OCR Text |
Show B6 ELECTION Monday • November 3, 2008 Should gays be allowed to marry? Students fill Ragan Theater to listen to debate over the issue of same-sex marriage • GREGWILGOX Staff Writer To a packed crowd of students, faculty and local residents, Eric Porter, president of UVU's Gay-Straight Alliance, tearfully stressed his point. "To say that a homosexual couple can't raise a child, or that one that is single cannot raise a loving family is completely false. We can't use laws to deny rights of others." said Porter. Last Thursday afternoon the Ragan Theater filled beyond capacity for the samesex marriage debate, proving the amount of concern and interest this issue can cause. Enough people showed up that many were forced to leave due to iire code protocol. Defending same-sex marriage on one side of the table was Eric Porter and Cheryl Jacques, former Mass. Senator and former president of the Human Rights Campaign. On the other side, Dr. A. Scott Loveless, executive director of the World Family Policy Center, and John Ure, UVU business management major opposing same-sex marriage. Both sides were given sets amount of time to present their arguments, as well as time for rebuttals. The first question involved the lack of biological evidence for homosexuality. "It doesn't matter if homosexuality is biologically or psychologically determined. No law should require anybody to change their sexual orientations just as we shouldn't expect straight people to be gay to receive certain rights." Porter said. "The gay marriage proponents have been riding the coat-tails of the civil rights movement,"' Dr. Loveless rebutted. "There is a big question of genetics involved here that suggests homosexuality is a choice." Jacques pointed out that since same-sex marriage has been legal in Massachusetts, there have been no ill effects. "Massachusetts still has the lowest divorce rate in the entire U.S. Gay marriage did not change that. The apocalyptic prediction has not occured," Jacques said. Ure argued that we should not just allow gay-marriage without proper time to study what effects it might have on society. "We have not had enough time to study it" homosexual marriages can have a good or bad effect on society. If studies show it can be a positive thing, then it can be something to talk about." Ure said. There were also arguments over defining the ideal family versus when the reality of the state of families seems to contrast the point. Jacques argued that her Election Lessons Time's almost up. Are you ready? • DAVID FULLMER Ufe Writer With the election just around the corner, we should look at some lessons Hollywood has taught us before we cast our ballots. Photo by Trent Bates UVU Review Opposing viewpoints were made at the same-sex marriage debate. try to change the outcome, which lead to his own selfdestruction. Lesson I: Dirty tricks never work. Wag the Dog After the U.S. President is caught in a sex scandal in Election the Oval Office, he brings in Tracy Flick (Reese Witha political consultant (Robert erspoon) is an overachieving DeNiro) and a Hollywood high school student who is running unopposed for Stu- producer (Dustin Hoffmann) dent Body President. Mr. to "fix" the problem two McAllister (Matthew Brod- weeks before the elections. erick) is Tracy's teacher who Together, they fabricate a is fed up with her brown- potential war with Albania nosing ways. He enlists a and spread rumors of the new dim-witted football player B-3 bomber that doesn't exto run against Tracy, much 'ist. They recruit a songwriter to her chagrin. Underesti- to write an antiwar anthem mating Tracy's determina- and cast a prisoner as a restion, Mr. McAllister resorts cued fighter pilot, all as the to even more dirty tricks to President heroically ends the loving relationship with her partner is just as valid as what is defined as traditional marriage. "There are many benefits denied me and others in loving relationships, and even those who are given civil liberties, which are not recognized slate to state, are not given all the rights as married couples," Jacques said. But Dr. Loveless argued that it was not the government s job to give these rights. 'The U.S. doesn't grant civil rights. Over the last 50 years there has been a new morality, and we have moved from Nashville law to something with many names like secular humanism, or moral relativism. Duties and secular law need to be adhered to," Loveless said. In the end, the debate proved to be, for the most part, respectful dialogue over a much contested issue where emotions tend to run high. The students and other attendees listened respectfully to both viewpoints. and the discussion helped them to better understand the complexities of this debate that has resurged with Proposition 8 on the ballot in California. Perhaps the proponents of gay marriage at this debate summed up their concern best with the following question Jacques posed. "We are at a crossroads, we are literally writing the next chapter in civil rights. The question is, what part will you play?" *lfiiv L i M ; P L A T I N U M DUSTTIN HOFJMAN SK ROBERT KNffiO "war." Lesson 2: Know all the facts before voting. Swing Vote Bud Johnson (Kevin Costner) is an apathetic average Joe who only really cares about when he'll get his next beer His scrupulous daughter forces him to vote for the next president, and he becomes the most important person in the election after his vote wasn't counted in a tied presidential race. News crews flood his small town and the whole nation, including the two candidates, pleads their case with Bud to win his "swing vote." Lesson 3: Every vote counts. So go vote! Yahoo.com |