Flibbertigibbet

Let's Talk About Values

CNN: Dole: Republicans steadfast on values

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Extolling what she called the core values of the Republican Party, Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina told conventioneers Tuesday night that the party has stood firm in its defense of marriage and the protection of unborn children.

[...]

But Tuesday, Dole unabashedly championed her party's conservative stance against same-sex marriage and in favor of the rights of the unborn.

"Marriage between a man and a woman isn't something Republicans invented, but it is something Republicans will defend," she said.

A value is something that one seeks to gain or maintain. In the case of same-sex marriage, what is it that Republicans value? What do they seek to gain or maintain?

They don't seek the priveledge of heterosexuals to marry because they already can. If we can infer from Senator Dole's statements, marriage exclusive to heterosexuals is 'something.' What something?

As far as anyone can tell from the blathering herd of mystics and altruists we lob together as 'conservatives' the something that the Grand Old Party is trying to preserve is either Christian values or tradition or maybe a mix of the two.

When it comes to preserving Christian values in America the GOP really does pick and choose. Technically speaking, polygamy is a Christian value. Technically speaking, keeping women plain, quiet, and pregnant is a Christian value. Technically speaking, abstaining from masturbation is a Christian value. Although I am not intimate enough with any conservatives to speak to their stances on these items, I would hazard to guess that these did not make it into the GOP platform this year.

11: Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

12: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13: For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

15: Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

1 Timothy, Chapter 2, verses 11 through 15

Um. Senator Dole? Woman. Please sit down. I think a man needs to start talking.

So, CLEARLY, it's just some Christian values that the 'conservatives' among us wish to preserve.

I suppose that some will argue that marriage, unlike women being quiet, plain and pregnant--

You're wondering about the plain thing aren't you?

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Timothy 2:9

and

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.

1 Corinthians 11:15

And of course

1: Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2: While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear.

3: Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

1 Peter, chapter 3, verses 1 through 3

-- anyway, I was saying. Some might argue that marriage is the fundamental building block of society to Christianity. Not to beat y'all with the Bible, because I don't like it any more than you do, but...

7: For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8: I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9: But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1 Corinthians, Chapter 7, verses 7 through 9

Clearly, Paul didn't agree that marriage was necessary for the proper function of the church or society. He felt that marriage was only necessary to keep people from fornicating.

Fornication, as best as we can deterimine, simply means sex out of wedlock. Marriage, in the KJV Bible, does only refer to man and woman, although the historical record of marriage throughout Christianity has supported same-sex unions as well.

My point is just that the Bible doesn't assert that marriage is required for individuals or society. So-called conservatives are really just preserving arbitrarily chosen Christian values and arbitrarily chosen traditions.

What is particularly frustrating about this isn't so much their fondness of tradition but that they would put tradition above other values, such as Life, Liberty, and Property.

Idiots.