BREWER, Maine — Supporters of same-sex marriage officially kicked off their referendum campaign Tuesday afternoon and began door-to-door canvassing.
Campaign officials have said that one-on-one conversations with voters are how they plan to persuade more than 50 percent of Mainers to vote yes on a referendum in November that would allow same-sex couples to receive marriage licenses while also protecting religious freedom.
“We know that Mainers are changing their minds about marriage,” Matt McTighe, campaign manager for Mainers United for Marriage, said in a press release Tuesday. “In the last year, we’ve had more than 72,000 one-on-one conversations. We will continue having those conversations until November, when voters will have a chance to vote ‘yes’ on marriage for loving, committed same-sex couples.”
A survey conducted by North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling of 1,256 Mainers over the first weekend in March showed that 54 percent believe same-sex marriage should be legal, according to a previously published report. Forty-one percent said Maine should not allow gay couples to wed and 21 percent were not sure.
Organizationally, supporters of same-sex marriage are slightly ahead of opponents, the Rev. Bob Emrich, spokesman for Protect Marriage Maine, said Monday. Protect Marriage Maine opposes the referendum.
“We plan to go door-to-door later in the year, closer to Election Day,” he said.
Mainers United for Marriage opened field offices in Brewer, Lewiston and Portland and will be working to persuade those who are not sure where they stand on the issue to vote yes in November, according to Beth Allen, a field organizer for the group EqualityMaine.
Since January, she and other staff and volunteers for EqualityMaine have been working out of an office in the Twin City Plaza on State Street in Brewer now being used as the campaign headquarters for northern Maine. Allen, of Ellsworth, said her time is split between Mainers United for Marriage and EqualityMaine. Each organization pays half of her salary. She expects to be working full time for the campaign by the end of June.
Mainers on Nov. 3, 2009, voted 53 percent to 47 percent to repeal a law that allowed same-sex couples to marry. It had been passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Gov. John Baldacci in the spring of 2009. After the loss at the ballot box, EqualityMaine began an outreach campaign to talk about the issue and began gathering signatures in August 2011 to put a question before voters again.
Allen told a group of paid canvassers Tuesday afternoon that she made voter identification phone calls during the 2009 campaign but found it a bit frustrating.
“I wanted to have a conversation with them,” she told the 14 college students working on the campaign for the summer. “That’s why I started doing persuasion work. We carry a great deal of persuasive weight on our shoulders. There are a lot of undecided voters in the Bangor-Brewer area and northern Maine.
“On Saturday, you will be joined by 300-plus volunteers, so you have a huge team behind you,” she continued. “We have 174 more days [until Election Day].”
The campaign will hold a statewide Day of Action on Saturday at locations around the state, McTighe said in Portland. The campaign’s goal is to knock on 175,000 doors and have 90,000 conversations before Nov. 6, he said.
The goals for the Brewer canvassers Tuesday were “to knock on 48 doors, reach and talk to 16 people and change some hearts and minds,” Derek Lane, 20, of Augusta told them just before they headed to the streets of Bangor.
“I do this work for my gay and lesbians friends,” he said just after his team left the office in Brewer. “I want them to have all the opportunities to find and validate their love as I do.”
The field offices are located at 256 State St. in Brewer; 675 Main St., Unit 6, in Lewiston; and 343 Forest Ave. in Portland, according to a United for Marriage press release. A fourth field office in York County will open in June.
In addition, the campaign has donated space in Sanford, Waldo and Augusta in which staff and volunteers are working, according to the campaign.
Come to my door and watch what happens!
What are you gonna do John, lol. Calling and complaining does not do much, my neighbor did and they basically told him to hush it. Honestly i will vote for this but i really do not think it will pass
It isn’t going to pass. I think it will end up about the same like last time. Possibly with the Anti-Gay Marriage folks getting maybe a couple of percent more this time. Maine is moving farther to the right on issues. Maine has more important issues to deal with. Gay Marriage is the last things people want right now. Mainers want more jobs, lower taxes, more Welfare Reforms and better roads and bridges including East-West Highways. The problem with the Gay Marriage folks and Liberal Democrats (not all Democrats) they are selling as Maine’s economic savior. Most economic projections say it gives Maine a temporary boost a year or two at most then becomes a huge drag, a major drain on the wallets of taxpayers. That it will be another social program that Mainers will have to end up paying for.
Congratulations dark, you have made every attempt to deface this issue and now you are finally using economics to prove a point that is MOOT. Gay marriage will NOT effect one bit of the economy, other than maybe invite more gay people to move to Maine and OPEN BUSINESSES since they cannot be married in Massachusetts or New Hampshire..Wonder what argument you will come up with next? We anxiously await.
Hasn’t gay marriage been legal in Mass for quite awhile now?
I was thinking the same thing.
Yeah and nothing bad happened.
Are you sure?
Yes.
You sure on that. I happened to know a couple that lived in Maine moved to Mass(only because they got good jobs)
massachusetts happened….
I think gay marriage will effect the economy. More people for the lawyers to swindle when they get divorced. But that also means more cases tying up the courts.
What? I suppose that more people getting married might result in more people getting divorced, but so what?
What a ridiculous excuse to deny people rights. Maybe we shouldn’t allow women to vote, you know, more votes to count and that delays the results.
OK cat what “economic projections” are you referring to? Please post those links so the rest of us can look at them.
Like it’s impossible to think about more than one thing at once.
Geeze, I didn’t know that all gays are Democrats.
Exactly how does a bunch of people getting married cause a major drain on the wallets of taxpayers? It can’t be the sudden increase in children from these marriages. Umm, I’m scratching my head here.
Everyone wants lower taxes. The question is what are you willing to give up? You obviously don’t want to give up on road and bridge work.
I can not say it will or it wont, but i can tell you this alot of people have changed there minds, some have not. Its not really a big percentage on changed minds, a few though. I agree with you though its gonna be like last time.
WHAT?????
That’s not actually true though. Maine hasn’t moved to the right on this issue. No poll anywhere indicates that, they all indicate the opposite actually. Further, this is an election year as opposed to an off year like 2009 was. That means we have 3 years worth of new young voters plus the additional turn out a Presidental election brings. It will in all likelihood pass this time.
What you are not understanding is that DC conducts an intensive poll every morning when he looks in the mirror and surprisingly enough he gets the same results each and every time. How we got from gay marriage to the east-west highway on this board is beyond me. I wonder if any of the “investors” in the east-west highway are gay?
And what would that be Jon?
jd2008jd, if private property is posted then wouldn’t it be trespassing for these people to enter your property? Some people may choose not to be bothered with this.
I know one piece of property that Elizabeth Schneider will never visit again.
Celer my comment was to Jon Sheets who posted this comment, “Come to my door and watch what happens!”
No where does it make mention that his property is posted does it? What do you think Mr. Sheets was referencing when he posted “watch what happens!”?
I know they will some hate speech if they knock on my door.
Why is that? Why would you be hateful to your neighbors? I’ll be doing this this summer (like I did in 2009 and 2011) and most people, even those who oppose the idea of SSM were nice and polite.
If you don’t want to talk about this issue with the person who knocks on your door, then politely decline, but there is no reason to use hate speech. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people want to be rude and hateful, especially to a stranger who knocks on your door.
I am glad to see you out there doing this. But again its gonna be a close call. It might pass it might not, no worries though, just try it again and again. It will eventually pass, i might be old and seanile by then
It has passed the voters at the polls already, then some moral, holier than thou’s got it recinded. What makes the difference to you, who someone else marries. Are they snoring in your face?
No it has not passed its being voted on again. Why are you being rude. I never said anything bad about gay marriage, i stated to you i would vote yes for it
It did pass twice. was recalled by the “moral majority” of people that are neither. They think anyone that isn’t like them is evil and they will all burn in He%^. People should be able to marry anyone that they fall in love with. Not someone picked because they feel they have to get married to the opposite sex. It is no one’s business other than their own. If that’s rude than oh well, I’m rude.
________________________________
From: Disqus
To: frostylobomerlin@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:36 AM
Subject: [bdn] Re: Same-sex marriage supporters kick off Maine campaign by going door to door
Disqus generic email template
dkenzie wrote, in response to frostylobomerlin:
No it has not passed its being voted on again. Why are you being rude. I never said anything bad about gay marriage, i stated to you i would vote yes for it Link to comment
No, the voters of Maine have only voted on the issue once, and it was to repeal what the Legislature passed, and the governor signed into law. I myself don’t take issue with SSM. It’s the social engineering that the gay lobby has brought along with the subject that doesn’t impress me. People don’t need to go door to door and convince people what to believe in, or alter their core values. tolerance and acceptance comes from within a persons core values and how they were raised. People may indicate to you in your face they will vote a certain way, but once at the polls may act a different way. I believe SSM will come our way some day. Just back off for a while and let the people accept the issue at their own pace and not force it on them.
I appreciate your comment, but we can’t just sit back and patiently wait for it to happen. If we don’t bring it about, who will? The opposition will certainly be active with mailings, political ads, and demonstrations, just as they were in 2009 and in every other campaign in the country.
I believe that we DO need to go door to door. I believe that speaking to voters one-on-one is a fantastic way to combat the misleading and untruthful information that is out there concerning gays and same-sex marriage. Example-I spoke to one woman who doesn’t support it and asked me if it was true that there is always one “male” and one “female” in the relationship and if that WERE true, why doesn’t one of them just get a sex-change operation? We discussed the issue and, while she didn’t endorse SSM right away, I was able to clear up some misconceptions on the issue. This is an adult in modern society who doesn’t have gay-issues on the front burner. If she still had these outdated ideas of same-sex relationships, then how many others still do? And if we don’t talk to them to set them straight (har har), then who will?
I’m glad you support us and I thank you for it, but I’m sorry that you don’t understand the real importance of this issue to us.
I will just be returning all the hate they have stirred up by this attack on Maine.So please stop in.I will be recommending some good shrinks to see.
Typical CC reply.The pro rights side has never generated hate-plus they are honest about their donors.Once it passes,feel free to go to MS or some other backwater.I’m sure Fred Phelps would love to see you.
Really? I identify myself as a conservative christian but that doesn’t mean I feel I can force my views onto another person, nor does it mean I feel I should tell someone else how to live. Hating works both ways.
Your outlook makes you different than the post I replied to.He has made it crystal clear on dozens of occasions that he knows what it best for everyone.
Wait, I’m sorry, what is being forced on you exactly?
I responded to someone that was lumping all conservative christians into the same basket. I have no fight with you.
——————————
And before you attack me, you should reread mypost. Yes I am a conservative and yes I am a christian. I do not believe that I have a right to dictate how anyone else should live their life. It is not my right to force my beliefs on another person.
It seems that some people think that if something is allowed that’s against their religion, even though THEY aren’t required to participate, then it’s still being forced on them. Divorce, pre-marital sex, and birth control are also being forced on them, or, if you prefer, rammed down their throat. It all goes against their notion of America being a theocracy.
