Nobody is saying that the level of deprivation of civil rights is the same, nor claiming that gays have ever suffered a crime on the level of slavery. But when others beside African Americans have their civil rights limited, it is no insult to say that one would hope African Americans would be more sensitive than people who had not been deprived.

exactly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:African americans love Jesus.

72 percent of African Americans were born out of wedlock. It seems for most African Americans their religiosity extends to stopping other people getting married, but not to getting married themselves.

Taken as the entire group, yes. If you look at those African Americans who view themselves as followers of Jesus, not so much.

In fact, yes. 80 percent of african americans identify as christians who say "religion is very important in their lives".

Clearly viewing yourself as a follower of Jesus is no impediment to producing illegitimate children, to being a hypocrite, and to denying others that are different from you their basic human rights.

As you know, there are statistics and statistics. I'd like to see which ones you're quoting. Also, I said, "Not so much." I didn't say there wasn't a high rate of illigitimacy.

I'm not the previous poster, but I know that African Americans outscore whites on every measure of religious interest and involvement. The Pew Forum has lots of data: http://pewforum.org/African-Americans-and-Religion.aspx

There is no way to mathematically end up with so many children out of wedlock from among the small number of non-religious blacks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:African americans love Jesus.

72 percent of African Americans were born out of wedlock. It seems for most African Americans their religiosity extends to stopping other people getting married, but not to getting married themselves.

Taken as the entire group, yes. If you look at those African Americans who view themselves as followers of Jesus, not so much.

In fact, yes. 80 percent of african americans identify as christians who say "religion is very important in their lives".

Clearly viewing yourself as a follower of Jesus is no impediment to producing illegitimate children, to being a hypocrite, and to denying others that are different from you their basic human rights.

As you know, there are statistics and statistics. I'd like to see which ones you're quoting. Also, I said, "Not so much." I didn't say there wasn't a high rate of illigitimacy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:African americans love Jesus.

72 percent of African Americans were born out of wedlock. It seems for most African Americans their religiosity extends to stopping other people getting married, but not to getting married themselves.

Taken as the entire group, yes. If you look at those African Americans who view themselves as followers of Jesus, not so much.

In fact, yes. 80 percent of african americans identify as christians who say "religion is very important in their lives".

Clearly viewing yourself as a follower of Jesus is no impediment to producing illegitimate children, to being a hypocrite, and to denying others that are different from you their basic human rights.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:African americans love Jesus.

72 percent of African Americans were born out of wedlock. It seems for most African Americans their religiosity extends to stopping other people getting married, but not to getting married themselves.

Taken as the entire group, yes. If you look at those African Americans who view themselves as followers of Jesus, not so much.

Anonymous wrote:African americans love Jesus.

72 percent of African Americans were born out of wedlock. It seems for most African Americans their religiosity extends to stopping other people getting married, but not to getting married themselves.

Anonymous wrote:comparing the struggles of homosexuals to that of african americans is extremely offensive to african americans. please, do not try to do that.

As an African American I agree with this, mostly. I don't find the comparison "extremely offensive", but I would prefer that two are seen as separate/different issues. And, before anyone applies a broad-brush to how African Americans feel about the gay marriage issue, I would advise them to look no further than the District of Columbia and the actions that mostly African American Council took one year ago -- we are obviously not a monolithic people. Neither are African Americans alone in how they feel about gay marriage - a dwindling majority of Americans feel the same way, esp those of us over 35 yo.

So, I do include myself in that majority, at least for now. And I have come a long way in my thinking. I admire our President and can really appreciate his personal view of the issue, "evolving".

Anonymous wrote:African americans love Jesus.

Lead is heavier than gold.

African americans love Jesus.

Anonymous wrote:comparing the struggles of homosexuals to that of african americans is extremely offensive to african americans. please, do not try to do that.

Nobody is saying that the level of deprivation of civil rights is the same, nor claiming that gays have ever suffered a crime on the level of slavery. But when others beside African Americans have their civil rights limited, it is no insult to say that one would hope African Americans would be more sensitive than people who had not been deprived.

comparing the struggles of homosexuals to that of african americans is extremely offensive to african americans. please, do not try to do that.

I was appalled at it failing for so many reasons...
1) It seems so highly hypocrtical to me that so many in the black community are opposed to this civil rights issue (yes, that's what it is despite efforts to spin it otherwise)

2) The ability of other people to marry one another does NOT infringe on anyone's religious beliefs. This would only be the case if all of a sudden we were forcing people to marry someone of the same sex or limiting government benefits ONLY to same sex relationships. Otherwise, it is similar to strict Catholics being religiously opposed to divorce under most grounds but that is still not any reason to outlaw divorce for all.

3) Even the idea of subjecting this to referendum afterwards is offensive to me. Why are we subjecting basic civil rights to a popular vote? And again, how in the world can the black community tolerate such an approach?

4) Opponents love to say that marriage should be restricted to those capable of having children but i have seen no move to limit "marriage" to only people of child bearing age or with a clear intent to have children. Until that happens, this argument is totally irrelevant and ridiculous to keep bringing up while we keep letting 60 year olds marry each other (or for that matter, any woman over 50 - to be safe - marry anyone at all!).

Anonymous wrote:the propensity to not desire sex with the opposite sex is a killer when it comes to genetic survival. but I never underestimate the ability of people to ignore obvious truth when it effects their feelings or political wishes.

That's why I think it doesn't matter whether it's genetic or not. Consenting adults should be able to love whomever they please.

the propensity to not desire sex with the opposite sex is a killer when it comes to genetic survival. but I never underestimate the ability of people to ignore obvious truth when it effects their feelings or political wishes.

Anonymous wrote:sure as heck isn't genetics. It would be the first gene weeded out of the gene pool unless you don't believe in Darwin, natural selection or evolution.

People manage to accept the existence of God despite the existence of an Adolph Hitler; evolution may also be more complex than we think. Gayness may be linked to other characteristics that help the species to evolve. Or perhaps they're the ones God is actually interested in, for their creativity, style, and gentle loving nature, and the rest of us are here to keep their species alive.