are we buying into social conservatism's arguments?

Isn't it odd that "social conservatives" hate gays for "flaunting it" (whatever THAT means), yet they don't have a problem with brown-eyed people "flaunting" their brown eyes.

Being black isn't a lifestyle. "Being" gay or having green eyes isn't a lifestyle.

On this side of the fence, we just accept that social conservatives have the corner on the market of social conservatism.

I love someone who happens to be of the same sex, and I am a social conservative. I don't believe that one person's evangelical religious beliefs should be allowed to invade another person's beliefs through broadcoast media. I am for separation of church and state. I agree with most "sex offender" legislation. I don't believe that people should be allowed to have guns without detailed background checks. I think that child support is a critical issue and that the state should be doing more to help children in fosterage have a happy stable home and hope for a future. I believe that the state has no business in any adult's sexual activities if those activities don't harm anyone or impact anyone else's freedoms. I believe that we need to be real caretakers of the environment, and that our children need the opportunity to be educated and ready to shoulder the problems of the world when it becomes their turn. I believe that we need to take care of our elders and the disabled because we will all eventually be old, and any one of us could become disabled.

All of the topics in the previous paragraph are deeply moral issues for me that impact society, and are only the most fractional tip of the iceberg. Social conservatives always play the "moral" card, but these issues center directly on the morality of an entire society.

Why do we just blindly buy into calling these views "liberal" issues? They're very conservative.

I know this is difficult to believe but all the hoopla about gay rights, gay marriage, and civil unions during the 2004 presidential election is a victory for gays. Twenty years ago or for that matter 4 years ago no one would have dared tread on these waters. You can not defeat hate and prejudice without exposing it. The current open dialog is part of the educational process and although there will be setbacks and heartbreak along with the victories .....you and your brothers and sisters, in the final analysis, will prevail. Keep writing your thoughts....nothing radical in them.....just good common sense heartfelt stuff.

Lots of people equate Republicanism with Conservatism, Democratism with Liberalism, and decide that if someone's a Democrat, he or she must be a liberal, and if he or she is a Republican, then he or she must be a conservative.

The difference between liberals and conservatives, however, is only apparent when one or the other is extreme (radicalism or reactionaryism). And of course, there's some overlap. Yet we must acknowledge that some of the issues you mentioned have traditionally been threatened, and by definition to promote change in any of those areas is to be "liberal."

they could also be framed in the context of 'Christian' values. I think we need to somehow reach out to all these Christian voters and remind them know that their religion stands for peace and helping the poor and downtrodden. My partner, who's very well versed in religious studies, was today telling me how America has become guilty of the "sin of Sodom", which is, of course, not buggery, but failure to care for the poor and the elderly. Put that way, I think a lot of Christians would open their eyes to what's really important.

feel free to flaunt the fact that they are assholes all the time.

THAT should be what everyone is talking about? "So why are Republicans such assholes?"

LOL. True, though.

Very good post.

Take the example of gay marriage. Not only have we accepted the GOP's bid to place it at the front of the gay rights agenda, we have also accepted their framing of the issue as one of "the sanctity of marriage" being the conservative position when "equal rights for all" is every bit as conservative and far more consistent with the American tradition.