That’s NOT what I said. Please re-read the post. I said why should I force MY beliefs on anyone? I could care less who he wants to marry. I don’t feel that I have the right to tell another woman that she can’t have an abortion if she wants one. But I did state that I identify as a conservative christian and didn’t like that we were all lumped into one pile with someone that does feel it’s okay to force their beliefs on another person.
Hi-I apologize. I didn’t mean you, but I do mean others who constantly talk like what I mentioned. Sorry. I understand you not wanting to be part of a generalization like that.
Thank you for apologizing. I like to think I’m pretty open minded when it comes to social issues especially where an individual’s rights are being infringed upon. I realize not all are as enlightened.
Your shrink hasn’t helped you so why recommend him/her to anyone else?
the ones you use?
Their outlook speaks more of who they are than of the people who come to their door.I had a political candidate come to my door.I would NEVER vote for or have anything to do with this person.Yet I reasonably and calmly explained what my positions were and he went about his business.I also slept well that night knowing I hadn’t embarrassed my family.Can the haters say the same?I will welcome the SSM advocates and be proud to welcome them into my house as well as donate for the third time to their campaign.
Lets say you knock at my door. I answer, and you explain who you are. I politely say I don’t agree with your lifestyle and will not be voting to legalize SSM. Will you then walk away? Or will you stand there trying to change my mind? Because that is when you will start seeing rudeness. Guess it’s your choice?
It depends. I might ask why would vote that way. Would that be out of bounds? If you say “I don’t want to talk about it,” then I’ll walk away, but it’s been my experience that people ARE willing to talk about it after they state why they’ll vote a certain way. Not everyone will be against talking. If you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll leave. But if you DON’T say that, then why would I give up the opportunity to change a heart and mind? There’s no reason to be rude.
But I already said it. ” I don’t agree with your lifestyle” If you continue to push on that- then yes- it will get heated- agree?
Believe it or not, I have spoken to people who don’t agree with my “lifestyle” but still discuss it or already support SSM. That statement doesn’t mean “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I’m not a mind reader. The fact that someone doesn’t “agree” with something doesn’t mean that he or she is dead-set against it.
That doesn’t make sense to me. This is Maine- people individually already know how they feel on this subject. If someone tells you they don’t agree with your lifestyle- and will be voting against SSM- you are not going to change their mind. It is the moral and religious upbringing that they received–whether you like that statement or not. You may not be a religious person, but to argue with someone who is about what they believe- is not going to get you any votes.
Argue or discuss? If one doesn’t want to talk about it so be it. But if I ask why the voter feels that way and he or she answers, then we are discussing, not arguing.
You cannot speak for everyone in Maine. You have your reasons and you will not be swayed. But again, I have spoked to many people who are not supportive and after our discussion (not argument), they have reconsidered. Have I changed EVERY mind? No. But I have given a human face to the issue and have sometimes brought up points that they did not know.
I like the statement “It is the moral and religious upbringing that they received.” Why would I not like it?
The bottom line is that this is a very important issue to a sizable number of Mainers. It would be foolish to sit back and do nothing during this campaign. The whole point of political campaigns, whether it’s to rescind the beverage tax, elect a senator, or allow same-sex marriage, is to change the minds of as many people as possible. That’s how it’s done in this country. Commercials don’t work as well as face to face communication. It works. If you don’t want to talk to us, SAY you don’t want to talk to us. It’s that simple.
It’s not a lifestyle. That’s something like BDSM – that’s a lifestyle, being gay is simply who we are, same as you are, I’m assuming, a hetrosexual
Lifestyle:
pertaining to or catering to a certain lifestyle: unhealthy lifestyle choices; lifestyle advertising; a luxury lifestyle hotel.
3. (of a drug) used to treat a medical condition that is not life-threatening or painful: lifestyle drugs for baldness.
Sexual Orientation:
one’s natural preference in sexual partners; predilection for homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
No one chooses to be gay, lesbian, transexual, bisexual or queer,
whatever you wish to label it – its is a natural, as in dictated by
God.
Very “adult” of you. Why not share why you will not vote for it instead?
No idea what JS was referencing since I don’t know the man. I could guess, but that wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I’ve just noticed that people pushing political BS seem to think that posted property doesn’t apply to them. In this area I’ve also seen campaign signs posted on people’s property without there permission, which promptly ended up in the ditch. So far from what I’ve seen, this seems to be a democrat issue of infringing on people’s property.
Just as you say you don’t know JS so you can’t guess, you should do the same with us and this campaign. If you have seen MUM people trespassing and posting signs on your property, then by all means complain to the office. But if you haven’t seen us yet, it’s not right to assume that that is what’s going to happen.
The point that I was trying t make is that from what I’ve seen political causes/candidates appear to think that it is ok to trespass, and posted property doesn’t apply to them.
I live in a very remote secure area so I have no worries of any activists or political candidates visiting my residence, which is why I choose to live in “the sticks”. When I have company it’s because I invited them.
No I don’t know JS, but I’m well aware of what your agenda is and I’m fairly certain that anyone planning to vote already does too.
What is our agenda?
It’s unfortunate that you seem to think that you know what we’ll be doing. And it’s a shame that you have colored our campaign a certain way based on the actions of other campaigns. Oh, well.
My work takes me all over Northern Maine Celer and the only political signs I have seen have been two for Poliquin and one for Richardson (or maybe it was Richards). Not one sign for any one else or any “cause”. Where did you see those signs anyway?
Route 43 outer Old Town. Dozens of signs to see in that area.
” No idea what JS was referencing since I don’t know the man. I could guess, but that wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”
Finally, someone with some very uncommon, common sense! Maybe there is hope yet!
FINALLY! I posted what I did just to see what the reaction would be. Funny how sensitive SSM supporters are! They always suspect the worst, which speaks volumes as to their outlook on life. Like all Leftists, they only see what they believe!
What would that be? A lively debate they would not be prepared for, no matter how much role-playing or practicing they did! If they want my vote, they have to convince me with FACTS not just hollow opinion or ‘feelings’.
Isn’t that as it should be?
Jon, when you GET the worst, it’s sometimes too easy to assume the worst. Especially when there were other threats posted on this site.
Thanks for the game. It’s been fun.
So you go through life always expecting the worst? That’s just sad! Who would choose a lifestyle that requires that? I don’t get it. Isn’t optimism a sexual lifestyle neutral thing?
Wow-perfect! Exactly!!! Who would CHOOSE this?
Jon you posted what you did and got a reaction from many people. The reason you got that reaction is because people have been beaten, burned and murdered just for being a homosexual (including Charlie Howard in Bangor).
By the way, not all people that support SSM are “Leftist” but in your world they would be.
Victimized? Yes. Living the life of a victim? Doesn’t sound very appealing to me.
SSM is a left leaning issue, like it or not. Yes, some who consider themselves conservative support it, but then some of us support a woman’s right to choose also. That doesn’t change the fact that SSM is a leftist cause.
Hetero’s have been beaten, burned and murdered also. Not every crime against homosexuals is because of their sexual orientation. But believing that every crime is sure helps their ‘special’ status. EVERY crime is a hate crime. Sexual orientation shouldn’t make it special.
same here!
So call them! Invite them over! I’m sure you have nothing better to do.
Come to my door and I will introduce you to my husband of 13 years. Come on in and sit a spell, we have cool water and probably some cookies for ya. Oh yeah, let me get my checkbook to help fund the cause! You guys are the best! Thank you!
There you go Seth!
You going to hit them in the head with your copy of internet tuff guy magazine?
Don’t subscribe, Kevin. Can I borrow your copy of Internet Smartass?
Only if I can borrow your copy of homophobe weekly.
I want to know why they (Marriage Equality) called my house and asked me for my religious affiliation when I told them I was more inclined to support civil unions? It was creepy.
And that call was received when?
I could go along with ‘creepy’. After all, the pic shows them “practicing” being persuasive. If they had conviction, why would they need to practice?
Obviously they were not practicing their conviction. You’re just being silly, silly!
It’s training on how to talk to strangers about this, especially what to say and how to say it.
If they had conviction Joe, they wouldn’t need to practice what to say or how to say it. YOU have conviction, do you practice what to write here, or do you just write it?
That’s an erroneous conclusion.
Actually, yes, I do “practice” it here. I often type something, then rewrite it or delete it or add more.
And again, it’s easy for some people to speak to a total stranger about this and it’s not easy for others. Going over the process with the volunteers is a good way to get them comfortable with the action of talking to strangers about this (not the action of speaking on this issue).
Violence is EXACTLY what actions like this hope to get. There side of all is good and everybody’s opinion matters only holds if you believe what they do. They do not support anyone who thinks they are wrong. They go door to door with the hope that someone will attack them so they get the press from it ( see they hate us and attack us) type thing. I have no problem with them coming to my door of course they always start yelling because they can not argue facts. The word marriage has meaning already the joining of one man and one woman. When SOME use a word ignorantly we wipe it from the landscape IE the word SQUAW. Some like these folks want to bastardize the word by changing it’s meaning. Why do they want marriage and not a word MEANING the union of two men or the union of two women? Easy LAZY!!! they do not want to WORD marriage why woudl they it is not what they really want what they want is the LEGAL use of the word!!! If they say called the joining of two men a “attachment” it would not have the LEGAL meaning thus they woudl have to get the word they choose to have LEGAL meaning as marriage does. In short those who support the use of the word marriage are simply to lazy to choose a word and make IT have the meaning marriage has to those of us who are married.
“Violence is EXACTLY what actions like this hope to get. There side of all is good and everybody’s opinion matters only holds if you believe what they do. They do not support anyone who thinks they are wrong. They go door to door with the hope that someone will attack them so they get the press from it ( see they hate us and attack us) type thing.”
Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND? Hoping to get attacked? I have seen many post that are off the wall but this one is off the wall, through the window and down the road! No one wants to get “attacked”…NO ONE. The group is exercising their constitutional RIGHTS to speak with people attempt to influence how they vote.
~~~~~
“I have no problem with them coming to my door of course they always start yelling because they can not argue facts. The word marriage has meaning already the joining of one man and one woman. When SOME use a word ignorantly we wipe it from the landscape IE the word SQUAW. Some like these folks want to bastardize the word by changing it’s meaning.”
Marriage is a word…nothing more and nothing less. It has changed multiple times through history. The word has been used for one man and one woman, one man and two woman, one man and one man, one woman and one woman, etc….
~~~~~
“Why do they want marriage and not a word MEANING the union of two men or the
union of two women? Easy LAZY!!! they do not want to WORD marriage why woudl they it is not what they really want what they want is the LEGAL use of the word!!!”
Civil unions has been suggested in the past and NOM does not support “Civil Union” any more than using the word marriage.
~~~~~
“If they say called the joining of two men a “attachment” it would not have the LEGAL meaning thus they woudl have to get the word they choose to have LEGAL meaning as marriage does.”
So you want the state and federal government to change multiple laws so an “attachment” would carry the same meaning as marriage but not use the word marriage? You think the meaning of the word “marriage” has stayed “static” since the dawn of time and you call people in the homosexual community “LAZY”? No sir, the only “LAZY” one is the one that refuses to do any research into the history of the word marriage before posting!
