Philosophy Project

In my philosophy class, our grade is comprised of five papers, each 4-5 pages, that examine different ethical topics. I visited my professor, Bonnie Mann, the week before last just to introduce myself and talk about the class. After speaking with her about my areas of interest in philosophy, she asked if I found the papers challenging. I told her no, because they're basically quote and explain, without much room for personal analysis. She then presented me with the option to do one big research paper instead of the five other papers. She gave me the freedom to choose whatever topic I like, as long as it applies to ethics (of course). I emailed her the below idea, which she gladly accepted:

Tell me what you think...

The ethics concerning homosexual weddings is not only of personal
significance to me, but I see areas in the argument that need much
clarification and improvement. In using ideas from care ethics and
rights-based ethics, I plan to construct a paper which illustrates the
benefit of the inclusion of homosexuals into every aspect of the laws
in the United States. Then, I plan to present the religious argument
and provide substantial reasoning as to why it has no place in the
laws of a multi-cultural society. Finally, I plan to address the
notion of tradition and it's importance (while simultaneously
providing evidence that the tradition of marriage is one that is not
harmed by the inclusion of homosexuals). Obviously, there are
sub-arguments within these that I will address, but I'll worry about
those when I present my outline to you.

Again, I really appreciate this opportunity you've presented to me.
This is my first true philosophical argument!


Wish me good writing!!

Dad's Birthday

My family and I went to the cabin this weekend to celebrate my dad's 49th birthday. His actual birthday was on Saturday (the 29th), so for dinner we went to Tidal Raves in Depot Bay. If you are in the vicinity of Depot Bay and want THE BEST SEAFOOD ON THE FRIGGIN' COAST, please go to Tidal Raves. If you choose to go, however, make reservations. There is a strong possibility you won't be seated unless you do. The weather on Friday night was really, really, really stormy and the drive up 101 from Florence to Yachats was frightening. Winds were blowing from the west and southwest at 60 miles an hour. On top of that, there were areas high on the cliffs covered in dense fog. Oh yeah, and it was raining like only the coast in Oregon can rain. We played lots of games, from cribbage to hearts to Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture Edition to Catch Phrase. All in all, we had a tremendous time. On Sunday, the weather cleared completely and it was sunny and warm *gasp* all day. Mom brought ear plugs for me and Bonnie because we had to sleep in the same room as Chris. I found out that it is actually Bonnie who is quite the snorer, no that Chris and I aren't however.
On the way back, there must have been some dune-buggy championship or something because we got stuck behind countless trailers with "Got Sand?" written on the back. I've never been dune-buggying before, mostly because I see it as a complete waste of the environment, gas and money; Kind of how I feel towards NASCAR. It's back to the grind tomorrow, yippee. Hope all is well for you all.

We Homos Deserve To Marry

Upon deep study on the ethics of marriage, I've come to some conclusions about the argument against gay marriage that I believe are baseless and self-contradictory. On a philosophical level, I would like to share them with you...

1) Marriage has always been between a man and a woman, why should we need to change our position now?

Our society has many traditions, from holidays to ways of life, which have changed vastly over the years. Consider, for instance, black rights. Fifty years ago, we were living in a segregated nation (mostly) who professed that allowing blacks the same rights would hurt the fabric of society and that they weren't equal. The arguments were mostly fear-based and religious in nature, but begged an important question - would allowing blacks the same rights actually hurt society? Would changing our traditional view of blacks do more harm than good? Well, of course it wouldn't which is why the views were changed. This is not to say that unequal treatment of blacks has been eradicated. On many levels, it still exists. However, legislation was dismantled that were segratist in nature and blacks were legally given the same rights as evey other U.S. citizen. The fact that marriage has always been between a man and a woman does not mean that is how it was initially defined. Marriage was assumed to be heterosexual in nature, but it was never founded that way. In fact, marriage was defined as two individuals who want to publically express their love for one another and live monogamously until death do they part. On this basis, there is no need to change the definition of marriage, because it was never defined in the first place. Why now, hundreds of years later, does it need to be defined? I'll tell you why... fear. People are really afraid that having homosexual marriage will hurt society. Let's look at Europe, for a moment. Many of the nations in Europe recognize gay marriages and allow them the same legal benefits as heterosexual marriages. If this "hurting society thing" were true, we would have clear and definate evidence based on their system of acceptance. Their society would already be crumbling (for years now), but it's not. In fact, because of the inclusion of gay marriages in Europe, their society has remain unaffected by the negative aspects described by gay marriage opponents. This, they cannot deny. More of this in my next point...

2) The homosexual lifestyle is a poor environment for children and the family in general.

