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This is the defining social issue of our time. Liberals and conservatives are becoming ever-more polarized and hateful towards each other on this issue. Take gay rights out of the picture and many people on both sides would switch parties based on their other convictions. There are grassroots conservative groups that want to secede from the Union if gay marriage were to be legalized, and liberal groups that want to do the same if a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage were to ever be passed. Religion, whether or not believed in, was largely looked upon as a positive thing in the past but today religious people are becoming increasingly marginalized because of opposition to homosexuality. Like it or not, this is the issue that dominates our politics and is likely to get much uglier before it gets better.
After gay marriage is legalized nationwide (it will be eventually, though I don't see it happening for many years), people will move on and forget about it - just like after interracial marriage was legalized nationwide. People will accept gays and gay relationships, just as they have by and large accepted black people as equals and accepted interracial relationships.
OTOH, the percent of people who oppose abortion rights has not really changed over the past few decades. In fact, recent trends show the percent going up.
I also think illegal immigration may be a bit more polarizing.
It's absolutely laughable to suggest that gay marriage is the most polarizing issue of the past 150 years. I don't see it as being an issue that "dominates our politics" at all.
I would like to see equality for gays, but it is not a defining issue for me. In fact, I think our failed War on Drugs, which overwhelmingly targets the poor and minorities is a graver concern. However, this issue is rarely discussed.
This is the defining social issue of our time. Liberals and conservatives are becoming ever-more polarized and hateful towards each other on this issue. Take gay rights out of the picture and many people on both sides would switch parties based on their other convictions. There are grassroots conservative groups that want to secede from the Union if gay marriage were to be legalized, and liberal groups that want to do the same if a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage were to ever be passed. Religion, whether or not believed in, was largely looked upon as a positive thing in the past but today religious people are becoming increasingly marginalized because of opposition to homosexuality. Like it or not, this is the issue that dominates our politics and is likely to get much uglier before it gets better.
Slow down bchris02...
You are reading way too much into this.
Liberals simply ran out oppressed victims of white males, so they found some new ones (homosexuals and Muslims).
After all, without oppressed victims of a bigoted society, who needs a liberal?
I would like to see equality for gays, but it is not a defining issue for me. In fact, I think our failed War on Drugs, which overwhelmingly targets the poor and minorities is a graver concern. However, this issue is rarely discussed.
I agree. I feel as long as those who need/want it have a way to have the same opportunities (or benefits) as everyone else I'm good. I don't really care how that happens.
The drug war is a much bigger problem. Abortion, although polarizing, is just never going to go away as a political issue because there will be no criminalizing and there will be no acceptance.
Interesting: Democrats are generally accepting of controversial issues; Republicans are generally not.
Maybe there is just more passion and emotion tied to the gay rights issue. That is evidenced here as its impossible to have a discussion on it without it turning into a name-calling hate fest. There are few if any other issues you can say that about.
No, Immigration is the biggest issue. It is transforming our nation, in ways which include creating a climate less accepting of homosexuality and effeminacy.
Bullying of Gay students (or students who can convincingly be accused of being Gay) is epidemic. Kids are dying, because of this. These attacks (frequently physical assaults) are being carried out by youths who are not Traditional Americans. Or, as a result of downward assimilation, the attacks are being carried out by youths who have been influenced by the homophobic newcomers.
We cannot expect to import vast numbers people from places where women and homosexuals are treated as non-humans, and expect to retain the climate of enlightenment which we were just beginning to enjoy. It took us centuries to throw off the anti-homosexual/anti-woman religious dogma imposed upon the European World by outsiders. Now, all that progress is being erased.
(I'm not of European descent, but I have sense enough to be grateful, and to acknowledge my European enculturation...and to want to defend the way of life and thought which has given me so much.)
Now, we're being swamped by people who have no interest in enlightened thinking. It is doubtful that many of these people are even mentally capable of becoming truly educated. They're only here for the goodies our wealthy society throws at them. They're here for the free health care, not for our freedoms of speech and thought.
Maybe there is just more passion and emotion tied to the gay rights issue. That is evidenced here as its impossible to have a discussion on it without it turning into a name-calling hate fest. There are few if any other issues you can say that about.
[quote=AnUnidentifiedMale;22658247]Gallup has produced a report on this subject. The most divisive issue in America as of last May is doctor-assisted suicided. Abortion comes in second.
But pornography and gay relationships produce the biggest generational gaps.
Interesting: Democrats are generally accepting of controversial issues; Republicans are generally not.
Someone has to be the adult in the room.
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