Wow pass right over the point there. The WORD marriage has meaning already. The joining of a man and a women or women depending on the place and time but this is not accepted use by many of us. As stated and you completely ignored the word squaw was wiped form Maine due the the bastardization of the word.
As far as history I got that. My people know exactly what happens when the meaning of a word is changed to suit a new purpose.
I do not care about who you CHOOSE to sleep with or live with or love. I do care when you take a word that has meaning to so many me included and try to take it not for the word but the legal aspects of that word ( do some research on that one ) because they want to take what others already have.
“Wow pass right over the point there. The WORD marriage has meaning
already. The joining of a man and a women or women depending on the
place and time but this is not accepted use by many of us. As stated and
you completely ignored the word squaw was wiped form Maine due the the
bastardization of the word.”
The “WORD” marriage does have meaning and depending on the state or country you live in that word differs. In several states the word marriage means one man and one woman, one man and one man or one woman and one woman. The “WORD” has already changed and there is nothing you or I can do about that.
Why you bring up an unrelated word is beyond me. The word “squaw” has nothing to do with SSM.
Words change all the time. They also have “generic” meaning. i.e. we use the word kleenex for all tissues, the word xerox for all photo copies, etc…The word “marriage” is now used to denote the legal paperwork issued by the state, the civil ceremony and the religious ceremony.
And I always laugh when people such as yourself that have no idea who they are addressing makes the assumption that because I support SSM I must be gay and engaged in a homosexual relationship. Well I am not. And no one “owns” the word marriage.
Who said ANYTHING about violence? Why would anyone assume I meant there would be a violent confrontation? Perhaps the Left is a little too sensitive!!!
The man who mentioned his door hitting one of us on the head. He said something about violence.
And sure, some of the threats weren’t outright, but really, calling us “too sensitive” when gay people are still beaten and murdered in this country is just ridiculous.
I never said you were not victimized, just Too sensitive. Your response helps prove my point. There is a huge difference between actually BEING a victim, and constantly PLAYING the victim. Constantly playing the victim is a lousy way to go through life!
Sigh….okay, twist it any way you want, I guess. I wonder, though, if you recognized this same “PLAYING the victim” behavior on the other side as well….
as far as im concerned, if they knock on my door, they had better be ready for a reading from Leviticus.
Be sure to cover that part about shellfish!
Oh, and talk about how Jesus loves us all, too, while you’re at it.
Please then read the whole of Leviticus and apply it wholeheartedly to your life. You’ll be arrested within days…
Todays Denver Colorado Post has an article on how the Colorado legislative body killed a civil union bill in comittee. Last I knew that was a liberal state !
Colorado is a republican controlled state. As usual, republicants support discrimination.
Just who I want showing up at my door . . .
I don’t know why they have to go door to door to advertise their plight. But, you have to admit these people are all over the place and they are very persistent about their cause. My niece’s sister married another woman and recently had artificially-inseminated twins. I also have a good friend who turns out to be gay. Hey man, this is the 21st century! What will those twins call their parents, “mom and mom.”
Likely, that is EXACTLY what they will call their moms…how nice it must be to have two mom’s.
Come to think of it I would also rather have two moms than two dads. Moms are much nicer and more caring.
Congratulations, you are a great aunt or uncle! How wonderful for you. When your niece’s sister (or your niece as well) sees you at the next family gathering, politely ask how her children refer to her. My friends with twins are called Momma and Mommy by their amazing boys.
What is scary about all this is what would happen to the children if the gay couple breaks up. The daddy (other momma) would be left with nothing, or do the laws require equal time be spent with the kids as in a male/female marriage?
You just answered one of the questions about why marriage matters in Maine with your personal family experience. Couples should all be afforded the same rights and protections that marriage provides, especially when the couple has children.
We’re “advertising our plight” because there’s an election coming up. We want to be able to talk to the voters face to face and answer any questions that the voter might have.
…..
I am prepared for this one, Dog is vaccinated and my No Trespassing signs are posted.
Oh no, somebody knocking on your door asking to speak to you. The horror!
Yes, there is the old expression “Don’t call me I’ll call you” same applies here
“Don’t campaign to me, I’ll campaign to you.”
My land, my privacy, my right
Then don’t answer the door and shut yourself off to the world.
I don’t need to, if I want to walk my land, mow my lawn, chop a tree down I certainly can, I don’t have time to be distracted with someone trying to convince me about something I have no interest in. People can read the sign and move on to the next house.
No one said otherwise.
The point is I am entitled to my peace and my privacy, instead of posting signs I could just sit in the bushes with my taser and tackle anyone that passes but I choose the peaceful route, a sign that does the work for me, No Trespassing, No entry without permission, No Entry for any reason. I don’t need to shut the door and shut myself off to the world, I respect peoples wishes and I expect mine to be as well. If I was a solicitor and saw someone had them signs, why waste my time approaching them, they have them posted for a reason, just like I have mine posted for reasons.
Why are you assuming that just because they support SSM that they can’t read YOUR signs???DUH
don’t worry, we heed no trespassing signs, you are safe.
I can’t believe what a drama-queen he’s being.
“don’t worry, we heed no trespassing signs, you are safe.”Ummm… you might want to make sure about that.
You seem to be making an issue of this when there is not one.
It sounds like you’re in an isolated area and chances are you might not be on a walking list anyway.
One would think that but the Religious groups walk their way in anyways. I apparently am not in an isolated enough area from wandering people. I am not making an issue, I have signs, I don’t need people trying to cram down their beliefs down my throat. I try to be nice to the person on the street demanding I sign a petition, I try to be nice years ago and politely state I am not interested, and still, they talk, and still they try and try to now force me to be convinced why I should vote, sign, whatever purpose they have. Again, don’t call me, I’ll call you.
My number is on a DNC list like several other million Americans, does that make us all making issues out of things when there isn’t one?
The National Do Not Call Registry does not limit calls by political organizations, charities, or telephone surveyors.
True, but what is being said here is that I have a No Trespassing sign and that is making an issue over nothing. The No Trespassing sign does not keep out a stray cat, the census person, the police looking for a criminal on foot or a missing child, a foreign person, etc. So also by my number being listed on the DNC that does not keep “everything” away does that make it creating an issue when one does not exist? No these are simply steps that I am allowed to enact to keep certain issues from manifesting.
Yes, you could sit in the bushes with your taser and tackle anyone that passes, but you would likely be charged with assault and serve jail time for an unprovoked attack. No trespassing signs are more than enough to ensure no one, including a gay person, is going to want to go near your house.
If they read and comprehend it sure, that is another problem. I still get people now and then that wander through. Earlier this year I was tearing down a structure, yellow taped off the area with caution in 2 languages on it, posted no entry signs without permission, during the demo a JW shows up, passing the signs and passing through the tape to ask if I had a minute to talk with him about his fliers, God, etc.
Really? People are still ignorant to these signs. I don’t expect them to be 100% fool proof but the minute someone falls down in a ditch I have dug up and wants to sue me for it, maybe when they don’t win their case, they will find another way to pass the time, such as literacy volunteers.
Hope the guys are dressed in drag!! That would be a sight.
See this is a problem. Some people just assume gays are just these wild and awful characters. Maybe it’s a good thing that they’re going door to door.
How unfortunate. Now people will think that everyone who is campaigning for these civil rights is gay. Perfect. Yeah. That should be the first thing on their mind.
If you’ve got a no trespassing sign, then fine.
But there is no reason to be uncivil.
I am not being uncivil, it’s there for a few reasons, roaming around on my land to solicit me is one of them.
Walking up to your door and then walking back to the road afterwards isn’t roaming around your land, is it?
Technically yes, you are on my land, my driveway is part of my land, I just choose grass to not grow there. You have an uninvited purpose, just like a hunter who comes across my land with a gun has an uninvited purpose
Don’t come knocking on my door. Just saying
probably after looking at the environment , no one would come to your door anyway
Really, so what kind of environment do you think I live in? I guess because I oppose gay marriage I must have 4 tractors, a car on jack stands, and my trailer with the hitch still on it. Oh yea and none of those 4 tractors work and my lawn is a foot tall. (all sarcasm for those who can not read between the lines)
What are you saying? No one knows who you are so there’s no way to know to not knock on your door!
Really? No one knows who I am? Golly gee what do I do now? Lighten up Francis.
I’m quite light, thank you! I think you know that I mean no one on here, not no one in the whole world.
Francis! That’s a hoot!
What gives these people the right to come on my propety.
If they can read, the signs say Beware of dog and no tresspassing
And if you come to the door don`t put your hand or foot in the doorway. A slammed door may cost you a finger or 2.
Worst then the bible thumpers.
They said they were going door to door,now with that said im sure they will not enter if no tresspassing signs are up. And who says you got to answer the door?
Just stay away, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME
What gives these people the right to infringe on my rights as a property owner.
Last I checked I`m still on the deed and can say who is welcome
Make things up much ?
Then you should make sure there’s a sign posted saying so. If there is no sign, then there’s no way to know.
And who is not welcome? EVERYONE, or just gays and their supporters?
Either way, you sound very hateful.
I’m sure that if you have a NT sign no one will go to your door. Take a breath, centre yourself – talking to a gay person will NOT make you gay
Woah!
Jumping the GUN!
If there is not a no trespassing sign, then what’s the problem?
And what are “these people”? Are you saying that gays and their supporters have Special Non-rights and everyone else can come on your property?
And why would you even assume that anyone would put a foot or hand in your door? That is utter nonsense.
This knee-jerk hate is very disappointing.
/////
It is against the law for someone to enter your property without permission, if you have a ‘no trespassing’ sign. What makes you think any person, let alone a gay person, would want to enter your property, against the law, and get attacked by a dog?
72,000 conversations with whom, Matt? That would amount to about 198 conversations per day. So, 198 of you had one conversation each per day for a year? Was it about the weather, the latest television program, the current war, the garbage collection, the mayor’s race, Facebook, what the preacher said in church, etc.?
Mainers have not changed their minds about marriage being between a man and a woman, as created by God.
Don’t pull the “God” card. Some people don’t even believe in ‘him.’ People break the 10 Commandments all the time. All people were created equal, God created man in his image, and we’re supposed to love our neighbor. Let me say this, if you had fallen overboard from a boat and were drowning, and someone were reaching out a hand to save you and you found out they were gay, what would you do? “Sorry dude, you’re gay. I’ll wait for the next hetersexual to come along and save my butt!”
Fallen overboard? What? That is the poorest analogy in the history of the poor analogy. Has nothing to do with people believing that marriage is between one man and one woman. Anyone who doesn’t reach out to help another human being in need is a sad excuse for a human being. We can all agree on that.
No it’s not Harry.
I know one former minister that believed that HIV/AIDS was Gods vengeance on the homosexual population. This was said over coffee in a local coffee shop to two parishioners, one a long time friend and the other his brother-in-law…who was a celibate homosexual.