When measure 36 was being presented, the "yes" side told of conclusive scientific research done that shows children reared in homosexual relationships as worse-off than other children reared in heterosexual relationships. However, these sources were never cited (I still can't find them on the website) and there is actually MUCH MORE scientific evidence to the contrary. Because it takes a lot more effort and planning on the part of gay couples to have children, these children will be loved and wanted to the infinate degree. Because of this, the children are generally better-educated, more well-adjusted and have an affinity for all cultures and lifestyles, something not as vastly found in heterosexual parenting. From personal experience, all three of us were planned and equally cared for, thankfully. However, think of the number of babies born that aren't planned, aren't wanted, and ultimately, will not reach their full potential because of this. The only stigma around the negative aspect regarding child-rearing comes from those who don't "like" the idea. Well, I don't "like" horseradish, but that doesn't prevent me from thinking less of those who do. Which brings me to this point...

3) The homosexual lifestyle is unnatural and perverted and as such, does not deserve the natural rights associated with heterosexuals.

If you actually believe this, you haven't taken any animal behavior classes. From the smallest insects to the highest order of mammals, homosexual relations can be found in each and every species. It's not just for mating, either; Animals that couple for life ALSO show long-lasting homosexual relations. To say that homosexual activity is unnatural is to deny nature itself. To put it bluntly, the people that believe this are uneducated and need to read an animal behavior book. That being said, homosexuality IS natural. The only reason something is perverted is because it is unnatural. Sex with animals, sex with children, THESE are unnatural and perverted. Therefore, homosexual relations are not perverted because they're as natural as any other relationship. The problem here is that people don't LIKE it. To bring up my previous paragraph, the fact that people don't like something does not mean there should be laws banning its rights. It is unethical to deny rights to those based on one's personal preference. I don't like sex with women, so does that mean I have a right to make laws against heterosexual sex? That would be consistent with the argument, but I like women and their rights, so therefore they should have them. All of my friends can attest to this... they aren't gay (95% anyway) and yet after knowing me, they cannot see any reason why I am less than human or my actions are unnatural.

4) Homosexuals don't value lasting relationships.

While it is true that some homosexual men and women have a need for sex more than a need for committment, could you remind me what the divorce rate is in this country? Oh yeah, REALLY REALLY REALLY HIGH. Especially for kids my age (on average), committment is very rarely the priority. Robin and I are somewhat of an anomoly in the grand scale of 20 somethings. My love for him is real, our relationship is real, so I cannot conclude that it won't last. We have gay friends who have been partnered for 7 or more years. I know of couples who have been together for 50 or more years.



I appreciate the most those who are willing to set aside what their gut tells them of their preferences and listen to what is best for humanity. There is no conclusive evidence that two heterosexuals who love each other can harm society anymore than two homosexuals. In fact, if you look at domestic abuse, which occurs in a frightening percentage of heterosexual relationships, you can conclude that too many people are in marriages for the wrong reasons. When two people actualy love each other, the only negative thing that can come out of their union is formica countertops and tacky furniture. For everything else, from their impact on those around them to their place in society, this has a positive effect. All this being as it is, denying the same rights to homosexuals as heterosexuals is denying who they are and separating them from that society.

Drag Show

We went to the drag show at Neighbors last night. Before hand, we bought some liquor from the store and pre-funked at our house. Attendees included Robin, John, Bryan, Clint, Sara, Jo and yours truly. While being entertained, I was thinking about the nature of cross-dressing and why it's so damn fun to experience. On with my social commentary...

When I was young, my brother and I played a game called "prince and princess". I would put on one of my mother's old dresses, pumps and pretend I was a princess. Chris would always be the prince and be my protector. We would run around the house and get into brawls with imaginary creatures, always emerging victorious, and had a blast doing it. All us kids had/have powerful imaginations, thanks to much reading and teaching from our parents. I remember when I put on that dress, it gave me a sense of power. Pretending to be a woman was something I thought gave me extra ability, much beyond what I had already. This game never got sexual or perverted. It remained an innocent exploration of our affinity for the pretend. Later on, this game developed into "let's say" but that's another entry.

As I grew older, and especially now, I have no desire to dress as a woman. In fact, I'd make one ugly bitch so it's for the best that I don't anyway. Moreover, I wouldn't have the same experience as I did as a child. For me, cross-dressing doesn't conjure an added sense of ability or power anymore. But for those drag queens last night, it was apparent that they do still have that sensation when performing. First, and most importantly, they don't think they're women trapped in a man's body. I've talked with all of them at some point and they're hard-working, decent men who have steady jobs and simply moonlight as Cher/Madonna/Beyonce/whoever. They're as normal as anyone else and aren't slutty, drug-addicted, obnoxious gay boys who embody the negative stereotype. To the contrary, they're really fun and positive individuals who love to entertain others through the drag medium. It is because of these reasons that I cannot view their existence as a negative aspect on the gay community. I've talked with many who view these performers as disgusting and perverted. They make the argument that if someone isn't a woman, they shouldn't pretend like they are or aspire to be such. These men don't want to be women. They don't want to cut off their wang and prance around like they're full of estrogen. Some people do, but they are inevitably people who have much larger issues than wanting to put a dress on once a week (talk to any psychologist about that one).

