@tony5732,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply..
Quote:Who you choose to sleep with belongs one paragraph up.
I don't think you can put this in the same category as choice. I believe doing so ignores what sexuality is and what the denial of its expression can lead to. Our libidinal energies are rooted far too deep in us, that for all intents and purposes, sex is not a choice unless it truly is a choice. Meaning, if someone is forced into making that choice due to social disapproval, their emotional state will take a huge hit. What kind and degree of a hit will depend on the energy and prior learning they come to that table with. The documentation and understanding of this is not in dispute (In fact, among religious people who have psychology degrees, you will find much more agreement with this sentiment - they understand because they know -it is a knowable subject).
As for your other points, first I take you at your word, for what its worth, that you are not racist or homophobic. I totally get that for some its an ideal.
So, on that ideal level, the kind of ideals you are espousing (largely libertarian), I do think there is some validity to that kind of thinking - but perhaps in a society with a different makeup. In this society we have chosen to not be libertarian (in its full ideal) and so while we are in a state that exercises central governance, I believe we have to be fair within that context. So, while I think that social welfare should be run completely different than it is, while we are in this kind of polity, I think that we continue to fund it - in fairness and as a necessary social support. What this translates to is being fair to all. So, if you are going to force people to serve black people, then gays should be served as well. Serve all or none. Its the ideal of singling a group out that more at issue. However..
There is more to this than simply taking a stand on one side of this issue. There is the general ideal involved as well. What kind of a state do you want to live in? What life do you personally live and, if you view it as exemplary, what's the best political way to extend that? In my opinion, too many people divorce their personal lives from the larger societal life. So they have one standard, but 'society' can have another. This I believe is largely due to the kind of political society that has been created. Due to the desire for wealth, for excessive power, for greed, on the whole, those who are engaged in planning societies with some digression, have disintegrated, atomized our life.
We see value in this independence and so strive to be as independent as we possibly can. We aren't supposed to care for the old lady across town who can't afford heat. We are supposed to be focused on the results of the Superbowl or our fantasy league etc*. We hate paying taxes when it should be a celebration (though yes, we hate it because we think that its misused - but not all of it is misused; there should be balance there). We create huge buildings where people literally, not just metaphorically, fall through the cracks. They are bastions of power, meant to be imposing, daunting, separating and impossible to conquer.
Yet, this individualizing process runs counter to our nature as a social creature. It carves us up, isolates and damages. Some of us through good genes, energy, social circumstances can function well despite this effect**, but there is a lot of waste along the way. There are no easy answers either. Your concern of being forced to do something is valid. Its on the table. It should be discussed, but in its proper context and using like standards to ensure fairness. We are exquisitely attuned to fairness as well - but often blind to it when it doesn't affect us. It is no surprise that many republicans with gay family members do not espouse the stereotype of being anti-gay. They love their kids too..but again, that extension and standards thing..
*I'm not immune from it.
**The ability for many to thrive despite this compartmentalization is actually a testament to how strong this is to how strong that social inclination is.