This same minister drove out one family from the church because their son was gay and he wouldn’t stop condemning him and his lifestyle to his family. And then would preach that homosexuals were welcome in the church and that we needed to “love the sinner but hate the sin”.
Based on his words vs. his actions I could see him asking if the hand reaching out to him belonged to a homosexual and then saying, “no thanks, I will put my life in Gods hands”.
Would love to hear the ministers side of this story. I’m sure it’s quite different from yours.
care to bet.
Cp444 I was involve in church leadership when both occurred. I knew all people involved and witnessed the condemning of the man’s family personally.
I was friends with both parties of the coffee shop interaction and the exact same story was related by both parties at different times.
I also witnessed a seminarian get up and walk out during a sermon about homosexuality.
He also violated pastor-parishioner confidences by discussing private discussions from pastoral counseling sessions
Much, much more came to light once he moved on and people felt free to talk.
He is no longer a serving pastor.
First of all I highly doubt you were ever involved in church leadership, at least not a Christian one. There are always two sides to a story. I’m sure yours is quite different from the pastors.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Just bs about not being involved in a christian church– there are plenty of christian churches supporting gay marriages.
there are also plenty of pseudo christians spewing hate
I have served on every single board you will find in a Christian church and have held at one time or another every leadership position in said church.
Oh I am sure his story is much different as it was at the time too. He moved onto another church and when he was terminated by the congregation for not forgoing the fruit of the vine he left the ministry altogether.
Now you’re claiming you were a Pastor? Do you ever stop?
During summer vacation season ALL the leaders took at least one Sunday out of six to lead worship and save the church some money.
And remember this cp444, this post was in answer to YOUR question. I didn’t bring it up…you did.
:)
WOW! Even when you witness something, you’re called a liar! Just for the record, I believe you and thanks for sticking up for me on my post!
Thank you. I have no reason to lie about anything. It’s just the way that cp444 deals with people he disagrees with. He has other tactics to but normally makes two or three posts and then disappears. They also hate to answer questions. Ask them a question and see what happens. It’s actually very amusing.
LOL I’ve noticed that with some. They’re all big n bad banging away at those keys, but when put on the spot, they run!
You’re lying right now.
Really? How so cp444
Given your ignorance of the Bible, you’re either lying or it was no Christian church
So tell me cp444 is a CCCC a with a CCCC ordained pastor a “Christian” church?
So what “Christian” denomination church do you attend cp444?
There are no Christian churches that support gay marriage, none.
Don’t like to answer questions do you cp444.
I did answer it, and quite clearly.
Gee I must have missed the post where you stated what your “Christian” denomination was cp444? I am sure it will not take but a minute to re-post it.
Or are you going to prove what I said earlier about not answering question and show who the lier truly is.
I belong to a Non-Denominational Christian church. Do you need that explained to you as well? BTW it’s spelled “liar”.
See that wasn’t so hard was it cp444 and no, I don’t need “that explained to” me as well but thank you for your condescending question just the same.
By the way…normally when posters start pointing out spelling and/or grammatical errors it means they realize the argument is lost and are just attempting to distract from that loss.
Yeah, okay. Whatever you say jd2008jd.
You’ve been caught repeatedly lying.
So much for being a Christian.
I belong to one too and it supports same-sex marriage. You’re wrong when you say “There are absolutely no Christian churches that support gay marriage, none.”
That right there is a lie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessing_of_same-sex_unions_in_Christian_churches
Stop lying about my church.
Well there’s your problem, try the Bible rather than WIKI lol.
Stop lying about Christian churches.
I heard a story where a group of people threw a gay kid over a bridge into the water because he was gay.
I know that there are extremely hateful people out there. I believe that this happened.
I know of a story where two homosexual men sodomized a teen to death.
you really don’t everyone to start on heterosexual sex crimes do you?
I know of ‘stories’ of hetersexuals who have raped, sodomized and killed, too.
Two words – Mathew Shepherd
Do you? Details, please.
I know of several straight women sodomized and raped by straight men, point? What does this have to do with SSM? NOTHING!
I had moved away from Bangor when this happened, and couldn’t believe it when I learned about it. I believe his name was Charlie Howard.
Yes.
How is that a poor analogy? If you’re against gay marriage, then you are against gay people. And I said…….if you were drowning and a gay person reached out to you…..I didn’t say a gay person refused to help you……but I bet you would refuse that help, based on them being gay.
You might ask, how will I know they’re gay? Well, some you can tell, just like with some people, you can tell they are bigots, haters and full of ignorance.
Your premise is incorrect. I am against gay marriage. I am not against gay people. Taking the poor analogy you used given the real world opportunity I would help anyone regardless of who they are and would hope that someone would do the same for me. That is the human factor. Doesn’t have thing one to do with a persons sexual preference. Trying to make it about that is just plain wrong.
The same would apply if an organ donor happened to be gay, and you were near deaths door without the transplant, would you refuse it? It all just makes a difference what the circumstances are, whether gay people are recognized for their worth or not.
Conversations with Mainers on the topic of Same Sex Marriage.
I have had such conversations and I have seen attitudes, opinions, and support shift in our favor.
By the way, who’s life and freedom are you for?
They want to be warm and fuzzy with them to buy their votes. Once they teach it in schools Maine will join the rest of the states the schools will see performance drop.
And you see this as opposed to what? We already have one of the worst education systems in the entire country. By allowing gay marriage our brains will no longer work? It amazes me the drivel you church folks will spew to get your way. It wont happen this time and I am certainly looking forward to November when you are proven wrong.
Nowhere does it say in the upcoming bill that gay marriage will be taught in school – I NEVER learned a thing about marriage IN school –
Nationwide marriage equality is inevitable. The direction is clearly forward, with more and more states legalizing same-sex marriage each year. Eventually it will come to the US Supreme Court and the entire country will finally have marriage equality in one single ruling and there will be no more debate. For the first time in history, we now have a president who publicly supports full marriage rights for same-sex couples and who has and will continue to refuse to defend discrimination, such as DOMA. The most conservatives can hope for is a brief delay, but it’s ultimately a losing battle for them.
Yeah and this president was original bought by insurance companies and medical field, which is why it’s so high and doesn’t cover much and people are dying, which basically makes him an egotist, uncaring co-culler of the tax payer, just like most politicans. He’s done nothing to improve jobs by making less taxes and laws for people to create jobs. He’s a clown, not the happy funny type, more like the creepy one in the sewer in Derry Maine..
are you for real? look at the money trail to see who is bought by big insurance.. why are you complaining? gouging? it’s just capitalism at its best
No and now your on to me.
Sounds like your talking about LePage.
Doesn’t really matter how you spell it does it?
They get paid from the same checking account.
this president will say anything to get elected, the last election he was going to legalize marijuana for medical use, or at least look into relaxing the laws, he is now the most anti-marijuana president we have ever had. Once the public is duped into electing this liar again, he will recant his statement, wait and see. You can’t trust a word he says…
All politicians will say what is needed to get elected
Please provide documentation to back up your claim,thank you.
President Obama said he would close Gitmo. He hasn’t. He said he would creat a simple pre-filled out tax return for some filers. He hast.
Governor LePage said he would create jobs. He hasn’t. By the way Presidents and Govetnors don’t create jobs.
President G.H.W. Bush said “read my lips…no new taxes”.
Any other questions?
You listed three. You stated “all”. Please provide proof to back your claim. Thanks again.
Please provide proof they don’t.
I don’t have the proof, but then again I’m not the one that made the claim, you are. You do have it right?
Some people are born hetersexual, some are born gay. Maybe if ya’ll accept people for who they are, it wouldn’t be an issue! What happens in the privacy of ones bedroom is no ones business, whether you’re gay or straight! Come knock on my door anytime! :)
A lot of stereotypes here. I thought libs were opposed to that sort of thing. You’ve mocked religion in general but specifically Mormons. If the rest of America were as intolerant of your anti religious views, you probably wouldn’t be free to express your opinion.
Here’s some money facts for you. According to the New York Times, Romney has raised $87.4 million. Obama has raised 196.9 million. Who is going to buy the elections?
When you add in the 100 million the Koch brothers and their friends have pledged to beat Obama, it’s alot closer.
Who is going to buy the elections? KOCH BROTHERS!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/koch-brothers-100-million-obama_n_1250828.html
And who’s trying to buy the homosexual vote here in ME?
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/03/20/news/state/longtime-gay-marriage-opponents-michael-heath-paul-madore-form-pac-in-maine/
Why would anyone give to Romney when he’s worth $250M and can snap his fingers and get a boatload of untraceable cash from the anti gay Mormons?
How much longer will the devil be unleashed in this world??
talking about mike heath?
The Metal door I have would feel good hitting these knot heads IN the head!!!!
And I will enjoy seeing you photo in the BDN Police Beat for Aggravated Assault and Hate Crime charges.
They just talk tough, they wouldn’t dare ever do anything like that.
Two words…Charlie Howard
Way to make me depressed remembering Maine’s ugly distant past.
I have his picture, I haven’t forgotten. I just think Maine is a better place now.
Not trying to make you (or anyone else) depressed Roostook. Just trying to remind people how ugly this can get when we forget about that dark day in Bangor’s history.
Is that a threat to physically harm someone?
Is that the action that “The Bible Presented by United Bible Societies” advocates?
Wow, what a rant there cat. Oh were to begin…where to begin…let’s start at the beginning
“The horror is these folks are trying to ram their agenda down our throats again.”
No the horror would be that they even have to fight for what the SCOTUS has called a basic civil right.
~~~~~
“They continue to go against the will of the voters.”
Basic civil rights should never be voted on. Would interracial marriage have been repealed in 1967 if left up to the voters?
~~~~~
“They did it with the Special Rights law that has been rejected countless times only to be rammed through by Baldacci again and not repealed that same year. They are doing it with this issue.”
“Special Rights Law”? Do you mean adding homosexuality as a protected class to Maine’s Anti-Discrimination Law?”
~~~~~
“The people keep saying No.”
Ah its been voted on exactly one time and that time was a “People’s Veto” in 2009.
~~~~~
“When are these folks going to get it. We want them to go away. They are like the plague you can’t get rid of them.”
Hate much?
~~~~~
“They keep coming back because the Liberals feel sorry for them.”
That’s right…just like women when they wanted the vote and blacks when they wanted to be treated like human beings (not I didn’t say like whites). That’s what people do when they don’t have the same rights as other citizens….they keep coming back until they do.
~~~~~
“Once they teach it in schools Maine will join the rest of the states the schools will see performance drop.”
I see you still believe the LIES of NOM. School curriculum is NOT set at the state level. It is set at the local level by the local school boards. After the 2009 vote the “Yes on 1” camp came out and stated that if the SSM law had stood the veto effort it would NOT have lead to teaching SSM or homosexuality in schools.
~~~~~
“The Gay Marriage folks once this passes then will put their agenda into our city council and selectmen’s meetings making the quality of life go down.”
And what would that “agenda” be cat? I want to know…really I do.
~~~~
“Just what Maine doesn’t need another Liberal Social Program that will not only bankrupt Taxpayers but drive the quality of our state down.”
