Gretchen956

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Posts by Gretchen956

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  36

  George Pisses Off Her Majesty..

  by Valis in

  1. social
  2. current

  why on earth would he bring his own chefs?

  you would think that it would be quite an honor to get to sleep at buckingham palace and he would want to be on his best behavior...sheesh... .

  sincerely,.

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  Gretchen956

  He prolly brought his own chefs because he couldn't read the menu.
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  44

  Only Two Religions

  by barry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know i may get shot down in flames for this but here goes anyway.

  im quoting fron dr des fords site http://www.desford.org.au/home/index.php/mission.

  there are and always have been only two religions in the world.

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  Gretchen956

  Only 2 religions? I no doubt will get shot down for this, but... as a pagan, my religion was here first~ It predates both those quoted. Yes, it is a religion despite what GW Bush thinks!

  How did this turn from a religious thread to a philosophic scientific theory?

  Gretchen

  
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  60

  Massachusetts backs gay marriage

  by ignored_one in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3281017.stm

  massachusetts backs gay marriage the us state of massachusetts has ruled in favour of gay marriage.

  the state's supreme judicial court ruled that that barring same-sex couples from the benefits of civil marriage was "unconstitutional.

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  Gretchen956

  sanfranciscojim says that he is more interested in tax breaks and bennefits . I'm not real sure how all that works since I am single but not gay and I sure wouldn't want to marry someone just because of that .

  We (as gay people) want our unions to receive the same protections as heterosexuals. As a single person I didn't say, hmmm I want some tax breaks, I think I'll hook up with someone and see if we can get some kind of break. Any more than I would have done as a straight person.

  The first time I saw my partner I remember thinking, this is the person I want to marry. There was a connection right away that touched my soul. As I got to know her, I fell in love with her. We have been together two years and I hope that we grow old together. We are happy and have a special bond.

  Now, we aren't allowed to get married. So what options do we have? We could get a lawyer and for several thousand dollars file power of attorney, wills, and medical documents. But even with that we cannot inherit each others properties without severe tax repercussions, I cannot be allowed into the critical care unit at the hospital should she be in ICU because I am not family. Two court cases recently have ruled against the partner and in favor of the family in the matter of life support, even though the partner was the person who knew the wishes of that partner in the matter.

  So, yes, there are some civil matters here that require equality. I could care less if your church doesn't want to recognize it. But I have tried to be heterosexual, I was married twice. It was a pretense that hurt me and both my exhusbands. (We parted amicably.) I am true to myself now and happier than I have ever been. And I would like equal protections under the law. Not too much to ask.

  Gretchen
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  60

  Massachusetts backs gay marriage

  by ignored_one in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3281017.stm

  massachusetts backs gay marriage the us state of massachusetts has ruled in favour of gay marriage.

  the state's supreme judicial court ruled that that barring same-sex couples from the benefits of civil marriage was "unconstitutional.

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  Gretchen956

  The funny thing is, its only been a religious ceremony and institution for the last hundred years or so. Before that it was a secular thing, later blessed by the church if so chosen. Been like that for centuries. Marriage is, in fact a secular institution. Bringing it back to that shouldn't be such a threat. Besides, if you read the articles on the finding by the court in Massachusetts, you will see that they went to lengths to separate it from the religious aspect and promoted changing the laws on secular grounds.

  Personally I don't believe in marriage for anyone, but I think its blatant discrimination to allow some and not all to have those same rights. To bring out the "what if's" and scary stories is the same thing they did when people wanted to free the slaves, give women the vote, give blacks the votes, etc. Same old tired cliches.

  Martin Luther King's widow certainly thinks that gay equality is this generation's civil rights crusade, she has made that clear and other leaders from that original civil rights movement have joined in this as well.

  To say that marriage should be only allowed by religious ceremony also says that athiests, agnostics, and pagans (by some people's definition) would be left out. If you want to keep discriminating why stop with gays?

  Same rights does not equal special rights and should not be a threat to anyone. The sooner we stop legislating our morality on others the better.

  Gretchen
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  6

  Advice from Neil LaBute, writer/director, to JWD members

  by Phantom Stranger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, not really to jwd members, but it works, so what the heck.

  this is from the final day of his online diary for slate.. actually, i'm kind of fascinated by this whole internet thing?why we like it, what good or ill it's done for us as a people, that kind of deal.

  experts want us to believe that it has brought the world together, and maybe that's true.

