Marriage is a civil right in the US

In a discussion of civil rights and gay marriage in another thread, Faith made the claim that, at least in the US, marriage was a privilage rather than a right.After a little research, I found that this was an unfounded claim, at least according to the United States Supreme Court.The following is an excerpt from the 1963 Loving v. Virginia descision of that court:Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.Interestingly, the objections of the state of Virginia were expressed thusly by the Judghe who found them guilty:Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix. Sounds familiar to Faith's and others' arguments; it isn't "natural", God never meant for marriage to be like that, etc.

So its a basic civil right for any two consenting adults to become married? (Or should be)I have no problems with that. I married Jesus and didnt even have to go to court to do so! The church can't legislate morality anymore than God can.

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So its a basic civil right for any two consenting adults to become married? (Or should be)

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Yes.

I think you've misrepresented me, Schraf. It would help if you added a link to show where I supposedly said that, as it's a matter of context. I believe I was adapting to various things you said. If you said it was a right then I said it was a right that one had to be qualifed for, etc.Also, the comparison between opposition to gay marriage and opposition to interracial marriage is false. Marriage was called a right in that legal case for heterosexual couples. Your extending it to gays is not justified, a form of begging the question.

the US is supposed to be about freedom not limited by anyone, not freedom that is under the jurisdiction and morality of the church. so thats an EXTREEME yes. I may not like the idea of homosexuality, but it harms me not. I also dont like the idea of pornography, but again thats one of those rights that you CANNOT restrict or take away (i.e. speech).Edited by Damouse, : spEdited by Damouse, : No reason given.

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-I believe in God, I just call it Nature
-One man with an imaginary friend is insane. a Million men with an imaginary friend is a religion.
-People must often be reminded that the bible did not arrive as a fax from heaven; it was written by men.

It is really really strange, considering the adamant conviction expressed on this point by so many here, that this nation which GAVE us the first amendment, and was known throughout the world for its experiment in civil rights, and practically synonymous with the word "freedom" got by just fine for the first 200 years of its existence during which it LEGALLY PROHIBITED both pornography and homosexual acts.But does this cause any of you to rethink what is really MEANT by freedom and rights such as the right of free speech? Oddly, no, you manage to convince yourselves that whatever SEEMS to you it should mean is what it MUST mean.I suppose there is some confusion over the fact that slavery was also permitted in this free nation. Seems to make you all trip over your own feet, so unable are you to distinguish between valid and invalid meanings of the terms.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

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It is really really strange, considering the adamant conviction expressed on this point by so many here, that this nation which GAVE us the first amendment, and was known throughout the world for its experiment in civil rights, and practically synonymous with the word "freedom" got by just fine for the first 200 years of its existence during which it LEGALLY PROHIBITED both pornography and homosexual acts.

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...and interracial marriage and allowing women and blacks to vote and own property, etc.

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I believe I was adapting to various things you said. If you said it was a right then I said it was a right that one had to be qualifed for, etc.

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Yes, that's what you and I said in the other thread.I don't believe that this thread's OP misrepresents you at all.

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Also, the comparison between opposition to gay marriage and opposition to interracial marriage is false.

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That is a matter of interpretation, and clearly, better legal minds than you (namely, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts) have found a different one than yours.

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Marriage was called a right in that legal case for heterosexual couples.

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Of course, the decision says "Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man,", not "marriage is one of the basic civil rights of heterosexuals and not gays."

who exactly is "you all"?And on the other counts, no right was set in stone, i.e. you cannot have slaves, display pornography, ect. If the right had been challenged,i.e. taken to the supreme court, it would have had to have been revoked under the first. The constitution didn't say you cannot have slaves, did it? But with the addition of the 15th(??) amendment, it became unlawful. Why are you scrounging at loopholes? It could not have listed every unlawful practice.I cannot stand ideaologies like yours(faith) which say that the US is really a consparicy, out to get everyone, and freedom is a trick. Freedom is freedom, as long as i doesn't infringe on anyone elses' freedoms.

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-I believe in God, I just call it Nature
-One man with an imaginary friend is insane. a Million men with an imaginary friend is a religion.
-People must often be reminded that the bible did not arrive as a fax from heaven; it was written by men.
-Religion is the opiate of the masses

Don't be stupid. The way you read it means there are no qualifications for marriage whatever. Siblings could marry. Well, it's a "basic civil right of man." You could marry a child or a dog. But that hasn't been allowed in the West. Until now of course. I suppose it's coming considering this kind of confused thinking you are so committed to.And I would really appreciate a link. I believe you misrepresented me. Thank you.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

They would probably list it under animal abuse .

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-I believe in God, I just call it Nature
-One man with an imaginary friend is insane. a Million men with an imaginary friend is a religion.
-People must often be reminded that the bible did not arrive as a fax from heaven; it was written by men.
-Religion is the opiate of the masses

Faith, you miss the last line of the Supreme Court Decision presented above:"Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."Key being a person of another race. Hence, dogs and other animals are not covered.As gay people are part of a race as well, they are covered. By this analysis the government can't pass a constitutional ammendment banning gay marriages.gearkatEdited by gearkat, : typos

We are glad you joined us and hope you enjoy your stay. Pull up a stump and set a spell. Keep your feet to the fire and the smoke never gets in your eyes.At the end of this message is are links to some threads that may help make your stay here more enjoyable.

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And on a serious note, you cant marry a child, its incest. Don't read it literally, its not how it's meant to be read. its meant to be read in juncture with the rest of the constitution and the conglomeration of laws.

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-I believe in God, I just call it Nature
-One man with an imaginary friend is insane. a Million men with an imaginary friend is a religion.
-People must often be reminded that the bible did not arrive as a fax from heaven; it was written by men.
-Religion is the opiate of the masses

[qs] "Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State." [/qxs]If they had known that idiots were going to come along in a few decades and claim that gays were meant to be included in something intended always and forever for heterosexual couples, they would have changed the wording, but such idiocies never occurred to anyone prior to very recent times.