How is extending marriage rights to homosexual couples a “Liberal Social Program” and how will it “drive the quality of our state down”? And what about the other states that allow SSM, how has SSM driven the “quality” of their state down?
~~~~~
“This will be defeated again.”
About the only truthful statement in your entire bigoted rant. SSM will be decided by the SCOTUS just like interracial marriage was. You might want to look at that case for a look to the future of the U.S.. Here is the case citation, Loving v. Virginia.
Well stated jd!
Ah, why waste your time? He’s a “5.”
Uh, how do you feel about the current war on women that the Republicans are waging? Among the nonsense……in one state a woman is pregnant two weeks before she has sex? in another, cut family planning? it goes on and on.
The way Republicans feel about the poor, I am surprised that they aren’t granting abortions on demand, after all it is cheaper to abort a fetus, than to have it on welfare for 18+ years….famly planning, I am surprised they aren’t funding it, since the poor have more children than the 1% (with the exception of Romney :)
It’s very easy to pick and choose a single issue and hammer people on it, but how many look at the big picture of what is going on in Maine, and the rest of the US.
Same sex marriage is a moot point, it has nothing to do with jobs, which we desperately need, tax reform, which we also desperately need, and economic stability, which has eluded us for a decade.
Yet we spend all this time and energy on one issue? What is it 3% of the population are affected by the lack of SSM? The other 97% are concerned with their jobs, keeping a roof on their heads, and staying healthy.
Personally, there can never be same sex marriage. Call it old fashion, but marriage is between a man and a woman. Does this group need protection under the law, of course they do. Given them all the protection they need under the law, they do not NEED same sex marriage.
If you wait til all us old codgers die out, then it might have a chance, but my generation, while believing in equal rights, do not believe SSM is possible. Yes, it is just a word, marriage, but I cannot and will not change my definition of it.
First what does the “war on woman” have to do with SSM? Let me answer that for you. Nothing.
It also has nothing to do with jobs, etc…
Not sure how old you are but I am 51, married 25+ years and SSM does not threaten my marriage one iota.
And “marriage” has not always meant one man and one woman. It has evolved over time and will continue to evolve as states change there laws to allow SSM.
The question that many supporters of SSM ask is this – Without using the Bible or religion in general, please provide a logical reason whe SSM should not be allowed? So far no one has answered that question, will you?
The problem is the current SCOTUS is unlikely to be as enlightened as the 1967 one.Hard to believe after 45 years we are going backwards.Maine has a chance to make history in the best way.
We will see. The SCOTUS has issued ruling after ruling that was unexpected. This could be very much one of them. Read Loving v. Virginia and see the similarities for yourself and that is settled case law.
Hobo maybe you missed it in your History of Western Civilization class but marriage has not always been between one man and one woman.
And people also get married by Rabbi’s, Imam’s, Justices of the Peace, Judges, Captains of Ships in international waters, city and town clerks to name a few and they are just as married as anyone else including those married by “a minister, priest or pastor” in a “church”.
And last time I checked gays didn’t hate religion anymore or less than anyone else. In fact there are several denominations that allow SSM religious ceremonies in their churches and synagogues.
I have no issue with them getting married, but I must say I’m blown away by the door-to-door stuff. I have always hated the idea of religious folks or politicians knocking on my door trying to push their agenda on MY property and in MY home and they do not get a great welcome. Neither will these folks. We hear about this on the news, media and just about everywhere we go these days. Accordingly, the voters of Maine have plenty of resources if they feel they need further information or need convincing on how to vote. They don’t need people knocking on their doors to push it at them. If they want to stand outside a shopping mall or something and hand out brochures and converse with anyone who APPROACHES them wishing to discuss it, fine, but leave out the door-to-door.
I’d think that someone so adverse to anyone knocking on her door that uses the handle you do would know enough to post no trespassing.
Repubs come to my door all the time to push their agendas. So do Girl Scouts.
Big deal.
Don’t you know that Republicans now think that the Girl Scouts are pushing homosexuality???
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/302200/20120221/indiana-republican-bob-morris-accuses-girl-scouts.htm
I just read the letter, and we wonder why we are going down the tubes!
I actually do. People tend to assume it applies only to hunters. If they knock on my treat, I will simply ask them politely to leave no matter whether they are promoting religion, political or other agendas. I do make exceptions for the girl scouts and ALL children.
Agreed.
I understand your point. Unfortunately, there are many unreliable resources for further information as well. If you didn’t wish to speak to the volunteers, I am sure they will wish you a good day and be on their way, without any necessary incident. The last thing they are trying to do is force themselves or their opinion on any other person. Some people need a real conversation, in their own environment, to get through hateful misinformation and understand the truth about Marriage Equality. They need to see the people their decision will impact; true Mainers that live, work, raise families, and pay taxes.
I am sure you are right and that if and when they show up at my door, I will ask them politely to leave and that I will obtain my information on my own. Most people are quite reasonable about things like that.
It’s part of the American way.
Sometimes we are the only people that the voter can have an actual discussion with and ask questions. I have knocked on doors in Bangor, Old Town, and Orono and have had great discussions with people who didn’t necessarily support SSM.
I am glad that these people have been open and civil and willing to discuss this important issue. Many haven’t made up their mind and have thanked me for talking to them.
I appreciate your support, but not everyone is in the same situation as you are.
Yes, and believe it or not, I am aware of that. I just don’t enjoy solicitors. Call and get an appointment first lol
I just do not understand the sheer amount of hatred people have for me. I cannot wait to get out of this state. I love my family, the place I grew up in, my hometown of Caribou, but I cannot take feeling so threatened all the time. The person below me said they’d like to kick my head in. I got my first death threat yesterday. It’s terrifying. I give up. The Christians win.
You should never have to endure anything like that and I’m so sorry you have experienced that. I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t like having ANYONE coming to my door to promote ANY agenda, but I would never show that kind of hatred. I would simply inform them that this is private property and there are hereby being asked to leave at once. If I want information on their cause, I have plenty of resources from which I can obtain that info. That being said, when it comes to this particular issue, I would be very nervous if I were the ones going door-to-door. It’s a heated debate and some people can get really nasty. Bad idea all the way around in my opinion.
What I don’t really understand in all of this whining about answering your doors is this;
At what point would YOU give up on marrying the one you love ?
This is basically what we’re doing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ULdaSrYGLQ
I don’t think they should give up. As I stated before, promote your cause in public places such as malls, stores, etc. Give out brochures, pamphlets, talk to people who wish to talk to you there. Just my opinion. I find it as pushy as the JWs can be. As far as giving up on marrying the one I love. Hey, that marriage license quite honestly means very little to me. We’d still love and adore each other and would still be together after 22 years without that piece of paper. That being said, I can understand them wanting their rights and they should HAVE those rights. I’m all for it!
That marriage license means little to you until one of you ends up in the hospital and the other one can’t see you because you’re “not a family member.”
You know, I’m not asking you to agree with me here. By the way, I DO support gay marriage in case you hadn’t figured that out yet :) That doesn’t change the fact that I don’t like having anyone coming to door and trespassing on my property (especially when they drive past my “no trespassing” signs) :) Sorry if you don’t like that.
LIke I posted earlier, I did this in 2009 and 2011 and have had a great experience. There are some mean people out there, but there are also LOTS of nice people who do and don’t support us.
And if you showed up at my door, I would not treat you with any disrespect. I would simply tell you that I prefer not to be interrupted to discuss such matters and that I would obtain any necessary information I might require on my own, thank you and have yourself a superb day!” :)
And if you showed up at my door, I would not treat you with any disrespect. I would simply tell you that I prefer not to be interrupted to discuss such matters and that I would obtain any necessary information I might require on my own, thank you and have yourself a superb day!” :)
I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Most people when they meet someone who is gay they realize they’re just like the rest of us and just want the same things. If you’ve never met someone who is gay, sometimes all you have is a disorted view.
Please don’t blame all Christians. Not all of us are bigots. There are more people than you know that support you. I am a gay man and partnered to a minister. We all have worth in the eyes of God. Just know that one day all these people who choose to deny equality will one day have to look back and see that they were on the wrong side of history. Things will get better; I promise.
You will one day stand before Jesus and hang your head in shame. That’s HIS promise.
and you follow all the 10 commandments and always have, right?
Nope. I fail everyday, but I’m not the one trying to call a wrong, right.
you don’t seem to learn if you sin everyday- (there should be some penalty for breaking them over and over again0-or don’t you consider that wrong?– perhaps you should just tend to your own soul instead of worrying about someone elses
“That’s HIS promise”… Says who? A group of men who compiled a book 400 years after the death of the supposed savior? A group of men who were more interested in maintaining political power then the good of man? Christian delusions never cease to amaze me. You see it as perfectly fine to judge Mark for his post, so does than mean you pick and choose which of HIS promises you listen to?
Wherever Christianity goes, death, pain, and grief soon follow. Jesus would be more ashamed of you Christians then he ever would be of the people who are striving for equality and justice.
The next time you think you should tell someone else how to live based on your personal unproven religious beliefs, remember the words of Epicurus,
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able or willing?
Then why call him God?”
Do you know what the largest selling book of fiction is?
Try reading this
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/05/13/opinion/five-myths-about-gay-marriage/
Another victory for marriage that the BDN failed to report. Colorado lawmakers killed a civil union bill. Marriage is one man and one woman, the way life should be!
The real victory was Rhode Island.
ya want to save marriage? talk to your compatriots in the bible belt, they’re the ones with the highest divorce rates and rates of teen pregnancy.
kinda wonder about all these “defenders” of marriage– how many times they have been divorced or fonicated outside the sanctity of marriage
Yeah, big surprise! A republicant controlled government votes to support discrimination.
You somehow learned about it.
I didn’t realize that the BDN was supposed to be the World News and Report.
I expect a “newspaper” to report the news in fair and balanced manor rather than trying to sway people’s opinions to the editors personal preferences. Wouldn’t it be great to actually see this happen. Sales would go though the roof.
Have you tried FOX, that’s their motto: Fair and Balanced
What would be “fair and balanced” in your opinion? Are you keeping tally of one anti-gay story per one pro-gay story? Obama supporting it is national news. The campaign here is state news. Issues in NH, MA, and VT are local issues to a degree. Colorado? Not so much news that’s important to people here in Bangor. It matters to ME, but I have multiple sources of news, so I already knew it.
The BDN certainly didn’t cover the abortion clinic bombings in 2012 yet had plenty of space to show the anti choicers parading around.
I bet you grab your ankles, huh?
State contracts are not religious.
Why would they teach it in schools? I’m all for teaching about relationships and compatability in relationships and perhaps the divorce/demise of the family unit wouldn’t be so prevalant!!
yeah and you show your intelligence by your post..
consider this whe you read some of the posts
There’s no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to stir public controversy.
The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults. These findings point to a vicious cycle, according to lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario. Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found. Those ideologies, in turn, stress hierarchy and resistance to change, attitudes that can contribute to prejudice, Hodson wrote in an email to LiveScience.
