Is gay marriage really that serious?

Vernon Robinson (see the post three above mine) was a City Council member in my town before voters rejected him for being too conservative. Not seeing the handwriting on the wall, he's now going to try to ride the fundamentalist "Christian" wave to Congress.

Yes, he's another in a long line of crazy conservative politicians from NC. And yes, though it's depressing to acknowledge, he'll probably get elected -- due to those people who (as Sorcerer said above) "hate what they fear and fear what they don't understand."

Longtime lurker (3+ years), first post, felt compelled to speak. Trying to speak out more and more. Good discussion.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller

In case you all have not noticed, the Republican'ts/Bush never met a personal freedom they did not consider a direct threat to their power, it is the primary reason I got my Irish/EU passport. We are past the point of no return when it comes to the constitution and facism. Gay marriage is just the tip of the iceburg, as a gay man it is critical to me, but as an American first I have far bigger things to worry about, like getting the hell out while I can.

Thanks for the quote, ruinean. You are right, the current crop of neo-cons DO view "personal rights, liberties, and freedoms for citizens" as a direct threat and hurdle to their own agendas. The interesting part is, they will absolutely refuse to explain precisely how some things that they call "threats" or "dangers" are actually threatening or dangerous. Period. You just gotta be a good sheep, and do as you are told. Or else you are a threat.

Hmm, that's the third Independent Thought Alarm today...
---Principal Seymour Skinner