Very well-put, Trina.  Thank you for this article.

Well said! I’m with you on all this, Trina. Historically, whenever a civilization crumbled, it was because people forgot God and lived according to their own rules.Keeping God’s laws is something we need to do for our own benefit. When will society get it?

It’s so good to hear common sense in a world gone crazy.  In our zeal to be tolerant we have somehow thrown out values.  There has to be a balance between the two.

Thank you Trina for so eloquently putting into words what I have struggled to explain to my 11 year old daughter. She remembers Mommy and Daddy voting for the proposition you spoke of. In fact, it was after we exited the polls that we were interviewed about our stance, and she remembers. What am I suppose to be teaching, and what are we teaching as a country that tells children to “rock the vote” because what we vote for matters. Only to overturn that vote by a group of judges bent on their own political “ten seconds of fame”. I was raised to respect authority, love my family, and to be obedient to the law and will of God (yep, I am one of “those"). How can I possibly obey one while defying the other? That is the position that the supreme court has put me in, and silenced the voice I took legally to the election polls. I am happy that people have found love, it is the greatest gift a person can give or be given. I have friends who are gay and lesbian, do I love them less..No, of course not. I do not however agree that we strike down the votes of thousands of people. We are “rocking the vote”, by telling the entire generation of new voters to go ahead and vote..but don’t be excited if your opinion is the majority, it may not really matter afterall! What a sad commentary on our beloved judicial system.

Trina:
The sad part of your position is that you and a MAJORITY of people are forced to feel compelled to apolojize for their standards and beliefs because those who have different standards and beliefs are INTOLERANT of those who have standards and Morals that do not support Gay Marriage.  It is OK to believe and teach that premaritial sex, adultry, Gay lifestyles, Drugs, prostitution etc. have consequences inconsistant with your religious or non-religious beliefs.  EVERY LAW and rule has a MORAL basis.  Every Choice has a consequence.  I am one who believes as you that expanding the Sanctity of Marriage is not in the best interest of our society.  I don’t apolojize for that belief and I support yours.

Very well written and insightful, Trina. I agree with you.

Whether we agree with the homosexual lifestyle or not isn’t the issue. The disintegration of society’s oldest institution is what’s at risk.

Once you change the definition of marriage where will it end? How can same-sex marriage be legal but bigamy or polygamy is not? Where do you draw the line and who draws that line? Marriage must have only one definition to keep our society intact, otherwise it will unravel.

I am also concerned that the voice of the people was overturned to satisfy the political agendas of some judges. Since when can judges overturn laws? If we’re going down that road, why should we vote? What is the point of voting if, in the end, it will be changed? How can judges have so much power as to determine the downfall of our society?

A slippery slope indeed.

Thank you for your article and for exhibiting common sense.

Trina,
Thank you having the courage and grace to express what so many of us feel. It could not have been said or written better. I hope many will read this and share it with others.

I’m thankful to hear the voice of reason in an unreasonable time like this.  I agree with your beliefs and morals and feel it a huge injustice to have my vote overturned by the decision of a few judges.  How can that be right - and why is that tolerated?  I pray that those who are as appalled as I am will get out and vote to have marriage clearly defined in the California Constitution this November.  Thank you for speaking up even though I’m sure it puts you in a tough spot.  You will be blessed.

This was a very well written article.  We were disheartened when we learned of the court’s decision in CA.  Thank you for standing up for what you believe.  I feel the same way, that same-sex marriage is not right for our country and it should not be allowed just so we can say how tolerant we are.  I know this is not a popular opinion these days.  You are right to ask, where will the line be drawn?  Will we allow polygamy next?  I do not hate homosexuals, I believe that they are valuable human beings, but I do not agree with, accept or condone that type of lifestyle.

Thank you for this article.  I think there are many people who feel the way that you do, but are made to feel like they are intolerant freaks if they have religious beliefs that they adhere to. 

If people want civil unions, I have no problem with that.  But the institution of marriage always has been and always should be between one man and one woman.

Thank you for your point of view. Im saddened that judges are taking the will and voice of the people away. Im glad you are expressing a point a view for the opposition even if its unpopular!

I too am concerned when judicial supremacy asserts itself over the will of the people. Should 36 million Californians accede to the will of four unelected judges when 61% of California voters approved a proposition asserting that the state could only recognize a “marriage” between man and woman? I object to activist judges creating new “rights” in a constitution that are not in the plain wording of the document and were never understood to be there before. They are violating a basic right of the people to democratically govern themselves through election. Californians have a right to create a law barring gay marriage because of the belief it will have negative effects on their society.  This is an issue where the majority of Americans understand that they are threatened with the loss of their right to self governance and threatened by a government actively promoting what for most is still sexual immorality.