“Prejudice is extremely complex and multifaceted, making it critical that any factors contributing to bias are uncovered and understood,” he said.
Earlier studies have found links between low levels of education and higher levels of prejudice, Hodson said, so studying intelligence seemed a logical next step
O’, a storm is threatening,
Our very lives today.
If we don’t get some shelter,
Oh, yeah, we’re gonna fade away.
Ooh, Stygian legions amassing,
Out on our very streets today,
Strident with flaming petitions —
Hell-bent on moral decay.
Chaos, children, it’s just a vote away,
It’s just a vote away,
Sodomy, children, it’s just a vote away,
It’s just a vote away.
Nice. Bigotry through poetry.
how does it feel being a poster boy for my posts?
Bigotry wrapped in poetry is still bigotry.
Please “fade-away”.
If your username is based on the Herman Melville character, it’s spelled Queequeg. Try to get something right.
perhaps this too should be considered
”
“Why have some of the nation’s most vehement anti-gay activists—Ted Haggard, Larry Craig—had gay sex scandals of their own? An op-ed in the New York Times’ Sunday Review section tries to explain. The authors of the piece, two research psychologists, say they have “empirical evidence that homophobia can result, at least in part, from the suppression of same-sex desire.” Their argument—summed up in the Times headline as “Homophobic? Maybe You’re Gay”—promises to resolve a long-running debate in the field. For at least 15 years, scientists have been trying to use objective laboratory measures to prove the he-who-smelt-it-dealt-it theory of human sexuality. “
Predict 500+ Posts on this one
I am not sure why there is a need to go door to door. People have decided this vote before in the polls and will do so again. I do not agree with all the bashing going on, on BOTH sides of the debate. Let the decision be made at the polls.
There was a vote 3 years ago and in that time much has happened.
This is also a presidential election and more supporters will be at the polls than in 2009. There is a lot in our favor.
I say we invite them into ours home and point out how misguided they are. Keep them there for quite awhile so they can’t bother other folks. I’m willing to give up my afternoon or evening to keep them from spreading their lies across my neighborhood. I might even save their soul.
how do we stop you from spreading your lies.. these people are coming to show you how misguided you are.. better work on saving your own soul first, you obviously have a long way to go
Yes, I do have a long way to go. So while I’m working on the salvation of my soul I’ll be praying for yours heyrube. See you at the top.
I’m for the separation of Church & Hate.
I’ll do my talking in the ballot box.
Believe me I will also be doing that too.
Do the terms “false imprisonment”, “kidnapping”, “assault” , etc…ring any bells. As soon as you prevent someone from leaving you home, etc…those are the charges you will face.
They will be welcome to leave anytime, It’s their choice to enter into my home.
That’s not what you said quartz. You said “Keep them their for quite awhile so they can’t bother other folks”. How do you propose to “keep them their for quite awhile” then?
I’m naturally a very engaging person so they won’t want to leave. They’ll enjoy a nice conversation and a delicious piece of pie.
///////
But I do want to engage them in conversation. I’m very confident in what I believe, that’s why I’m concerned about their soul.
Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.
Religion is a tool used by the wicked to manipulate the ignorant.
Matthew 7:5
We don’t go into houses.
Umm tell that to the last young lady that came to my house proselytizing the religion of homosexuality.
i’ll remember that the next time some psuedo christian starts talking to me
Was she in your house?
If so, did you invite her in?
I invited her in as I do most people who come to my door (I’m probably way too trusting). She looked tired so I invited her in for a glass of water.
What lies ? Read this http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/05/13/opinion/five-myths-about-gay-marriage/
That homosexual behavior is normal.
You do understand that many heterosexual couples married or not engage in the same sexual activity as homosexuals don’t you?
Yes they are born that way. An don’t mention sodomy either because ladies do it too even strigh ladies do it
It’s normal for gay people.
Didn’t I see your house on the last episode of Hoarders?
Is Hoarders a TV show?
no means no. even in their world.
This may be redundant but I am hoping the “facebook” users out there are aware of the large donation of $100,000.00 dollars to support this issue in Maine by one of the co-founders of Facebook. It would be nice if people backed up their opposition to this beat to death issue by not supporting/using his “product”.
“Beat to death issue.”
Nice.
Easy for someone to say who appears to not have to worry about the issues we worry about.
That would be a dream come true.
The less bigots on FB, the better !
It’ll be an eventful summer!
Why do all liberals accuse their opponents of “hate?” That seems to be one of their favorite scare tactics: accuse you of “hate” because you have a view point different than theirs…
I can only speak for myself and as a non-liberal. I use the word “hate” when it is appropriate. If you don’t agree with SSM fine. You are free to express that opinion but doing so with words like “you gays” or “them” or “libtards”, etc…earns the word “hate” in response.
Sometimes it’s appropriate and sometimes it’s not. But please tell me, if you think gay marriage is bad and sinful, if you think allowing children to know that some families are different, if you think marriage needs defending from gays — what is that but hate?
It’s an opinion — you have one and so do I. You believe you are right, but so do I. I don’t think you “hate” or are hateful because your opinion differs from mine, and I don’t call you names because you have a different opinion than mine. Therein lies the difference.
I never said you weren’t allowed to have an opinion. The thing is though, opinions can obviously be hateful. Like I’ve already said, if you say gays need to be kept away from children and that they effectively ruin marriage, what else is your opinion but hate?
Because you don’t agree with them.
Why? Why would you do that?
Canvassing neighborhoods is something that happens in many political campaigns as well as fundraising. It is hardly the tactics of solely the JW’s.
And yes, there might be demonstrations. And again, that is hardly the domain of JWs. In fact, you might recall, that the Society for Tradition, Family, and Property, a Catholic organization that opposes SSM, demonstrated on the street corner by Home Depot in 2009.
What’s ridiculous is your post.
Generalizing like that makes what you wrote nonsense.
You know that not all people, gay or straight, want to get married in a church.
You know that there are gay people who are religious.
You know that there are Liberals who are religious.
*yawn*
“ram down…throats”
“agenda”
“Special Rights”
“plague”
“Schools will see performance drop”
“Liberal Social Program”
This hyperbole is really quite tiring.
I’m going to pose this question again since nobody seems able to give me an answer?
Without throwing god under the bus, without using the bible as a crutch (because nobody can prove that either are real or true) why are people who love each other, have been in a committed relationship for years, not deserve the right to marry like everyone else?
Before anyone throws out the “it’s not natural” argument, let me remind you, thousands of species do homosexual acts INSTINCTIVELY, yet we are the only species that worships a magical sky wizard. Should we really be trying to discriminate based on a hunch that a deity whom we have no idea if they even exist, would want that?
Name one species that reproduces by same-sex coupling. I’ll be here waiting….
I said nothing about reproducing. Are you trying to imply that straight people only have sex for reproductive purposes? Yeah, right. Good try, but try again. Do you plan to give me an answer to my question?
Where on a marriage license will I find the question asking if the couple intends to procreate. I’ll be here waiting…..
I just don’t get why that standard for marriage is applied only to us? Heck, I do NOT want children!!!! And I know some straight couples that don’t, either.
Ack, there are too many kids in this world and if we DID want one, we’d adopt, just as our married friends in California have done. They adopted a child who was the child of an drug-addicted mother who did not care for the kid nor provide him with a safe and loving home.
Boy, it’s going to be NICE this weekend! I can’t wait for the sun!!!
*yawn*
This guy is a gas!
More of a carbon monoxide than a nitrous oxide, though…
There wouldn’t be any “trying to ram their agenda down our throats again” if this is just voted on and passed! If there’s anything being rammed down anyones throat, it’s hetersexuals, like yourself, ramming it down the throats of gay people, that it is wrong to be gay and it’s wrong to get married.
This issue will not be taught in Maine schools. Marriage hasn’t been taught before, so what makes you think it will be taught now?
Gay people are not “like the plague”. Gay people are just that…..PEOPLE! They work, play, exist among us and have feelings just like everyone else. They just want equal rights when it comes to marriage. What goes on in the privacy of ones bedroom is no ones business, whether you’re gay or hetersexual. I hope this referendum passes!
///////
kinda shows your level there, bubba
There are absolutely no Christian churches that support gay marriage, none.
That’s a lie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominational_positions_on_homosexuality
untrue, but i expected nothing less
I know some United Church of Christ churches that would beg to differ with you cp444.
There are NO Christian churches that support gay marriage. They can beg to differ all the want.
Yes, there are. You can beg to differ all you want and ignore reality, but it doesn’t make it so.
Care to offer proof that the UCC is not a “Christian” church cp? And while you are at it, what “Christian” denomination claims you as a member?
Repeating a lie over and over again doesn’t make it true.
You would be absolutely correct. And repeating the truth over and over doesn’t always make the blind see.
Your arguing a Biblical point. The Bible is not the basis of civil laws in the United States. Homosexuality is not illegal anywhere in the U.S..
Surprising answer coming from a pastor.
So the lies continue from cp444. Never claimed to be a pastor. In response to a statement you made yesterday I said that ALL the leaders of my church took one of 6 Sundays during summer vacation season to lead worship to save our church money (in summer supply ministers). At no time did I say “I was a pastor”. Now that we have cleared up your blatant misrepresentation used as a smokescreen lets get back on point.
“Your arguing a Biblical point.” cp444 that is a fact.
“The Bible is not the basis of civil laws in the United States.” That is also a fact.
“Homosexuality is not illegal anywhere in the U.S..” That is also a fact.
Care to dispute these established facts?
YOUR Christian church doesn’t, but there are some that do – It’s a simple fact of life.
I don’t always let Republicans tell me about Jesus, but when I do, I ask them about Matthew 25: 31-46.
…
Same Sex Marriage stories = More Clicks = More $$ for BDN. Expect to see this as top stories on website for the foreseeable future.
I wonder if they will be wearing girl scout uniforms and if they’ll have any cookies? At least then I can get a snack while I explain to them that homosexuality is a mental illness. I dont expect they will like hearing that so I suppose I need to get the cookie first hun?
mental illness? is that what you were diagnosed with?
A “mental illness”. Could you provide a reference for that please and thank you.
Yes its called the DSM-III, which is the manual used to diagnose mental illnesses. Up until a few years ago homosexuality was listed as a mental illness, which it is. It would be just a unnatural for a person to want to romance a chrome car bumper as someone of their own gender, but so as not to be called a “hater” now suddenly what was a mental illness isnt anymore. Once again political correctness gone wild.
If you mean “up until a few years ago” as the 1970’s then yes it was considered a mental illness until then. But for the last 30 or so years a lot of research has been done and it is still upheld as NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS.
Are you a psychologist?
“Yes its called the DSM-III, which is the manual used to diagnose mental
illnesses.. ”
The DSM-III hasn’t been used since approximately 1987’s when DSM-III-R replaced DSM-III. DSM-IV then replaced DSM-III-R in 1994.
~~~~~
“Up until a few years ago homosexuality was listed as a mental illness, which it is.”
