People who treat each other well deserve every bonus they can get, both karmically and legally. It may shock people, but gay relationships are every bit as trying and rewarding as straight relationships. If people would just get their heads out of the dark ages and into the 21st century, perhaps debates like this would finally yield to the common sense of the heart and we could move onto more pressing and important issues, like sending more robots to Mars!
Of course, the other big issue making waves in Denver (though not here in Boulder county) is the legalizing of small amounts of marijuana, not so much for public safety but to ease the burden of minor offenses on our criminal system. This whole issue is another can of worms, thanks to implications beyond the issue. The supporters of the proposed law keep arguing marijuana is safer than smoking cigarettes--but then again, sticking your fingers in an electrical socket two times a day is safer than smoking cigarettes--so that's not a great argument for their case. The problem with marijuana is that people are not responsible enough to safely use it--the towering number of drunk driving fatalities has proven mind-altering substances are not the best idea in a country with miles of open roads. It's medicinal value is spotty at best; it may actually aid in some cases but, beyond the desired side-effect, it also does a number on your brain cells and other organs, not to mention the awful side effect of making you think that Kansas was a pretty good band.
And that is at the core of any mind altering drug debate; you give up control of your actions, yet are every bit accountable for anything you may do while in an altered state. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am and always have been drug free--what other people choose to do, as long as they are not seriously endangering others, is up to them and not for me to say, unless they are a close part of my life. In some ways I'm glad I'm not voting on this issue, because I would probably vote against it--not because I think marijuana is pure evil, but because people just aren't responsible enough to use it safely. (Though, in defense of supporters of casual smoking, "getting high on life" by doing things like rock climbing and riding dirt bikes probably aren't much safer). Of course, when the cashiers at Wild Oats (who I would see smoking up 5 minutes before opening, when I worked at Planetoutdoors) gave me 25$ in change when I gave them a 5 bucks for a 2.99 bottle of juice, I just kept the money-- so maybe I should vote yes for it.
Anyhow, these are very small snippets of my personal opinions on things. I'll spare anyone my deeper thoughts, unless of course they ask :) Now, let me just get on my flame-retardant suit here and I'll finish this post...
