OPINION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Marriage amendment repercussions
PAGE 5A
EDITORIAL BOARD
Call for consistency in future legislation of Kansas politics
Kansans have made their decision about the same-sex marriage issue. Last week, Kansans voted and
decided — 70 percent to 30 percent — that a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage should be established. For many, the news is good because it buries the subject that has been so prevalent in the press.
Although the media has pounded this issue with rhetoric for and against same-sex marriage, few grasp why the media debated this topic so heavily. The issue of same-sex marriage and the state is a larger issue.
Although some argue that it is morally refreshing to see such legislation pass, others
The Kansas constitutional amendment against gay marriage carries with it underlying implications that will affect future legislation in the state. Whether voters looked at the issue from a moral or legal standpoint, the state needs to be consistent in its policies.
Last week's vote not only outlawed same-sex marriage but also set the tone for Kansas politics in the future. The importance lies in the underlying issues at the heart of the same-sex marriage issue.
A person must first evaluate the necessity for allowing or banning same-sex marriage in the state. This will inevitably draw a person to ponder the necessity for marriage at all. When a person has thought about these he will draw arguments from the government, such as taxes or insurance and others from religion, such as morality. Here lies the basis for most voters' decisions. Did they look at the issue from a legal standpoint or a moral one?
If voters outlawed same-sex marriage on legal issues, then a person must ask why the laws can't be changed. Why should the act be outlawed if it can somehow be written into the state in a way that gives gays their rights but does not tread on others?
On the other hand, if voters used morality as their paradigm for change, where will the buck stop? Some think divorce is immoral, so will there soon be a bill outlawing it as well? Whose morals should we follow?
The question thus posed to all is: How much should religion influence the state? Two parts state, one part God? No matter what the mix is, people should strive for consistency. Find a common ground, and stick with it.
ague that it is mostly such legislation pass, others cannot fathom how this could occur. Regardless of viewpoint, the result of the election brings a combination of issues to the forefront. It does not emulate church vs. state, but instead shows an amalgamation of both.
The realities of the vote reveal that there were a combination of both factors spinning in voters' heads in the voting booth.
♦ Chase Edgerton writing for the editorial board.
▼ GUEST COMMENTARY
Voters' decision fails to uphold democracy, pluralism in state
MIKE PETERSON opinion@kansan.com
The recent passage of the marriage amendment has brought about a few realizations regarding our state and country, as well as the nature of political discourse in both.
The public proponents of the amendment share a common thread, a mandatory reference to God. The lines usually follow: "... outside of God's plan ..." or "... not natural ..." or "... God didn't intend ..." Seeing these references to God seems to be inappropriate in the political debate.
Acquiescence to religious ideals in the sphere of public policy is tantamount to using the democratic process to institute a theocracy, which is exactly what is going on here in our beloved Kansas and elsewhere around our great nation.
▼ LANG'S PERSPECTIVE
Doug Lang/KANSAN
Under the guise of protecting our "culture" or preventing "moral decay," zealots from coast to coast are injecting their religious beliefs into public policy and into the decision-making process. Though the word "God" may not be used expressly, it is effectively present in the agenda. Some of my detractors may say that people have a right to propose whichever policy they wish and, similarly, have the right to vote as they wish, and with these assertions I have no quarrel. But, there are also certain duties associated with our rights.
First and foremost, we have the duty to uphold democracy and the pluralist ideals on which it stands. When our laws and statutes begin to reflect religious doctrine, the freedom and opinions of others are discounted, if not completely disregarded. In this assertion, I am not only referring to the marriage amendment, but also the abortion debate and the Schiavo case, as well as prayer in school and other similar issues (most of which are on the conservative agenda).
Further, the good nature and intentions of advocates of such policy changes can be useful to the policy-making process. For example, if life is to be valued above all else and families and marriage are to be protected, then there are many policy alternatives that could reflect this sentiment, other than those related to the abortion and same-sex union debates.