Homosexuality was removed from DSM-III in 1973, which is not “a few years ago”.
Are you falling for that Republican myth that girls scouts are promoting homosexuality???
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/302200/20120221/indiana-republican-bob-morris-accuses-girl-scouts.htm
—–
That’s a product of his mental illness, the diagnosis “IGNORANCE”.
Homosexuality was removed from the DVM dx book in the 70’s.
=====
Good grief, give it a rest already. Most people are aware of the law.
If they come to my door, I’m going to decline to talk to them. I’ve made up my mind, I’m against it and I’m not changing it. I don’t care how “persuasive” they are.
They’ll see my side in no time at all.
Yep. Doesn’t make it right for them either. The purpose of sex is for procreation. But, don’t worry I do understand every sexual intercourse will not result in a pregnancy but, at least I am open to life.
/////
You don’t get to dictate what “the purpose” of sex is, either.
Sorry, but what’s none of your business, is none of your business.
Nature dictates the purpose of sex.
And the purpose would be?
Let’s do a basic biology lesson here the purpose of sex is to procreate.
Let’s do a review of the Maine Marriage License…where would I find the question or statement that ask if the couple intends to procreate?
I don’t need a license to tell me that the purpose of sex is to procreate. Homosexuals really don’t care about getting married what they want is acceptance of them having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex.
But the purpose of marriage is NOT to procreate is it? If it were, couples that are infertile, post-menopausal, etc…would not need one or would not be allowed to get married.
How many ways can jd split a hair? That’s the million dollar question.
LOL when you have nothing else make the case the poster is “splitting hairs”. Way to win an argument cp444.
Is the purpose of marriage to procreate?
If the answer is yes, why do we (society) allow couples that do not possess or have the ability to procreate to get married?
Ha! And the same for cp444!
Why do you say that?
Is that the ONLY purpose? Don’t some people go out of their way to ensure that their sexual acts DON’T result in procreation, too?
I don’t know about you but I am not about to let ANYONE and I mean ANYONE tell me how to live my life and who to love. This is a free country and we are all protected under our Constitution. It is wrong morally and ethically. I do exercise my freedom of choice and freedom of expression. I do not condone bible thumpers telling others how to live. Whatever happened to keeping CHURCH AND STATE SEPARATE? That is a violation of OUR RIGHTS AS AMERICANS and shouldn’t be allowed. I am not about to throw my freedom away are u? Think about it. How would u like someone telling you, gay or straight, that you cannot marry the person you love or can’t live your life the way you want it? And I sure as hell don’t need a piece of paper stating that I am married to whomever. The love, commitment, and support of each other is all that marriage should be about……in Jesus’ days there were no husbands and wives, there were companions. And if you want to get technical marriage is the joining of two things, not just people. You can thank the bible thumpers for blowing that out of proportion. So all of you organizers that are against gay marriage and say that GOD hates those who are not straight, how about you take your ill minded attitudes and judgmental perspectives and shove em. If god hates them so much, yet is the creator of all humans, then why did he make them? It is you who hate them not GOD! So shut up and leave them alone. Go pray somewhere.
Im voting against this. I have my reasons why and I will keep them to myself out of respect for both sides! All I ask is what do I need to do to prevent people from knocking on my door in support of this? I dont care what you support…religion, gay-marriage, anything really. Dont knock on my door please. Mail me a postcard highlighting your points and I read it at my leisure
A simple “No Solicitation” sign on your door should suffice.
They carry them at the hardware store.
Thank you so very much! I actually do support gay marriage, but have been hacked upon for not wanting ANYONE knocking on my door. That’s why I have that no trespassing sign that everyone ignores. I swear I get more Jehovah’s Witnesses now than I did before the sign.
I just read the last thirty or so comments and there is not ONE legitimate argument against gay marriage among them, hate-filled though they may be. If you are against giving the right to marry to homosexuals, please explain why, in legal terms, you believe your view should prevail. Warning: no religious arguments, as they are not permitted under the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
First of all, since there is no such thing as separation of church and State in our Constitution religious arguments are allowed. Having said that, Im not religious. The reason the government stuck its nose into the religious ceremony known as marriage was money, but the reason they stated was the “promulagation of children”. In other words, the government involved itself in marriage and started issuing marriage licenses to promote families. With that was their stated reason for having anything to do with anyones marriage, how can you extend that reasoning to same-sex couples? You cant. While a gay couple may be “married” to some, its never going to be a real marriage and its never going to promote the rise of families so the government shouldnt have anything to do with it. You show me a same-sex couple who can naturally produce offspring of their own and I’ll support their marriage on the spot.
I’m for the separation of Church & Hate.
“You show me a same-sex couple who can naturally produce offspring of their own and I’ll support their marriage on the spot.”
So based on this statement you would not support the following one male-one female marriages:
The infertile,
The post-menopausal,
The elderly,
etc…
Being infertile, not immoral
Being post menopausal, not immoral
Being elderly, not immoral
Being homosexual, immoral.
Did I say those groups were moral or immoral in my post cp444? No I didn’t.
BDNisHYPOCRITICAL posted – “You show me a same-sex couple who can naturally produce offspring of their own and I’ll support their marriage on the spot.”
His statement is not asking about the mortality or immorality of SSM. His statement says he will support SSM if they can naturally produce offspring.
So if marriage is about the ability to procreate and not about anything else including love, then those couples that lack the ability to procreate shouldn’t be allowed to marry based on BDNisHYPOCRITICAL post should they cp444?
It appears that you’re saying that only IMMORAL couples that can’t procreate shouldn’t be allowed to marry. Do I understand you correctly?
There will be many people who will be campainging for various issues and candidates over the next six months. Some of them, or many of them, will be unprofessional, overtly aggressive, or just, by and large, clueless. The people for whom they do this work are not necessarily good at ensuring that these people are well-informed, thoughtful, or professional in their approach.
While it is extremely difficult to separate out the person from the issue or the party, (and perhaps we should not, because if the people in charge can’t control who is speaking for them, it is not encouraging), I think it’s important to try.
This particular matter is one of equity in civil matters. I cannot object to that.
But when I am cornered by some 20 year old, who demands, “Do you support same-sex marriage?” And I reply that I don’t understand why the movement is not inclusive of other social and economic living situations, where people are a “family” unit, (not ‘romantic’ living arrangements), but do not have the same protections as people who are “married,” and there is no understanding of the larger civil rights issues, and the retort is again, “Do you support same-sex marriage?”, I walk away, and I am less likely to vote in favor of it.
Isn’t this about a broadening of civil rights views? It is wrong to not recognize that “marriage,” a fairly recent invention, is not what should entitle individuals to basic civil rights, including income taxes, access to people who are hospitalized, etc. Why, indeed, should you not be able to place your mother, on your health insurance plan, if she is living with you? Or your adult daughter? Or the friend with whom you have a living relationship with? “Family.”
With the very important problems we have now, and an important election looming, to get caught up in any of this in terms of anything other than civil rights is a huge mistake that will cost us dearly. We cannot afford to allow this issue, no matter how badly presented, to fog over everything else, and we shouldn’t let it.
In a million years, I would never have given an iota of thought to who was living with whom, or what their personal habits are. It didn’t matter. Media has made it an issue. People need to be perceived as people, without speculating on their ‘romantic’ habits.
Oh now I understand…it’s a secret recruiting campaign. SSM = more gays. That is a very enlightened opinion you have,,,not!
Or that somehow voting against this will make them disappear.
These bible thumpers are all hypocrites anyway. They yell,”God hates you” all the time. They hide behind their hatred. It is not God who hates, it is people who hate. So when they yell,”God hates gays”, they are really saying,”We hate gays”. God is the creator of life. He loves everyone and created all of us. If he had hate for those he created differently then don’t you think he wouldn’t have made them at all? Besides this is a free country. I don’t know about you but I don’t want anyone telling me how to live my life and not letting me love who I want. Would you? Gay or straight? We are all protected under our constitutional rights as individuals to choose our way of life and to express it however we want. Church and State should be separate, yet governments are allowing these views interfere with state or government business. But they aren’t corrupt at all…..oh no not them….they care about everyone. NOT! Hate and Bigotry are the pollution in this god forsaken country. It’s right up there with power, greed, ignorance, and corruption. Don’t hate people for being different. Hate people who kill, rape, steal, abuse, and oppress. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all!
As soon as the old people that think it’s still 1960 die off this will pass. I am still unsure as to why so many people think it is their business as to how others live their lives. Isn’t that a lot of wasted energy worrying what someone else is doing that doesn’t affect you?
The “old people” are the ones who fought for your civil, and other, rights.
And now it is obvious that the same sex marriage crowd is getting desperate. This is proof that they are looking for trouble, and the wrong knock on the wrong door might just prove my case. Bad idea all around folks. Bad.
My thoughts exactly. Unfortunately, I do know of a few people in my area who make their hatred quite well known towards the gay population. I hope they don’t show up at their door. Although I would like to think nobody would harm someone for such a thing, I wouldn’t guarantee it with some of these haters.
So how many of these “married” couples who have children will decide to file their tax returns as married filing jointly and lose their earned income credit refund?
Who cares? It’s up to them and not our business.
· · · — — — · · ·
Federally their marriage is not recognized, its a state thing. LGBT students in Mass still file as single for Financial Aid
…
…
Bigots not using facebook – that’s a great idea, and I fully support it.
Isolate yourselves socially, and let the rest of us get on with our lives.
…
You don’t even live in Maine.
Keep your Ohio hate in Ohio.
It would be totally pointless to explain to you. I have never once seen anyone that disagrees with you not get drawn into a totally foolish hairsplitting argument. You just can’t reason with someonone who thinks they know everything.
I am horrified at some of these comments. Please come to my door, I welcome you with open arms. I am writing a check and signing up to volunteer today after reading some of these hateful comments. People are people folks….no one is any better or any worse than the next person. Thank you Beth Allen and all of the volunteers.
They are not volunteers.
Oh, you’re a funny guy jd, you really are.
And here is another example of going to an extreme. The pastor doesn’t even play on the softball team but three churches decide to punish the players (of all the teams I will add) by refusing to play a softball game.
“Pastor’s sexuality splits Missouri church softball league”
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/16/pastor-sexuality-splits-missouri-church-softball-league/
I seem to recall when the christian church would not marry a black man and a white woman. Leave people alone, life is hard enough.
MAY 15–An Indiana pastor is facing a voyeurism charge for allegedly placing hidden cameras disguised as air fresheners in the women’s bathroom of the Lafayette church he had headed for the last decade.
Robert Lyzenga, 55, was arrested last week by the Tippecanoe County Police Department on the felony count. He was freed from custody after posting $5000 bond.
