it is right to express that love in sexual ways. And me not being able to have sex with someone does not in any way restrict my ability to "love" them. If I have testicular cancer does that reduce my ability to love my wife? or my parents? or my children? No. Sex is not a pre-requisite for love, even the purest forms of it.
• "Marriage" has historically, until the last portion of a century or so, been all about seeking sanction on a union from some sort of religious figure. Why on earth would an atheist want to get married in the first place? that's hypocritical. The only gay people concerned about being married are people who believe in some sort of a God character, while simultaneously believing that this character condones sexual deviance.  Now, in the recent years of our civilizations, there have been confounding issues of various things being tied to "marriage" which are unfortunate, including the "marriage tax," insurance programs, etc.  This is unfortunate and is an issue that should be addressed without discrimination.  But that does not mean marriage should be sullied, it means we should fix this other problems other ways.
• If you want to play the civil rights card, then let's play it: marriage is not a right, it never has been; it has always been restricted by a fair variety of laws in this country and others. Civil rights have always been, and always should be, properly countered by the state insomuch as you shall not be allowed to take actions harming others or reducing their rights. The children on this planet have a right to be raised in a home that is not sullied by physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual deviancy, etc. Therefore the civil rights card actually says we should not have gay marriages, because gay marriage infringes on the rights of other people. And not having gay marriage does not reduce anyone's rights: marriage was never a right in the first place, to anyone.
  

Everyone on earth has struggles with various tendencies and desires that are best not acted upon. What's the right thing to do about the gay marriage issue? I think we should have a designated International Celebrate Self Control Day, in celebration of every individual who chooses to be more than their tendencies, whatever the flavor. Be more than your tendencies, and celebrate the strides of everyone in their personal endeavors. Everyone struggles, except those who have given up. Don't give up.

I am trying hard to not give up.