Thank you, Trina, for your excellent, comprehensive and cogent analysis of the issue.  It’s refreshing to see someone rise above the misdirection, selfishness, anger and fear that so often is associated with this issue.

You are right.  Marriage is about raising children.  In our society we recognize the fact that the best way to do that is in a normal, heterosexual home with a mother and father that are committed to the job (and yes, it is a job) of raising children.

We have pandered far too much to those who, talk of marriage in terms of what THEY want, what rights THEY have, what the state owes THEM.  You know, from being a mommy, that Marriage has virtually noting to do with the parents and almost everything to do with the children.  When considering the issue of Marriage, we must ask not what is right for the parents, what they are due, what they should have, but rather what is best for the children, the grandchildren, and future generations.

The instant you stop being selfish and start thinking of the greater good it becomes clear why we place such an emphasis on the traditional role of Marriage.  Without it this country would slip still further down the destructive spiral on which we have descended for decades.  Undermining the basic nature of the Marriage Covenant will eventually result in the destruction of the fabric of our society.

Thank you for a voice of reason in a time of chaos.  There are some institutions worth defending, and the institution of marriage between a man and a woman, for obvious reasons, is one of those.  I have known many individuals in my time that lived an alternative lifestyle, and have felt no animosity toward them.  Some are very dear to me, but I cannot condone what God has clearly indicated is morally wrong.  It is a sad day when our courts uphold ideas contradictory to the laws of God, and causes me concern for the future of this nation.  Thank you for standing for truth even though it may be unpopular to do so.

Thank you, Trina, for your courage to speak up for what you believe, even if it may not be “politically correct” or “in vogue” these days.

Like you, I struggle with this subject.  And, like you, I have friends and relatives on both side of the rainbow, as you put it.  I have always prided myself on my own set of values while believing that so long as what others do in privacy does no harm to others, it is really none of my business.

Recently, however, I have been challenged with coming up with explanations fit for an early elementary-school-age child that has caused me to question my own so-called “open-mindedness.” It has caused me to take stock of the reality that what I may accept relative to the open world outside my door may not be something that I want to promote within my own home.  How do I do balance that without being a hypocrit? 

I think that’s why this subject is so dicey.  How should marriage be defined?  Is it about parenting?  Same-sex couples can create a family and raise children.  Is it about legal rights?  Is it about morality and values and, if it is, whose set of values do we choose? 

Call me old-fashioned, but, for me it is about tradition.  I have no issue with a legal union, with all of the same legal rights as “marriage” for same-sex couples, or simple room-mates/partners if they choose to pursue such a contract.  Relative to “marriage,” however, for me personally, I think it is something else.  So, is it just semantics?  Is it wrong for heterosexual couples to want to preserve a definition of “marriage” that is only between a man and a woman, at least as it applies to the union they have made?

I am not sure I have the answers.  Nevertheless, I applaud you for your honesty and your willingness to speak out for your own conclusions.

Trina well done.  I enjoyed your article and perspectives.  Please don’t refer to yourself as a freak.  Yes, I understand your bi-line - compared to the world you may be a freak, but compared to millions of others you are a standard of truth.  There is nothing freakish about that.  I hope all citizens who want to make a difference will stand up in even larger numbers in November.  We must make our voice heard.  I can not look away from the principles this country was founded upon and not acknowledge the hand of God in the establishment of this free land and society we enjoy.  We must fight as hard as they did to maintain that vision.  Thank you for stepping out and sharing your voice.

Thank you for shining a light of clear vision on an issue of chaos.  Having judges overthrow the voice of the people is scary enough, let along having them open the door to a direct attack on the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.  I look forward to voices like yours rising in volume and strength in the coming months to once again have CA voters have their say and overthrow the decision of those judges and restore order to the political process!

Trina, thank you for putting a voice to the thoughts I also feel.  It seems that the Gay/Lesbian Rights Movement gets so much attention cast in the positive light, it’s easy to start to believe that those of us against it are in the minority.  How refreshing to find that we are not!  Like most people, I have friends and associates that are gay or lesbian.  They are my friends and I get along with them.  But that doesn’t mean I advocate their lifestyle.  The cry of acceptance can be good.  I advocate accepting and even embracing those of different cultures and races.  But the cry for tolerance lets in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Acceptance of every type of lifestyle means erasing morals:  If there is no bad, then there is also no good.  I worry about the world that will be when my children are grown.  I worry that they will have more of a battle than we have because the morals in this country will have so eroded.  I am not placing complete blame on the people in this country that live gay and lesbian lifestyles, but I am saying that there are some definate disintegration issues in America revolving around the family, our most precious resource, which need resolving before we can move forward as a nation.  Legalizing gay/lesbian unions is a step backwards, not forward to strengthening our society, and it’s a line I can’t bring myself to cross.

