Gay Marriage - A Perspective!

I offer this perspective to share my view of this issue and possibly open your mind to a different analytical channel... not to argue a point.

(HARRISVILLE, N.H.) - Let us say you have a son or daughter who you perceive as a good person. They received a good education, work hard at a job, and respect the rights of others. They are a peace loving and kind person. Now suppose that child comes home one day and says to you “Dad (or Mom) I’m gay”.

At this point, we must examine what has changed. The son or daughter is still the same educated, hard-working, respectful, loving, and kind person they were 10 mins. ago. The only thing that has changed is that you now know one more fact about that individual. That fact is that their sexual preference is different from yours.

Nothing else has changed. My guess is that if you were to say to the individual in question, “I just don’t understand it”, their response would be “I know... I don’t understand it either”. Scientists have tried to pin-down what makes one individual heterosexual and another homosexual and there are as many theories as there are scientists.

To me, the important thing to remember is that whatever is behind personal sexual preference does not make any individual a good or a bad person. Being homosexual no more makes an individual a sexual predator than being heterosexual does. I find it hard to believe that a sane person would love their child less if they suddenly found out that child was gay.

Now on to the question of gay marriage - When any two people love each other enough, it is reasonable and normal for them to want to spend the rest of their lives together. No one wants to grow old alone and everyone wants to share the good times with someone they love. We must remember that society establishes norms and then establishes laws to accommodate those norms. Is the majority of society heterosexual? As far as we know, the answer is yes. Does this mean that our laws should continue to exclude, ostracize, slight, or shun the minority? I believe we have come too far to accept that as right and proper!

I do not address this issue from a religious perspective and I certainly support the right of any individual to view this issue based on the teachings of their religion. Personally, I cannot do that and would not do that. Common sense tells me that a loving God... a God who created all things, would not have created anything that was an abomination in His (or Her) eyes. I personally believe that everything God does is done perfectly.

We may not understand the reasoning behind it but then we cannot understand perfection and the reason may be beyond our comprehension. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone has their own reasoning that they base that opinion on. I do not have to agree with something to respect an individual’s rights or feelings and hopefully, neither do you.

We tend to have an unnatural fear of that which we do not know and/or do not understand. Fear is a stumbling-block to change, to progress, and to stability. As usual, this piece represents only my opinion and is based on my perception, as no scientific fact exists (that I am aware of) to define what causes sexual preference to differ between straight and gay individuals.

I offer this perspective to share my view of this issue and possibly open your mind to a different analytical channel... not to argue a point.

Writer Robert Collinsworth is an American who isn't hesitant to talk about the good side of his country, and that is a welcome thing in this day and age. Salem-News.com admittedly, is very critical of both American politics, as well as those of other nations that we perceive is being wrong in their motives and actions. At the same time, within these structures we criticize, are many outstanding people who make each day a better place for all those around them. They embody and personify the American spirit that is sometimes fleeting, but always present. These are some of the things Robert takes into account when writing commentary that is designed reach people, to "get them thinking" in his words, and indeed it does. Salem-News.com's goal is for all people to be on the same page, we appreciate Bob's more conservative approach toward that same goal."

You can write to Bob Collingsworth at this email address: colli2@webryders.net