BK meaning “grilled, not fried”. I made the mistake of fondling my grill tonight and will now proceed to type with two fewer fingers. So since I’m not in an overly good mood, nor feeling entirely creative, I’ll try one of them there Monday Missions…. warning, opinion ahead … if you don’t like controversy, steer clear – you’ve been warned..
1. What do you do to make things better when you feel sad and/or lonely? Good question – I was a pretty early adopter of the net and used to find it was great to chat with folks I didn’t know well online. Nowadays, I’m more likely to grab the guitar and play away for a couple hours. Either that or watch some TV or a DVD. I find playing songs relaxing.
2. Are you a “touchy-feely” person? That is, do you like to touch people you don’t know that well? And on the flipside of that, do you like being touched by someone you aren’t close with? I am NOT a touchy-feely person. Public displays of affection are a nuisance.
3. Do you like to have “me” time, time to yourself to be alone and relax? Or do you prefer to just do your own thing with someone else in the room? When was the last “me” time you got and what did you do? Me time rules – I love it. If I didn’t this would be a hard life because Mar is constantly at work or on the road. Fortunately I’m a loner and adore “me” time. The last “me” time I got was all of last week – and I played Extreme’s three part “Everything Under the Sun” over and over and over.
4. Generally speaking, how do you feel about the concept of marriage? Are you the marrying type? Do you think the act of getting married means something today or is it simply just “a piece of paper?” Love marriage, although many thought I wasn’t the marrying type. I found me a keeper so it’s all good as we close in on two years. Marrying certainly means something, if you’re doing it for the right reasons.
5. What are your thoughts on the banning of same-sex marriages? At risk of upsetting any viewership, I’ll phrase it like this. Marriage is a Christian institution, and the Christian Bible makes it quite clear that it doesn’t approve of same-sex relationships. So while it’s not my place to approve or disapprove of it, the concept of people wanting “a piece of paper” from a religious group that doesn’t accept their lifestyle has always been lost on me. I believe everyone should be able to live how they want, but they shouldn’t be able to force belief on others – that goes for both sides. My confrontational side is interested in everyone else’s thoughts – post comments!
6. If there was one law you had the ability to create or change, what would it be? I don’t believe in the death penalty. Ever. So if the previous question didn’t make you hate me, this one should just about do it. :)
7. What would you like someone visiting your Blog for the first time to know about you? Now is your chance! You think you know him already – but you don’t. Every thing I type here is giving you enough of a glimpse at me that you can begin formulating opinion. A lot of it will be wrong. It’s like me telling you a story about walking my dog to the park and throwing a stick at him. He catches it, brings it back, and we head home. Now, you’ve never seen my dog, but you already think you know what he looks like…
Cheers!
Yo Rick.
Cool insight. However, I belive the concept of “marriage” predates Christianity by hundreds of years.
I like your one law change. I’m against the death penalty also. Many people deserve it (Bernardo, Avila) but I also believe that state-approved murder is still that – murder. To me it is almost more befitting to have the person spend the rest of their lives in jail (even at a cost to the taxpayer). People dont realize the cost to send somebody to the electric chair (after all appeals it’s usually around $100,000).
Good post.
Clive
OOOHHH! Controversial subject! What follows is just my personal opinion, nothing more.
Marriage is an institution which is practiced throughout the world, in every religion and culture. It is also entered into by people in secular society who affiliate themselves with no religion at all. It is not the private domain of any one faith, and occurs in a vast number of colourful incarnations.
The question at hand asked “What are your thoughts about *BANNING* same-sex marriages?” Far beyond certain religions disallowing same-sex marriages in their own communities, an across-the-board ban would be inflicting the rules set by one religion upon everyone, regardless of their faith. If same-sex marriages are banned due to the teachings of one faith, we may as well also ban anyone in our society from enjoying pork, alcohol, gambling, blood transfusions, certain foods at certain times of the year, and any sort of work on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday because each is against the teachings of one or more religions in our society.
Saying “This house of worship does not perform same-sex marriages because my religion forbids it” is an option available to be exercised by religious leaders.
Saying “All same-sex marriages must be banned because my religion forbids it, whether the people in question practice my religion or not” is no option at all.
Again, just my personal opinion. No-one is required to agree with it. Let the flaming begin!
Kip
Yo Kip, touche.
Cheers,
Clive
wow, intelligent debate on rickjessup.com! :) i wouldn’t have an issue with same-sex marriages as long as they are done in a way that don’t deny the rights of others. this means i think same-sex marriages should be banned in christian churches that do not condone homosexuality. however, i also believe there needs to be some level of separation between the church and government, and if the government wants to run a non-religious marriage service for same-sex couples i have absolutely no problem with it at all. i just find far too many instances where we infringe on the rights of the masses to appease the few. can a couple in canada or the united states become ‘legally married’ without church involvement? this is a serious question..
-R.
Hooray for intelligent discussion!!
Nyuk Nyuk.
k
sorry, back to the serious question.
Yes, a couple in Canada or the USA can become legally married without church involvement. Mosques, Synagogues, etc. regularily perform marriages. In Canada, stating your intention to become married before a Justice of the Peace is a legal marriage, as is a similar action in the USA (Judge? City hall? Help me out, Americans!)
If you want to ask if they can become “spiritually married” without the involvement of a religious organization, Christian or otherwise, then I’d have to say that everyone’s opinion would be different. Not everyone would be even remotely accepting of what others embrace. In this case, it’s all in the eye of the beholder.
Kip
well, looks like we all pretty much agree – same-sex marriages are fine, as long as organizations that do not accept it aren’t being forced to perform the marriage. neat.
-R.
I concur.
Clive
Individuals aren’t the only ones who can have their rights infringed upon. No religious institution should ever be forced to perform a ceremony contrary to its beliefs.
Kip
i was going to say something on the subject, but it looks like everyone else already said what i would have.
and yet, here i am posting something anyways :)