I Wish I Were More Eloquent

I have friend's who are much more eloquent than I am.  They are able to write beautiful and illuminating treatises on any given topic.  I hope that in this post I am able to get across just a part of my belief on the issue, and have it make sense.


I try to keep my "Life Me" separate from my "Politics Self"  But sometimes, my "Politics Self" suffocates my "Life Me" and things get messy.  It's when things get messy that things get uncomfortable, thus I do my best to keep the two as distinct and separate as possible.  But there are moments in which the two collide.  This happened on Sunday, during Conference, because of a talk by President Packer.  A lot has been said; deep wounds are being reopened by both sides, and it's very unpleasant.  Contention makes me very uncomfortable and I pretty much shut down and no longer want to participate- which is why I'd make a horrible television pundit.  


Moving on.  I find it necessary to make my opinion known on the issue.  I am not well versed in biology or psychology, so I can't approach the issue scientifically.  I'm also not learned enough to approach the topic theologically.  So for me, the issue of gay marriage becomes a political one.  


The recent spike in gay suicides saddens me deeply.  I think it's terribly sad that we live in a world where people are harassed and bullied for being who they are.  But we must be careful in making false equivalences.  President Packer's comments are nowhere close to the level of hate-speech found in the Westboro Baptist Church. Not that it justifies President Packer's comments, I'm just giving it some perspective.  


Personally, I don't find any of the arguments against gay marriage all that convincing, or at all for that matter.  This is because I don't think morality and religion should be invoked when it comes to policy.  I've yet to hear one case made for legally prohibiting gay marriage.  It has even been suggested that same-sex marriage is an American value and that by prohibiting it, we infringe on the freedom of others.  


What is it to me if two men or two women wish to enter into marriage?  It doesn't affect me.  It doesn't harm me.  I believe that people, no matter their race, religion, sex, etc. should not have their freedom restricted.  


I believe that the family is central to God's plan for his children. And I believe that marriage between a man and a woman is also sacred.  I believe that that marriage is necessary for eternal progression, but I cannot fathom how marriage between two men or two women is harmful to heterosexual marriage.  To me, gay marriage is so minimal a threat in comparison to divorce and infidelity.  To me, lusting in one's heart after another person, man or woman, after promising a spouse to be faithful to them only, is the greater threat.  


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been behind in the times when it comes to civil rights, but that does not mean its members have to be.  The Church will probably never change its position on gay marriage, and that's the Church's prerogative.  I for one, however, support the right to marriage for all.