I'm with most of the people probably reading this in finding such a statement delusional. But...
Gay marriage will undermine marriage, the institution upon which our society rests.
Given some understanding of variant cultural assumptions, this statement is perfectly logical, and (from the speaker's point of view) true.
"our society" - By this he really means the subset of society which he participates/identifies with. There is also a connotation that this sub-society is "right", and its values should be adopted by the wider society at large. Societies are defined (at least in part) by their social institutions, and if those institutions change, you end up with a different society.
Marriage certainly is an important social institution. That's *why* gay people (and their friends) want to change it. Without gay marriage, gay people are more stigmatized, and also more likely to attempt to at least ape the outward appearance of conformity by marrying opposite gender people (no matter how unhappy this makes them). While we here decry such occurrences, to a social conservative, they are *positive* outcomes.
Make no mistake, I don't *agree* with the agenda of these social conservatives. But I think that the liberal political position is weakened by treating that position as deluded nonsense. We *are* threatening their way of life, in a very real way. We shouldn't be surprised when they react defensively.
no subject
I'm with most of the people probably reading this in finding such a statement delusional. But...
Gay marriage will undermine marriage, the institution upon which our society rests.
Given some understanding of variant cultural assumptions, this statement is perfectly logical, and (from the speaker's point of view) true.
"our society" - By this he really means the subset of society which he participates/identifies with. There is also a connotation that this sub-society is "right", and its values should be adopted by the wider society at large. Societies are defined (at least in part) by their social institutions, and if those institutions change, you end up with a different society.
Marriage certainly is an important social institution. That's *why* gay people (and their friends) want to change it. Without gay marriage, gay people are more stigmatized, and also more likely to attempt to at least ape the outward appearance of conformity by marrying opposite gender people (no matter how unhappy this makes them). While we here decry such occurrences, to a social conservative, they are *positive* outcomes.
Make no mistake, I don't *agree* with the agenda of these social conservatives. But I think that the liberal political position is weakened by treating that position as deluded nonsense. We *are* threatening their way of life, in a very real way. We shouldn't be surprised when they react defensively.