Term Paper on "Gay Marriage the Overwhelming Passage of Amendments"

Term Paper 5 pages (1435 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Gay Marriage

The overwhelming passage of amendments defining marriage as a union between man and woman is a sign of religious fundamentalism creeping into the back door of the American government. Amendments such as this undermine every citizens constitutional right to freedom in a country founded on the principles of democracy and liberty for all. It signifies an end of democracy and the beginning of a movement toward religious fundamentalism that may eventually undermine the American justice system.

Political fundamentalism or the fundamental principles upon which this country was created do not support the notion of defining marriage as a union between man and woman. Rather it supports the notion that marriage is a union to be defined by individuals as they see fit, in a society that promotes the ideals of freedom and choice.

Despite this basic concept an overwhelming majority of states have successfully passed amendments that define marriage from a religious and Christian perspective. In addition, passage of these amendments relegates gay members of society to a status of second-class citizens because they are not afforded the same opportunities and rights that ordinary citizens are in the best of circumstances. These ideas and more are explored below.

Marriage is considered for many Americans to be the most basic human institution. Hagelin (2004) suggests that the issue of gay marriage is the defining issue of our generation because by its very nature marriage has been defined as a basic right and institution established for the people by the people since the dawn of time.

The issue of gay marriage and

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resulting legalities surrounding the institution of marriage itself has been debated for many years. In 1996 a state court in Hawaii dismissed the states laws against same-sex marriage thus destroying what was considered the traditional definition of marriage (Hagelin, 2004).

Within months of this decision however a federal amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman was passed, overriding a state's discretionary decisions regarding the institution of marriage. The law referred to as the Defense of Marriage Act was subsequently adopted by 38 states, which establishes marriage formally as an arrangement only between a man and a woman (Hagelin, 2004).

Despite such apparent religious fundamentalist beliefs however Massachusetts decided that it had the power to declare that same sex marriages were legal and even started issuing licenses to couples wishing to get married.

The American people as a whole are rising up to assure that gay marriage is banned for good. In Michigan, Montana and Arkansas for example petitioners have put together enough signatures to allow state constitutional amendments 'protecting marriage' as a legal matter between a man and a woman (Hagelin, 2004). Does this mean that the American public as a whole is opposed to the idea of gay marriage, or simply that one group has more representation and power in the country? The answer is more likely the latter.

What is at stake? According to religious fundamentalists including those passing the amendments defining marriage, the fundamental belief that marriage was meant to represent a physical union of one man and one woman. Religious fundamentalists believe that the act of marriage represents the values of society and even the differences between that which is right and that which is wrong (Hagelin, 2004). From this standpoint, a union between a man and a man or woman and woman is wrong and immoral.

Again from the religious fundamentalist perspective, marriage is considered an avenue to promote social order (Hagelin, 20004), and by the very nature of the act homosexuality is often considered a state of disorder. It is important however to recognize that religious fundamentalism is not the foundation upon which this country was built, nor is it the one on which this country will continue to thrive in the future.

Banning gay marriage goes against the fundamental American belief that people have a constitutional right to freedom. America is a country where a separation of church and state should exist, the country was founded on this very principle. In reality there is growing support in the country to uphold the moral beliefs of religious fundamentalists, particularly Christian ones. These very ideas however dismiss the political idealisms upon which this country was founded.

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Quoted Instructions for "Gay Marriage the Overwhelming Passage of Amendments" Assignment:

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Hello, I was referred to you from someone who use your service and was pleased. I need for this company to write International Relations Political Thought paper. I need for the ***** not to be a student in highschool or college but someone who is inform about the topic and who can write on a doctoral level. The is a political thought paper but within this the majority of the paper will be coming from a personal opinion point of view. Please use your personal opinion throughout the paper but also support the facts that you use with documentation if needed. I need for this paper to flow and be coherent dont contradict yourself in the paper make sure all ideas flows with the questions that will be posed in the question below. No contractons in the sentences, a VERY STRONG INTRODUCTION and CONCLUSION, and be very detail in the paper. Again this a personal thought paper so personal opinion is much needed but if need to use sources please use properly and cite properly. Below is the topic and the questions that needs to amswered:

Topic:

On Tuesday, November 2, 2004 constitutional amendments were passed in several states which effectively defined marriage as a union between man and woman. What is the basis for the overwhelming passage of these amendments in each of the states in which they were offered? Is the passage of these amendments as sign of American religious and/or politcal fundamentalism? Why or Why not? What does the passage of these amendments mean for gays as a minority group? Does it effectively relegate them to the status of second-class citizens? Why or Why not?

Draw a positive or negative comaprisons between the thesis at hand and other material you have read, suggest historical cases which either support or refute the central thesis of the topic, critique the assumptions underlying the thesis, question the logic by which conclusions are drawn, point out contradiction in the argument; and/or consider policy implications which follow from the argument but are not spelled out specifically. This a personal thought paper so a refenece page is not required but you can cite sources as needed. Please be consistent in thought without any contradictions in the paper(especially in the conclusion). Personal thought is required and needed.

Answer all questions that needs to answer. Again, this paper needs to be writen on a doctoral level NO EXCEPTIONS!!!It can not be late. If you do not understand the question at hand please feel free to e-mail ASAP so we can repair this problem. Thanks.

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1. Gay Marriage the Overwhelming Passage of Amendments. A1-TermPaper.com. https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/gay-marriage-overwhelming-passage/502802. Published 2004. Accessed July 6, 2024.

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