The Gay Thing: The Polygamy "Slippery Slope" Debunked

Conservatives seem to think that civil rights ought to depend upon a whole list of "what ifs." They propose endless hypothetical pitfalls to allowing equal civil rights to a group, using the classic slippery slope argument. Pointing out to them that the slippery slope is not merely a logical fallacy, but one of the big ones, does nothing to dissuade them. Well, let's be honest, cold hard facts generally do nothing to dissuade them. But the point of online arguments is often not to convince the politically entrenched, but those on the fence. Those for whom "truthiness" can sometimes cloud an issue. So, here's a quick, easy to follow debunking of the gay marriage will lead to polygamy (and other things) argument. Maybe someone will show it to Ben Carson.
 

Ron Reagan Explains Marriage Equality to Rick Santorum

This past week, Ron Reagan subbed for Chris Matthews on Hardball, and while I don't usually watch the program, I did manage to catch the following clip. In the "Let Me Finish. . ." segment, Reagan--whose radio show I miss a great deal--explains why marriage equality won't lead to polygamous, incestuous or bestial  marriages. What, you didn't think it did in the first place? Me either, but Rick Santorum does. Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry probably do. The entirety of FreeRepublic.com definitely does. So thanks to Ron for making the answer so easy. And thanks to him also for causing a few right-wing brain explosions for being a liberal, since his dad remains a Republican saint.

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Frivolity Break: Brother Husbands!

Heh, heh, heh!

Huckabee Compares Gay Marriage to Incest & Polygamy

I almost made this a Captian Obvious post, because this really should be obvious to people. Gay marriage has nothing to do with incest or polygamy. The only difference between same-sex marriage and "traditional" marriage is the genders of the two individuals involved. It does not propose or compare to marrying several people at once. It has nothing to do with allowing close relatives to marry.

I suppose, if same-sex marriage becomes universally legal, there is a slim chance that some contingent of Fundamentalist LDS folks might try to get polygamy recognized. Or incestuous marriage (by presumably the same group). But the same could have been said after interracial marriage was recognized, and it didn't happen. I don't think there is a large group of disenfranchised Americans clamoring to marry their mother. . .or their mother, their sister and their aunt. But you know what? If there is, let them fight their own battle. What do you think their odds would be?

As far as the drug use comparison. . .WTF?

[Excerpt]

Huckabee likens gay marriage to incest, polygamy

Mike Huckabee, a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2012, says the effort to allow gays and lesbians to marry is comparable to legalizing incest, polygamy and drug use. . .

Read more at: Google News

Mormons Upset About HBO's Big Love

Image from source, The Salt Lake Tribune

They're only now getting upset? Mmmkay.

It's no secret around here that religion is not one of my favorite subjects. I get annoyed when I'm told I need to "respect" people's religious beliefs, when I am given no respect from most religions for my lack of belief (or The Gay Thing). So, I don't mind too much when a TV show or movie tweaks religion. And here, they didn't even really tweak them so much as expose them. Yes, the "secret rites" and garb are revealed to the lay public. Big deal, get over it.

[Excerpt]

LDS Temple secrets? 'Big Love' TV episode angers Mormons

"Big Love," HBO's television drama about a polygamous Utah family, will air an episode March 15 depicting a sacred and private LDS temple ceremony, prompting an official response from the church criticizing the network. . .

Read more at: The Salt Lake Tribune