zk/diary/2004-04-24-15:28:17.md

%title 12 Reasons Same-sex Marriage Will Ruin Society.
%date 2004-04-24 15:28:17
:diary:livejournal:fossils:

1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning are not natural.
2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people cannot get legally married because the world needs more children.
3. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children because straight parents only raise straight children.
4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful,  Just as Britney Spears's 55-hour marriage romp was meaningful. 
5. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and it hasn't changed at all: women are property, Blacks can't marry Whites, and divorce is illegal. 
6. Gay marriage should be decided by the people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of minorities.
7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are always imposed on the entire country. That's why we only have one religion in America.
8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people makes you tall.  
9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage license.  
10. Children can never succeed without both male and female role models at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.  
11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to cars or longer lifespans or increased racial and gender equality.  
12. Civil unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as separate marriages will for gays & lesbians.

<details text="Open Letter to Dr. Laura."><summary>Open Letter to Dr. Laura.</summary>
(Mirrored from <a href="http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/laura.htm">http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/laura.htm</a>
<blockquote>
<i>For those of you that are not following the recent controversy
        that has to do with Laura Schlessinger: she is a radio personality who
        dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Paramount
        Television Group is currently producing a "Dr. Laura"

        television show. Recently she has become a convert to Judaism, and now
        she is Ba'al T'shuvah. Recently, she has made some statements about
        homosexuals that has caused the Canadian anti-hate laws to censure
        her... The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura which was posted on
        the internet... </i> </blockquote>
<h1>an open letter to Dr. Laura</h1>
<h2>J. Kent Ashcraft</h2>
<h3>May 2000</h3>
    
     Dear Dr. Laura,  
    
     Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
      have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that
      knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the
      homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that
      <a href="#L18.22">Leviticus 18:22</a> clearly states it to be an
      abomination. End of debate.  

    
     I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific
      laws and how to best follow them.  
    
     a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
      pleasing odor for the Lord (<a href="#L1.9">Lev 1:9</a>). The problem is
      my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite
      them?  
    
     b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
      <a href="#E21.7">Exodus 21:7</a>. In this day and age, what do you think
      would be a fair price for her?  
    
     c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
      period of menstrual uncleanliness (<a href="#L15.19-24">Lev 15:19-24</a>).
      The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take
      offense.  

    
     d) <a href="#L25.44">Lev. 25:44</a> states that I may indeed possess
      slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring
      nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
      Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?  
    
     e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath.
      <a href="#E35.2">Exodus 35:2</a> clearly states he should be put to
      death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?  
    
     f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
      Abomination (<a href="#L11.10">Lev 11:10</a>), it is a lesser abomination
      than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?  

    
     g) <a href="#L21.20">Lev 21:20</a> states that I may not approach the
      altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear
      reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle
      room here?  
    
     h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
      around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by
      <a href="#L19.27">Lev 19:27</a>. How should they die?  
    
     i) I know from <a href="#L11.6-8">Lev 11:6-8</a> that touching the skin
      of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear
      gloves?  

    
     j) My uncle has a farm. He violates <a href="#L19.19">Lev 19:19</a> by
      planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by
      wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
      blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary
      that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone
      them? (<a href="#L24.10-16">Lev 24:10-16</a>) Couldn't we just burn them
      to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with
      their in-laws? (<a href="#L20.14">Lev. 20:14</a>)  
    
      I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you
      can help.  
    
     Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
      unchanging.  

    
     Your devoted disciple and adoring fan. 
    

</details><lj-cut text="Associated verses.">
<a name="verses"></a>
<hr align="CENTER" size="1" width="75%"/>
<i>These are the Biblical verses refered to above, in two different
      translations: the King James Version [KJV], and New International Version
      [NIV]</i>
<blockquote>
<font size="-1"><a name="L18.22"></a> Lev 18:22 [KJV] Thou shalt not
        lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. [NIV] Do not lie
        with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L1.9"></a>Lev 1:9 [KJV] But his inwards and
        his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the
        altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet
        savour unto the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>. [NIV] He is to wash the
        inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it
        on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma
        pleasing to the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>. </font>
<font size="-1"><a name="E21.7"></a>Exodus 21:7 [KJV] And if a man
        sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the
        menservants do. [NIV] If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is
        not to go free as menservants do.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L15.19-24"></a> Lev 15:19-24 [KJV] And if a
        woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be
        put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until
        the even. <font size="-1">20</font> And every thing that she lieth upon
        in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth
        upon shall be unclean. <font size="-1">21</font> And whosoever toucheth
        her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be
        unclean until the even. <font size="-1">22</font> And whosoever
        toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe
        himself in water, and be unclean until the even. <font size="-1">23</font>