I think pretending is harmless as long as the imagination doesn't spill over into real life. For the drag queens, they are out to pretend for our enjoyment, and they succeed immeasurably. If you've never been to a drag show, it's worth it just for the experience. If you're worried about being groped or man-handled in a gay bar, then you've obviously never been to one. We gay folk are they type that only grab when grabbed first (but grab with caution, because when that dam breaks... hoo boy). The next time you have even the slightest inclination to experience crazy female impersonators, do it. If nothing else, you'll be thoroughly entertained for one-and-a-half hours.

Daily Stuff

Robin and I purchased a Pioneer surround sound system yesterday. We got the set at Costco (where you should go if you want electronics) which came with a receiver, DVD player, subwoofer and full surround sound speakers. It's too bad we didn't have this for our LOTR party, because it would have made the experience much more enjoyable. Not that it wasn't anyway.

My writing 122 class is the best writing class I've ever taken. My instructor doesn't see the point in using the textbook (I quote, "Nothing in that expensive textbook is something I can't teach you. There's no need for you to spend $60 on it."). Instead, we're reading the 911 Commission Report, the editorial pages from the NY Times and 1984 (George Orwell). As the class is persuasive writing, our essays are on these topics. Even better than the material is the even-handed way he's teaching the class. There are plenty of conservative and liberal ideas in the classroom that get talked about on any given issue.

The weather today is 63 degrees and it's January 18th. I don't know why because it's never anywhere near 60 in January. I'm wearing a t-shirt and jeans and I'm warm. I think I'll switch to my Chaco's this afternoon.

We saw I Heart Huckabees this weekend. If you know even the slightest bit about existentialism or you're interested or you just want to be entertained, this movie is for you. Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman... do I need to say more? One question I pose to you that the movie brings up which I have been thinking about a lot lately: "When am I not myself?" Try to answer that one.

I hope to go to the beach sometime in the next month, with the crazy possee of course. We'll have fun and eat good food and drink some.

I hope this warm weather is finding you all well. Thanks to those who comment on my blog from time to time. Commenting brings you closer to enlightenment. And Jesus. And my mom's face.

Church

During cribbage night on Monday, friends and I got into a conversaion on the function of churches. It is my opinion that churches are a good thing for meeting new people and having something to do on [insert day of week] if you're [insert religious preference]. I attended church for much of my formative years, until about 15 I think. As stated in my previous blog, I developed a severe distaste for the doctrine of Christianity and discontinued my attenance. That's not to say I didn't retain friendships that were formed in the church. However, I have an ethical dillemma when thinking about churches (most, not all).
If people are to gather and congregate and celebrate each other's beliefs, why must they do so in a religious setting? It is naieve to say the only function of church is to form a community; it is to form a religions community. Churches teach their attendees of the doctrine, and if you're a major religion, then spread these beliefs like an infection. My main problem with all this is being part of a church, or most religion, does not encourage intellectual individuality. Being part of something means you accept and live by it's "laws" or guidelines. When these guidelines contradict what you believe to be true, you are instantly given contrary reasons (as defined by religion) why you must change your truth in order that it parallels the religion. Of course, people do not literally become unthinking robots, but on some level they do. Surrounding yourself with others that believe the same things that you do doesn't encourage development. In fact, it usually means you are rarely challenged, and if you are, there are plenty of people around you to remind you of "the doctrine".
If you accept anything as absolute truth, without questioning what it is and why it's there and what you should do about it and on and on, your mind will remain stagnant and unquestioning. This method of thought is not necessarily rewarding (which, I am convinced, many people's only concern is "getting something in return"). It should and will be difficult and at times very confusing. I see my consciousness as a gift and anything that could take away from my ability to question "what is", does not deserve my attention.
If your goal is to live in a community and be connected with those around you, then do so. Churches are an easy way to meet and greet, but the cost to your belief system is far worse than the benefit of meeting a few people. Meeting to celebrate beliefs that you accept to be true because they're "part of the package" does not lead to better ethics and viewpoints. It leads to laziness.

The New Year

As it is time for reflection and projection, I submit my list of things to accomplish in 2005:

* Blog more!
* Lose the 7 pounds I gained in December (ahhh, but what a sweet 7 pounds it is!!)
* Ski (water and snow) as much as humanly possible
* Further my friendship with all those I grew close to in 2004 (mostly the ladies!!)
* Read a book
* Slow down and relax
* Camp, camp, camp
* Practice piano and relearn the Chopin Ballad #3
* Learn to wakeboard
* Play with Luna more
* Go to Portland lots more
* Use both my heart AND my head when determining a course of action
* Further my intellectual development by conversing with those whose opinion is different than my own
* Play less video games


I learned a lot in 2004; mostly the importance of truth in one's life. I wish all of you a happy and productive new year and hope you stick to your resolutions.