Many things Bush supports are against the First Amendment.
2006-07-17 09:41:29
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answer #1
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answered by Troy S 5
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President Bush is not a dictator...as much as he might like to be.
While he has tremendous powers, the Congress and the courts make decisions about such things. There was a time when marriage was left up to the state's to decide. This seems to be changing. The struggle of gay citizens of equal treatment under the law for the benefit of their families is only in the first round. It will be many years before true equality will be achieved. But it will be achieved. Younger people realize that gay citizens deserve equal treatment and as older people who can't change their ways die, well, the change will occur. In some European countries where marriage or equal benefits for gay couples exists, there are alot fewer problems...people are beginning to understand that being gay is not a disease...it's not as common as heterosexuality...you can't catch it...and it's a normal human sexual orientation....just not as common. As people gradually discover this the world will change. Sadly, in some parts of the world they put homosexuals to death. It's a matter of education and study. Homosexuality is one of the most studied conditions of human sexuality and most professionals agree that people can live normal, happy lives as homosexuals. Marriage may take awhile to be allowed in the US and in other countries, but it will occur.
2006-07-17 09:49:29
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answer #2
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answered by Sleepee 2
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Actually, God created Man equal meaning that you have free will. Actually, people are supposed to judge actions, without that ability we would never be able to differenciate between right and wrong. No one can condemn you for what you do, that is God's area. Since you are bringing God into this, I am going to point out that Homosexuality does go against God's law, as he created Adam a man and Eve, a woman, to be his company. They both were created equal (meaning that they both have free will). You can choose to do homosexual acts and go against God's laws, however the institution of Marraige is a religious act. It creates a union that is made to nuture children born into it, Christianity and most other religions around the world sanction it as a union between a man and a woman, and Jesus himself sanctified marital union when he appeared at the Wedding of Cana and preformed one of his miracles. (Water into wine.) To take an act of pure sexual gratification (Homosexuality) and try to elevate it to the status of a marriage that is procreative (heterosexual marraige) should not be done. I am not going to split hairs with you about gay rights, I think that we both stand clear on what we believe, however, George Bush did not base his decision on his sexual preferance, but on his religious beliefs, and the religious beliefs of most of the people in America.
2006-07-17 09:52:05
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answer #3
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answered by The Nag 5
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Actually, homosexuality isn't a sin. It didn't become a sin until the 13th and 14th centuries. Before that, Popes, cardinals, and what not could be married, have property, what have you. It wasn't until the Church decided that you couldn't use it for a tax shelter, that things changed. Early christianity even had a military battalion made up exclusively of homosexuals. It wasn't beaten for almost 100 years. And when it was, it was destroyed to a man. Afterward, the general that defeated it mourned the lose.
So no, I don't think he has the right.
2006-07-17 09:46:53
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answer #4
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answered by darkemoregan 4
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I don't think that the legality of relationships lies in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington, Ottawa, wherever. I think if two people love each other, they can get married. How can it be entirely legal and accepted in most countries for two heterosexual people who do NOT love each other to get married but not two gays who actually love each other? I know this isn't as extreme, so don't take this the wrong way, but it is almost kind of the same as a corrupt leader banning a religion because he/she is a worshiper of a different faith or an atheist. To end this off, I'll take this idea from Maclean's magazine, Bush actually likes gay marriage. Lots of far, far right wingers can't stand the thought of two gay people fornicating (sex without marriage)!
2006-07-17 10:01:11
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answer #5
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answered by blacksheepmatt 2
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Let's look at actual legal authority first. The federal executive does not have any authority to make laws, with the exception of executive orders that relate for interaction with foreign governments. So Bush, by himself, can do anything beyond complain.
Congress can legislate, as long as their actions are supported by Constitutional limits. Congress gets most of its powers from Article I Section 8, plus additional powers from a few amendments prohibiting discrimination.
Nothing in the Constitution grants Congress any authority to legislate in the area marriage. At best, Congress could legislate to prevent state discrimination, under the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. So, Congress does not have the power to prevent same-sex marriage.
It's also not a First Amendment issue, because it's not about expression or religion. More specifically, Congress nor any state (via the 14th) cannot enforce religious definitions directly. That's a violation of the Establishment Clause. So, Congress is just flat out of luck.
States have general authority to legislate over any area not prohibited by the Constitution nor preempted by federal law. Since we've already determined that the Constitution doesn't mention marriage, and that there is no authority to legislate any federal law prohibiting same-sex marriage, that leaves it up to the states.
The states are limited by their own state Constitutions, but otherwise may legislate in areas of family life, including setting requirements for marriage. These requirements cannot be actively religiously based (see Establishment Clause above), but may serve any other legitimate state interest as long as they are rationally related to that interest.
This is called the Rational Basis test, and is about as simple to pass as writing your name. Almost any law can pass Rational Basis review, unless it is completely arbitrary and unrelated to any valid secular (non-religious) purpose.
That's where the debate currently stands. Most of the courts that have evaluated that laws on their merits have found that the only purposes being advanced only serve religious goals, and those are not valid reasons to enact discriminatory laws. A lot of people are unhappy with this, because they think secular laws should be able to enforce religious morality. And because they happen to be in the majority they don't see the problem with enacting their religious beliefs as law.
I wonder if they would be so in favor of legal enforcement of religious dogma if they happened to be in the minority, and some other conflicting religion were being imposed on them.
2006-07-17 09:40:52
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answer #6
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answered by coragryph 7
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How has Bush dictated anything about it? He has expressed his views.
Do you realize that 45 states have passed laws or amended their constitutions to ban same sex marriages? And also have amendments as defining marriages as being 'between a man and a woman.'
These laws were voted in by the residents of the states - even in California! If 45 states have banned it how is it Bush imposing his views? Isn't he just respecting the views of the country?
2006-07-17 10:16:32
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answer #7
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answered by dlil 4
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sexual preference has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Look up the definition of marriage. Are you going to change the definition of the word?
Gay people have the same rights as straight people as far as marriage goes. A straight male can not marry another male, and a gay person may marry someone of the opposite sex.
There is a difference between a 'union' and 'marriage'
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should someone be allowed to marry a fish? Why not, what if that is his sexual preference
2006-07-17 09:53:10
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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First of all, don't make it seem like God is okay with homosexuality, because he's NOT!!! Yes, God created every man equal, but he also said that man shall NOT be with his own kind and your own kind is your own gender. He also put man on this earth to multiply and the only way you can multiply is if a man and a woman is together. Point Blank!
2006-07-17 09:50:11
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answer #9
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answered by Karmie P 2
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I don't think anyone should dictate on gay marriages, whether you are president bush or not. Everyone has a right to marry whoever they are in love with. If a man wants to marry a man and a woman wants to marry a woman I say go for it and Congrats!!!!
2006-07-17 09:44:05
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answer #10
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answered by jdbrady07660 2
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