Sometimes Life Gets So Fun!!

by Sparkplug 18 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Sparkplug

  OMG,

  I just had to share...Tonight in my US Constitution Class, my teacher asked everyone their opinion of gay marriages. Seeing it is such a hot topic, there was a huge debate. People answered anywhere from it being an abomination to the viewpoint that they are born that way, and who could possibly choose such a rough path without it being beyond the control of the person.

  One girl who sits next to me is very opinionated. (Deep South Bible Belt girl) Poor thing, she really had the roughest and most judgmental viewpoint...then my professor, who also is the Dean of the school, dropped the bomb that she is a lesbian and has been with her partner for 12 years.

  I laughed so hard. I could not stop.

  For the black man who had been staring at her for these four weeks straight, lust n his eyes, he got the debate of how is it different from interracial marriages that were not accepted just a while ago. That poor man about passed out. It was a heck of a laugh.

  You know once in a while you have a teacher who is just amazing and this is one of those rare times. She has made me get so absolutely interested in the subject at hand, and I wish I could join several of her classes. She is so absolutely amazing!

  May all you be given a chance to learn from someone ho has such an effective way of getting the point across. Not only have I been excited about the class for these short weeks, I have remembered things and enjoyed some heated discussions even with my limited knowledge over the weeks.

  I tell you, it sure feels good to not be the person in the class with such a judgmental opinion of others as I had when I was a JW. I did cringe, a bit, as I listened to my fellow students talk. I could just see them walking into the hole she had dug for them to jump into if they wanted. Not one student dislikes her and she has made such an impression on all of us.

  It was interesting to see the reactions after she told them. Watching people try to adapt was really enlightening.
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  misspeaches

  Sparkplug it sounds like this professor has an amazing ability to get the point across. No wonder you want to be a part of her other classes. She challenges you to break down your safety zones... Your a lucky girl!
• 

  SixofNine

  Someone has a crush! :-D
• 

  Sparkplug

  Miss Peaches! I believe even the people who stuck "hoof in mouth" had a great time.

  Six- Are you kidding her partners a cop! But if a crush is overblown admiration for a free spirit....I have it bad!
• 

  AuldSoul

  I would love to know why no one brings (what to me is) the most obvious question regarding the U.S. Constitution.

  Why does the Government have the right to marry people at all?

  I honestly don't understand why marriage is any of the Goverment's business, particularly at the Federal level. Where in the Constitution is the right granted for a male and female to marry? Is a Constitutional concession needed for a marriage to be legally binding? I thought a marriage was a vow, a contract between two people. Through what measure does the Constitution interject itself in this matter at all? Pro or con?

  I understand that customarily it is due to certain benefits and to whom said benefits become payable (blah-blah-blah), but that doesn't change the more basically fundamental question: What Constitutional right does the Government have to establish what is and what is not a marriage?

  Methinks "We the people" need to have a long ... "talk" ... with our government out behind the woodshed. It is gettin' too big for its britches. High time we reminded it that we formed the government and can reform it, if need be.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  anewme

  Good for you Sparkplug to get out there and take some classes! How interesting! Do you find the older you are that history seems to make sense and have more meaning?
  Its amazing to realize that so much history occured "just yesterday" so to speak.
  
  I've been enjoying the Ken Burns historical dvds from the library and relearning and appreciating so much history. But there is no substitution for an excellent professor!
  
  Keep up the good work Sparky!
• 

  Sparkplug

  Auldsoul- You know, that is kind of my viewpoint now. I have often said that marriage does not seem o be in my plans for the future, and having tried it twice...I think if given the right circumstances, I could tell someone that no I will not marry them for the rest of my life. lol

  I can say that most assuredly that although I was obligated in a marriage to be certian things, it was not until after marriages had ended for me to see within myself what it takes to make one truly want to be loyal and actually love. Seriously though, looking back, I can honestly say that although it is a legally bind that can help or choke.....alove cannot be defined by paper. It may be something that seals it as far as some peoples opinion of a relationship, but to me, I have loved better although not married. That is just one opinion.

  To properly debate it, we would have to look into the financial aspects and the protection of innocent parties and children in a failed marriage. Some people can only be forced to financially uphold obligations if under legal conditions. It truly is a shame!
• 

  Sparkplug

  anewme- Thanks! I am 2 classes and 1 week away from my BS. I am so excited to accomplish something. More than anything it has assisted some even if I am not proficient at everything in rounding me out as a person. I find I am not so lost in conversations on different subjects.

  I can’t say that it makes MORE sense, seeing we moved so much as a kid, I don't really think I had history class. Most of this is brand new to me. For example she blew everyone’s mind when she told us that

  I also asked the same at work about Lincoln, Watergate, and why is it invalid to call the dead presidents a name in regards to money. I asked my mom about Dr. King, and I asked my boss about Rosa Parks. I questioned the head union Steward about the 13, 14, 15 amendment. I was surprised to see that my kids knew most all of them. They even had heard of the President once shooting the Secretary of treasury and how it was not constituted as treason. How did I miss all of that...Just because someone told me that God would take Care of all of it?
• 

  AuldSoul

  Sparkplug,

  I agree, love is not and cannot be bound to a contract. I am married (contractually bound), to the woman I love. I would be bound to her regardless of a contract, so having it is no burden. We have a secret Anniversary that I celebrate. I don't even think she has even figured it out yet. It is the day I knew for sure I did not want anyone else.

  If marriage is simply seen as a contract between two people the mechanism for dealing with restoring to equal standing is already in place. I don't understand why the Federal Government would need to agree to which two people could enter into such a contract.

  I have heard the "people marrying animals" argument and the NAMBLA argument ("opening the floodgates for other special groups"), but both arguments ignore one vital aspect: the indivuals involved must be capable of entering into any other type of contractual relationship regardless of ethnicity, creed, or sexual orientation. In the United States of America, neither animals, nor someone under the age of majority can enter into a contractual agreement.

  Actually, I do understand the Federal Government's interest. I just don't think the Federal Government should be in the business of moralizing its citizenry.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  Sparkplug

  Furthermore, I found it sad that when discussing racism and politics with a close friend, I decided I really cannot stand some aspects of his sheltered way of thinking. I actually never thought of him as a racist, until he started in on the old debate as to if there should be African American Scholarships and magazines with the name of Ebony. I was so spiting mad. (And embarrassed) Because he spouted of the perpetuation of racism by the black man lies therein the mentioning of it now. That people just need to get over it...blah blah. I really used to feel like that until I realized that my mom even lived segregation. She also lived with the stigma of having a mixed race child. 1970 was not that long ago and even more so, I see that 11 or 12 years prior there were major upheavals. We in my age group missed a lot of that. But to see kids now, and the place that different races hold, you would possibly not suspect that it has all changed just in these 30 or so years.

  So to hear my dear friend spout pacifying crap made me so mad. I think I actually felt a bit indignant over race for the first time. I questioned how he feels that a society that is just starting to turn around the economical tables and years of a highly mismatched lifestyle according to race...How is he to say that it is all better and it is all equal now. He has a point that the white male is actually a minority at the moment. But the fact is, most of the people I asked my questions of...the people who knew the answers were not white.

  No offence, but I can see a magazine called Ebony that tells of the Black woman’s skin and hair, beauty tips...as being ok. For you know what. It all is different. Products, hair, skin, and body builds are different and are not catered to in Cosmo. Some, but not as a whole.

  Anyhow, I was a bit disgruntled and disapointed in my friend. I saw another perspective.