I agree with what you have said. My concern is that when we disregard the traditional family unit the children are the ones that suffer. We see all around us the effects of children being raised in homes where a mother or father is lacking for whatever reasons. Adults are becoming much more concerned with their own choices and sexuality and less with their responsibilities, which include rearing children.

I find it sad that you really know some gay people, consider them friends but would deny them the same joy in their lives that you find in yours.  It’s a little hypocritical don’t you think?

About this slippery slope.  It started with the races mixing in marriage while it was illegal in many states and now everyone wants the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of being married.

If children are the only reason that people marry why did my grandmother re-marry at the age of 70?  She wasn’t going to give me a little uncle.

Perhaps we should make appellants for marriage licensees pledge to have children if that is the only reason for marriage.  No old or sick people who don’t intend to have children or can’t.

Marriage is an expression of love, one for the other.  It is the first step to life long sexual monogamy in a positive and loving way.

I agree with your view on the harm “gay marriage” will do to our society.  I’m also pleased that your blog this week got a lot of support.
I commend your courage to be a light in a world where the only thing wrong is intolerance for sin.  Those who disagree with sexual promiscuity are the only ones who seem to be intolerant.  How about the intolerance of homosexuals on people who believe in God?  Does that ever make it into the paper?  the blogs? 

Another problem with the distortion of the government’s definition of marriage is that when the people of this country determine right & wrong based on laws made up by whatever is currently popular, religious liberty will no longer be protected.  We’ve seen from history that when the government enforces unconstitutional laws, the people suffer.  This time around, where can the pilgrims flee to?

Marriage between a man and a woman is essential for the preservation of our society and not only because it is the best situation in which children can be raised.

Everyone who agrees with Mrs. Boice should actively pursue an amendment protecting the eternal nature of family through proper channels. It is our duty to take action and stand for our beliefs. If we do not take action personally we cannot expect to preserve the sanctity of marriage which is divinely appointed to be between a man and a woman.

I live in city that celebrates all contortions of morality in Las Vegas. 50 years ago those that displayed posters of blatant sex and nudity and same sex couples were considered the freaks. It’s a sad commentary on our society that those who mock morality call those who still strive to uphold virtue and modesty as intolerant. Trina, I applaud your boldness in making a moral stand against the very controversial issue of same sex marriage and equally as troublesome, the problem of a select few judicial system judges overturning the voice of the people. I love that you can be clearly against same sex marriage yet tolerant and even dear friends with those who live alternative lifestyles. I hope you know your opinions are strongly held by many others when the loud voice of irrational liberals seems to rain on the rainbow’s beautiful colors.

Trina,

I have read and re-read you article. I have a few concerns about your straw man conclusions.

1")This country was largely founded by Christians seeking religious freedom, and yet Christians are now considered to be intolerant hate-mongers.”

-This is a widely used rewritten view of history. True, many came to this country to find religious freedom. However the framers of our constitution were made of humanists like Franklin and doubting Thomas’ like Jefferson who rewrote the bible to conform to his own ideas d whose own writings we base the separation of church and state.  I think that it is the opening lines of the document they produced that the California justices were relying on in this decision… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all are created equal.

2)"Speaking of judges, that’s another thing I’m very concerned about. In the year 2000, over 60% of Californians made their wishes known by vote that they did not want same-sex marriage to be legal, and yet now the California Supreme Court has chosen to disregard the will of the people.”

- Sometimes “the people” are wrong. Our past and the south in particular know this to be all too true If left to the “will of the people” We would have never seen African-American’s right to vote enforced in such places as Alabama.It took a Congress ad a president and a court against the will of the southern majority to insure liberty.

3)"If the courts say that it is discrimination to deny same-sex couples the privilege of marriage, then wouldn’t it also be discrimination to deny the same privilege to anyone else who wants to get married? What if brothers and sisters want to marry each other? How about threesomes? Fathers and daughters? Uncle Doug and his pet goat? Why not? Would those be morally wrong? Says who? Do we accept everything? Where do we draw the line or is it a hate crime to even draw a line?”

-This rhetorical method you are using is irrational and at best irresponsible journalism. I will ot go point to point with you but for obvious health reasons these scenarios would not be possible.

In conclusion, please note that I understand were you are coming from but I would bet that it comes more from a place of fear than it does from a heart f love drawn out to your fellow brothers and sisters of the human family. As our elder brother, Christ, said..” Do not be afraid”.

Thank you Tina, I really appreciate you standing up for what you believe in, especially when you’re surrounded by opposing views.  You put so well into words exactly how I feel, and I believe many others feel.  I too believe that marriage is ordained between a man and a woman, and not only for the successful rearing of children, but for the success of the relationship and society as a whole.  Thank you again, your view is much appreciated in this day and age of disentegrating values.