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  Gretchen956

  There is some truth to this, but it is a generality. The people I think it has helped most are the chronically shy or the disabled. A lot of my internet friends fall into one of those two categories. In my own case, I get about an hour online a day and the rest of the time I'm too busy. If it takes over your whole life and you have no other social contact, yes it is a problem. Maybe they should start a CA meeting for Computerusers Anonymous.

  Gretchen
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  35

  Serving alcohol when a recovering alcoholic is present

  by unbeliever in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i don't want to piss anybody off with this post so please don't get offended.

  my family always goes all out for thanksgiving and x-mas.

  part of that going all out means lots of booze.

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  Gretchen956

  I'm coming into this line late, so I'll add to that "aunt needs to go to Alanon" thought. She is definately not helping the situation by being codependent. I suspect that the son may be too new into AA to know to stand up for himself yet, so she is doing him no favors.

  In my case, my partner is an alcoholic. I am not. She has taught me so much about AA, and I have used a LOT of the precepts in my recovery from the borg. Personally we have no alcohol in the house and it is clear that when the family gatherings are at our house there will be no alcohol served. This year Thanksgiving is at her mom's and she will have alcohol there. I will not drink. It really has no impact on me to drink or not and even though I know a little alcohol on my breath isn't going to be a breaking point for her, I see it as respectful.

  Having said that, I live with her and you don't live with your cousin. I think you all need to make up your mind whether its the family thats more enjoyable or the alcohol. They aren't mutually exclusive. Good luck with your decision.

  Gretchen
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  19

  JW Speaks up on Today Show on Behalf of Michael Jackson

  by Gretchen956 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  did anyone else see the witness who was interviewed on the today show as a friend of the jackson family in support of michael?

  in light of all the child abuse mess within the organization you would think that they would stay away from that one.

  gretchen

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  Gretchen956

  Oh no, this is a current friend of the eldest daughter, the mother and one of the brothers. He said the allegations will prove to be false, the family is all rallying around (including LaToya) and that he is in direct contact with them and speaking on their behalf.
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  19

  JW Speaks up on Today Show on Behalf of Michael Jackson

  by Gretchen956 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  did anyone else see the witness who was interviewed on the today show as a friend of the jackson family in support of michael?

  in light of all the child abuse mess within the organization you would think that they would stay away from that one.

  gretchen

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  Gretchen956

  Did anyone else see the Witness who was interviewed on the Today show as a friend of the Jackson family in support of Michael? In light of all the child abuse mess within the organization you would think that they would stay away from that one.

  Gretchen
• 
  60

  Massachusetts backs gay marriage

  by ignored_one in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3281017.stm

  massachusetts backs gay marriage the us state of massachusetts has ruled in favour of gay marriage.

  the state's supreme judicial court ruled that that barring same-sex couples from the benefits of civil marriage was "unconstitutional.

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  Gretchen956

  My only question is, do our civil rights, as gays and lesbians, come down to a popularity contest?
• 
  60

  Massachusetts backs gay marriage

  by ignored_one in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3281017.stm

  massachusetts backs gay marriage the us state of massachusetts has ruled in favour of gay marriage.

  the state's supreme judicial court ruled that that barring same-sex couples from the benefits of civil marriage was "unconstitutional.

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  Gretchen956

  This is great news. I too can see it getting hateful when the right wing get ahold of their members and fill them with hate speech and scary stories. It looks, at first glance, that this is separating the issue of the "civil protections" under law, which should be available to all without discrimination; from the religious institution of marriage. There is a distinction. Many of us that advocate for civil unions do so for this reason. If my partner chooses to go under my medical and dental plan, she has to file taxes on it as income. If either of us have to go into intensive care, we are not allowed (not related). And, if (as in Florida and Oregon) we wish to maintain our rights to choose to continue or terminate life support to a dying partner, the family can step in and overturn the decision. Not to mention inheritance, and a myriad of other issues.

  So each of these tiny steps is progress..... I'll really believe this when we can file jointly on our income taxes!

  Gretchen