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Friday, June 20, 2008
Why do you live in the suburbs?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABC News had a report this week on the “Ghostburbs”- suburban communities losing population because of high fuel prices and the subprime mortgage crisis. See video
But suburbs attracted population for reasons: good schools, low crime, affordable housing - big yards.
Despite the recent economic woes, is the suburban quality of life still superior to intown living?
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Conservatives wrong to fight gay marriage?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Peachtree City writer Terry Garlock says conservatives are wrong to oppose gay marriage, regardless of their personal opinions on gays.
“Personally, I am repulsed by public displays of romantic affection between two men, or two women,” he writes. “Those who would call me names like homophobe, as if I fear homosexuality, diminish themselves in my eyes. It’s just that same-sex pairs are instinctively unnatural to me. The mental image of a wedding ceremony joining two men who seal the bargain with a deep kiss makes me squirm. But here’s where I think my fellow conservatives have it wrong.”
He goes on, “That wedding ceremony wouldn’t be about me or my personal discomfort. It would be about those two people who love each other and decided to publicly announce their permanent mutual commitment. Should my personal attitudes prevent them from doing that? Should my religious beliefs keep them legally unrelated even if they remain committed to each other for life? “While I am free to have my personal disquiet about homosexuality, am I also free to interfere with their desire to be recognized as a family unit? If they are a permanent couple, should my aversion withhold from a lifelong pair the same rights as family for hospital visitation, for consultation with doctors when one is ill and maybe even dying?”
Your thoughts?
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