The voyeurism probe began last month when cops were dispatched to the Sunrise Christian Reform Church, where a woman reported that an air freshener had fallen off the door inside a stall. “The back of the air freshener had come off, and she saw there was a camera inside,” cops reported in an affidavit filed in support of a court application to search Lyzenga’s home and church office
Lyzenga showed them around to several offices, but officers made no matches. That is when Goldsmith “asked about Lyzenga’s office,”according to the affidavit. Goldsmith “noticed Lyzenga was very nervous” as he accompanied the investigator into the space. The pastor’s office, Goldsmith reported, appeared identical to the office seen on one of the videos (down to a Superman mouse pad on the desk).Lyzenga, was subsequently busted in connection with the surreptitious bathroom filming. Married for 30 years, the father of three was fired from his pastor’s post immediately following his May 10 arres
ahh them crazy christians– and they worry about someone elses life?
Come to my door and I will gladly take you to Bible passages that show what God has to say about it. He is the final authority and all will by judged based on what He says about it.
God calls it “uncleaness”, “Vile affections”, “error”, “against nature” (its unnatural – you were not born that way). The Bible speaks of a reprobate mind that allows people to do these things and it doesn’t bother them anymore (at one point their conscience did bother them)
(Rom 1:24-28)
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”
Lifestyle:
pertaining to or catering to a certain lifestyle: unhealthy lifestyle choices; lifestyle advertising; a luxury lifestyle hotel.
3. (of a drug) used to treat a medical condition that is not life-threatening or painful: lifestyle drugs for baldness.
Sexual Orientation:
one’s natural preference in sexual partners; predilection for homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
No one chooses to be gay, lesbian, transexual, bisexual or queer,
whatever you wish to label it – its is a natural, as in dictated by
God. My God. Maybe your God tells you to hate, mine to love
Prove to me that god exists and that the bible isn’t just a book of messed up fables. Until you do, that book isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. If you don’t follow the book COMPLETELY (and you would likely be serving life in prison if you did) than you are a hypocrite.
Religion is mythology and you couldn’t prove otherwise. You don’t even know who wrote that garbage, let alone it being the word of some ignorant, cruel racist god.
But the Bible is not the basis of civil law in the United States.
Most of these idiots would support “marrying” a dog and cat if you told them to not do so would be “racist” or make them a “hater”. Its simply amazing how easily these dolts can be manipulated into doing things against their own interests simply by using the threat of political correctness against them. And Im just talking about the BDN staff. The voters are a whole nother story.
How many of these idiots have you met personally?
That’s ridiculous.
Well it took almost 390 posts before someone played the animal card.
Bestiality is illegal in all 50 states and will remain illegal. Animals do not have conscious thought, cannot grant informed consent and cannot enter into a legal binding contract. All three are needed to sign a marriage application.
First of all I would like for you to provide documentation that it will NEVER become legal. Second, I find your reasons for not having sex with animals quite disturbing.
Nicely played cp444…nicely played.
Tell you what, you provide documentation from any of the current states that allow SSM where a bill has been filed or voted on to allow “marriage” between a human and an animal. After all that is normally the “slippery slope” argument opponents to SSM make…if we allow homosexuals to marry it will be X, Y or Z next.
You find my “reasons for not having sex with animals quite disturbing” really? Do tell why.
. You have no proof for the claim you are making and are at the same time pointing your finger at others for doing the same. That’s called hypocrisy.
So if you could somehow get an animal to sign a piece of paper you would jump on board, so to speak. Yes, that is disturbing.
cp444 beastiality is illegal for the reasons listed. There is no chance under the sun that it will EVER be legal and there is no chance it will be legal to marry an animal. Say what you want to say but it is nothing more then an attempt to change the subject matter at hand. Nice try but any thinking person knows that it isn’t going to happen.
And why do you insist on putting words into posters mouths? Are you attempting to start a fight?
I posted the reasons why bestiality is illegal. Do you have something to dispute those legal reasons? Do you deny that those are the reasons? Can you point to one state where SSM is legal and where a bill has been presented to make bestiality legal too? The slippery slope argument is only valid if you can point to something that shows it is occurring and that IS the argument you are attempting to make.
Bestiality is ILLEGAL, it remains ILLEGAL even in states where SSM is allowed and it will remain ILLEGAL.
Humans (even homosexual humans) do have conscious thought, do have the ability to grant informed consent and have the ability to sign a legal binding contract. And those are the factual reasons (and the opposable thumb) that separate us from animals.
What is REALLY disturbing is the length that you will go to, the lies, the misrepresentations, etc…of other posters and their positions and then calling yourself a “Christian”.
They said the exact same thing years ago about homosexuality becoming commonplace never mind getting married. Provide the proof to back your claim that it will never become legal. Name calling is sure sign that you have lost the argument. Your biggest problem is you can’t take your own medicine thrown back at you.
Name calling cp444? I am not name calling. I am stating fact. You intentionally misquote people. You intentionally misrepresent what posters say. If you call stating facts about what you do, then I am guilty.
Here are some other facts for you:
Fact #1 – Humans have conscious thought. Even, gasp! homosexual humans have conscious thought. Animals do not have conscious thought and that is NOT going to change.
Fact #2 – Humans have the ability to give informed consent. That means humans have the ability to understand (in most cases) that if they do “x”, “y” will result. Even homosexual humans have that ability. Animals do not have that ability. If they did, dogs wouldn’t eat “x” and puke it up 5 minutes later on your livingroom rug.
Fact #3 – Humana have the ability to sign a contract that binds them to certain things, perform certain duties, make certain payments, etc… Even homosexual humans have that ability. Animals a) can not write, b) cannot read, c) cannot process the legal implications of a contract, etc…so they do not have that ability.
Those are all facts and I do not see My of them changing now, in the near future or in the distant future.
So, how do you see any of these facts changing in the future co444. Oh, please keep in mind that a heterosexual human and a homosexual human are at the rout still human and have always possessed the same abilities, skills, etc… Humans and animals are and will remain different inane ways and this also will not change. The “Planet of the Apes” while a so-so movie was and is still a movie and has no basis in reality now or in the future.
1. Animals do indeed have conscience thoughts. If my dog is hungry or needs to go out he lets us know.
2. If I ask my dog if he wants to go for a ride or a walk he most certainly gives us his consent.
3. Are there not illiterate people. Are there not people who can’t sign their name?
I want proof that this will never happen in the future, show it to me.
I’ll repeat, name calling is a sure sign you have lost the argument. Every word out of your mouth is fact. Given your personality that’s not surprising.
Ever hear of Pavlov’s Dog and conditioned response cp444?
Both of what you describe (eating and going dot a ride) are conditioned response and have nothing to do with conscious thought.
Do you ask your dog for their consent before your vet gives them a shot or before you put them down? No of course not because they cannot give informed consent. You, the owner of the dog (property in legal terms) give your permission instead.
Of course both of these facts are null and void if you are “Dr. Doolittle” which we all know was a good children’s movie but has no basis in reality.
Keep asking for “proof” cp444 as the more you ask the further from reality you appear.
You have still failed to provide proof. You are ever so slowly aquiescing which is typical of you when asked to admit you’re wrong. We must give you lots of room to save face. It’s simple really, provide the proof of your claim, not your favorite tv shows.
And you continue to ignore facts.
It will not change cp444. We are not going to wake up tomorrow, next week, next year or next decade and discover that animals can reason, have conscious thought, give informed consent or sign contracts. It isn’t going to happen.
But hey if it makes you happy to think that one day you will be able to marry your dog, that up to you.
I tend to deal in facts and reality. You seem to enjoy the fantasy world.
If you can’t see the difference, then there’s no hope.
He was speaking in a legal sense, considering we’re talking about what’s legal and what’s not.
How DARE you!! How VERY DARE you!!!
My cat does, INDEED, have conscious thought!!! Why, just this morning, AGAIN, she went on for 20 minutes about how she wants to marry our antique chair. Well, I think that’s what she was saying. Maybe she just wanted out. It’s hard to tell sometimes WHAT she wants…
Mainers United for Marriage is such a misleading title! I pray the pro-gay agenda in this state comes to a halt. ALL statistics show the importance of a child having a mom and dad in their life and opening the door to gay marriage certainly will affect children who are raised in that unnatural environment. No matter what pro-gay advocates tell you, homosexual marriage is NOT natural or normal and deep down the advocates know that–they prefer to reward their sexual preference rather than following their conscience.
Sexual Orientation:
one’s natural preference in sexual partners; predilection for homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
No one chooses to be gay, lesbian, transexual, bisexual or queer,
whatever you wish to label it – its is a natural, as in dictated by
God. I pray that when you are at Judgement day and your heart was full of hate for you fellow man that you reap all that you have sowed
Sigh…another reason why the Prop 8 trial should have been televised. This nonsense was debunked multiple times in that trial.
Then again, would you believe the research that proves you wrong? Would it all be pro-gay propaganda?
You made the claim that you have held “every” leadership position. A pastor is clearly a leadership position. You got caught and are now trying to squirm you way out of it. I actually felt embarrassed for you given your limited Biblical knowledge. Well anyway, glad we cleared that up. Have a great day.
No cp444 it is completely true that I have held every leadership position in my church. That is the complete and unadulterated truth.
You then made a comment about being a pastor to which I responded that during the summer vacation time of six weeks each of the church leaders lead worship. That is far from being an ordained pastor.
I stand by what I post. You on the other hand being the good and ethical “Christian” that you are twist, manipulate, etc…the words of other posters in the desperate attempt to bolster your position.
Maybe you should go read what the Bible says about false witness and judging others. But I am sure that you will try and twist those words to allow so you may continue your “Christian” work.
My responses to you keep popping up elsewhere. You made the claim that you held EVERY leadership within the church. I called you out on that lie and you tried to squirm your way out rather than admit that you were never a pastor which is obvious to anyone who reads your posts. I see your resorting to name calling, a sure sign you’ve lost the argument ;)
No lie, I have held every leadership position in my church. That is a fact and 99% of the readers know and understand what that means.
You accused me of “splitting hairs” yesterday. Maybe you should go look in a mirror as your split ends are showing this beautiful morning.
Please provide proof of your claim.
Name calling is a sure sign you have been caught in a lie.
So why do you continue to do it?
You were certainly trying to imply it and you got called to the carpet on it. You can’t handle your own medicine can you.
You called into question my “Christian” church. You called into question the leadership I performed in my church. You called me a liar. You said my church was not a “Christian” church. You said I never held any leadership position. I clarified my position and said that as a leader we all lead worship ONE Sunday out of six and you claim I called myself a pastor. Another lie.
I have only one more thing to say to you about this matter….”away from me Satan”
My my jd2009jd. The name calling is getting quite nasty. You clearly stated you held every position there was in the church. Pastor is certainly a leadership position. Speaking one day at church certainly is the same as being a pastor. You lied. You got called to the carpet and now your getting nasty with the names. Now once again, why do you refuse to answer the question posed to you. Please provide documentation that people will never ever be able to marry their pets or other animals.
Please provide proof tha 99% of the readers know this.
Of all the posters that have posted you are the only one arguing about it.
Please provide proof of the 99%. Thank you
Last time you checked gays didn’t hate religion anyone else? When did you
Sat check? What were your sources for this?
Why are you generalizing like this?
It’s a very simple question that you refuse to answer for some reason. Please provide proof you who deals only in facts.
Donna Summer died today. :o(