If we value the survival of infants or fetuses, why not support increased funding and availability of pre-natal care or make health care more accessible to families in need of these services.
Admittedly, it is easier to respond to policies with a knee-jerk reaction, letting the first sentiment rise up and drown out the music of a open-minded and rational approach to problem-solving. But this must be resisted with every fiber of our being. No problem is cut and dry, so we bary of those who would entreat you to see them as such. Regardless of our own personal religious and moral beliefs, we must uphold a standard of pluralism in our policies.
If our policies do not reflect democratic and pluralist ideals, then our state begins to look more like Afghanistan under the Taliban rather than America "by the people for the people." If that is the case, then we all know what that means: The terrorists win.
Peterson is a Lenexa junior in political science.
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Is it ironic to you that we keep seeing all these "Support Our Troops" and "God Bless America" ribbons on all these Korean and Japanese cars?
I love how the only Free For Alls that get in are the ones that mention the Free For All, so this will probably be in the Free For All tomorrow.
Remember, ladies, no glove, no love.
I am so proud that I live in a country where people vote against human rights just for the mere enjoyment of pissing other people off.
Gas prices, please have mercy on my soul!
Are we sure those KUnited folks can even run for Student Senate? Do they go to school here? Do they ever go to class?
A night in Lawrence without a fake ID? I might as well go to Chuck E. Cheese's.
So now that the pope's dead, this is America's chance for a real theocracy.
My buddy and I are sitting here, and we can’t remember what state Bucknell is in three weeks after they kicked our ass.
If someone can really pick their nose with their tongue, they must be really good in bed.
Listen up, you Nazis against free sexual disease testing over at Watkins Health Center. It's 2005, not 1905. People have sex now, and they even do it before marriage.
Here's a question. How can you be half-Jewish? Isn't that a religion?
What's with all the hot girls walking around on campus with their Poindexter boyfriends?
Coach Mangino for pope.
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▼ GUEST COMMENTARY
Relive childhood; forget about society's body image pressures
EMILY FOWLER AND KEYARASH JAHANIAN opinion@kansan.com
This column is addressed to anyone reading The University Daily Kansan.
Do us a favor and think back to the days when life was easy and summers were long. As a child, do you remember feeling fat, or openly expressing the need to go on a diet? Did these feelings become so extreme that if you were offered another Bomb Pop or Flintstone's Push-Up Pop, you might refrain because you were trying to lose a few pounds?
Many of you, regardless of being male or female, did not feel the same pressures from society that the young children of today feel. One example of the disturbing statistics we found for this age group was that 81 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat, while 51 percent of 9- and 10-year-old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet, according to information provided by the Emily Tavlor Women's Resource Center.
While one might assume that growing older and gaining knowledge about different aspects of health would cause these percentages to decrease, the statistics of eating disorders for our age group prove this assumption to be wrong. One disturbing statistic is that according to The Center for Mental Health Services, 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. Poor self-image and eating disorders are caused by many different catalysts, such as stress from family and school. Drastic changes, such as moving to college, create new catalysts every day.
What we are asking you to do today is stop letting yourself be negatively affected by outside forces and opinions. Being thin is not the key to having a great life — happiness is. Positive self image is not only being happy with
If our childhood selves saw how serious the problem of low self image and eating disorders has become then not only would they shake their heads in disappointment, but they would also still gladly accept that second or maybe even third nonsicle.
is not only being happy with your body, but also with your personality, mentality, imagination and numerous other personal attributes.
Don't let yourself be influenced by society. Love your body as it is, and determine your own self worth.
In honor of Body Image Week, indulge your inner child by treating yourself to at least two Bomb Pops or Flintstone's Push-Up Pops. Starting today, remember that a scale or a pair of "skinny jeans" doesn't dictate your self worth, you do.
- Fowler is a Topeka junior in English and women's studies. Jahanian is a Kansas City, Kan., sophomore in business and mathematics. They are members of From the Inside Out.
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