        And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he
        toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. <font size="-1">24</font>
        And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he
        shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be
        unclean.
        <br/>[NIV] When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of
        her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will
        be unclean till evening. <font size="-1">20</font> Anything she lies on
        during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be
        unclean. <font size="-1">21</font> Whoever touches her bed must wash
        his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.
        <font size="-1">22</font> Whoever touches anything she sits on must
        wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till
        evening. <font size="-1">23</font> Whether it is the bed or anything
        she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till
        evening. <font size="-1">24</font> If a man lies with her and her
        monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he
        lies on will be unclean.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L25.44"></a>Lev 25:44 [KJV] Both thy
        bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the
        heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and
        bondmaids. [NIV] Your male and female slaves are to come from the
        nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="E35.2"></a>Exodus 35:2 [KJV] Six days shall
        work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day,
        a sabbath of rest to the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>: whosoever doeth
        work therein shall be put to death. [NIV] For six days, work is to be
        done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to
        the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>. Whoever does any work on it must be
        put to death.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L11.10"></a>Lev 11:10 [KJV] And all that
        have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that
        move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they
        shall be an abomination unto you [NIV] But all creatures in the seas or
        streams that do not have fins and scales --- whether among all the
        swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water ---
        you are to detest.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L21.20"></a>Lev 21:20 [KJV] Or crookbackt,
        or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed,
        or hath his stones broken [NIV] or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who
        has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged
        testicles.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L19.27"></a>Lev 19:27 [KJV] Ye shall not
        round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of
        thy beard. [NIV] Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip
        off the edges of your beard.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L11.6-8"></a>Lev 11:6-8 [KJV] And the hare,
        because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean
        unto you. <font size="-1">7</font> And the swine, though he divide the
        hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to
        you. <font size="-1">8</font> Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and
        their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
        <br/>[NIV] The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split
        hoof; it is unclean for you. <font size="-1">7</font> And the pig,
        though it has a split hoof completely divied, does not chew the cud; it
        is unclean for you. <font size="-1">8</font> You must not eat their
        meat or touch their carcases; they are unclean for you.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L19.19"></a>Lev 19:19 [KJV] Ye shall keep
        my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind:
        thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment
        mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. [NIV] Keep my decrees. Do
        not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two
        kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L24.10-16"></a>Lev 24:10-16 [KJV] And the
        son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out
        among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and
        a man of Israel strove together in the camp; <font size="-1">11</font>
        And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and
        cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was
        Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) <font size="-1">12</font>
        And they put him in ward, that the mind of the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>
        might be shewed them. <font size="-1">13</font> And the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>

        spake unto Moses, saying, <font size="-1">14</font> Bring forth him
        that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their
        hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
        <font size="-1">15</font> And thou shalt speak unto the children of
        Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
        <font size="-1">16</font> And he that blasphemeth the name of the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>,
        he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall
        certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the
        land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
        <br/>[NIV] Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father
        went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between
        him and an Israelite. <font size="-1">11</font> The son of the
        Israelite woman blasphemed the name of the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>

        with a curse; so they brough him to Moses. (His mother's name was
        Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) <font size="-1">12</font>
        They put him in custody until the will of the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>
        should be made clear to them. <font size="-1">13</font> Then the L<font size="-1">ORD</font>
        said to Moses: <font size="-1">14</font> Take the blasphemer outside
        the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head,
        and the entire assembly is to stone him. <font size="-1">15</font> Say
        to the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he will be held
        responsible; <font size="-1">16</font> anyone who blasphemes the name
        of the L<font size="-1">ORD</font> must be put to death. The entire
        assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he
        blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.</font>
<font size="-1"><a name="L20.14"></a> Lev 20:14 [KJV] And if a man
        take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with
        fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. [NIV] If
        a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and
        they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among
        you.</font> </blockquote>
<a name="author"></a>
<hr size="1"/>
</lj-cut><lj-cut text="Attribution of the author">
<h4>Establishing the author</h4>
<blockquote>
<font size="-1"><i>I got the letter off the Net, but without an
        attribution. <tt><a href="http://www.skyhero.com/_disc6/00000857.htm">Some
          Web versions</a></tt> have the sig "Carole M. Cusack, Lecturer,
        School of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney" attached, but
        do not make it clear if this refers to the original author, or to the
        poster. So I requested clarification in an earlier version of this page.</i></font>
<font size="-1"><i>Someone emailed me in September 2000, saying that
        the UK Guardian newspaper of 16 Sept 2000 had an article claiming the
        author was Steve Turner. </i></font>
<font size="-1"><i>Someone else emailed me on 1 April 2001 [really!]
        saying "In the May 2001 edition of Playboy, they have a letter from
        a reader on page 62 in which a 'Kent Ashcraft' states that he originally
        wrote the letter." </i></font>
<font size="-1"><i>Then in July 2001 Kent Ashcraft emailed me,
        saying he is indeed the author (except of the last three questions,
        which are additions to his original).</i></font> </blockquote>
<hr/>
</lj-cut>