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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (132688)	3/21/2001 7:14:12 PM
From: thames_sider	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

In the UK, adulthood begins at 16 for legal heterosex (including marriage with parental consent) or buying tobacco; 17 for a full driving licence; 18 for buying alcohol and male homosex (female is not actually illegal, as far as I know at any age...); 21 for being an MP and entry to most night-clubs. A fascinating mix. I'm actually against granting any minority special rights, in any circumstance. Capability, or suitability, as relevant, should be the one criterion. If there are already barriers, then I reluctantly approve of discrimination to overcome these - given the 'merit' criterion as above. For example, in the armed forces, a homosexual relationship should have no more - but no less - acceptance than a heterosexual one. If there is a serious and particular argument to prevent one (but not both), then as far as it reflects on ability to perform, it's relevant. Arguments based on 'morale', for example, only apply while the authoritarian mindset criminalises homosexuality... as for its effect on performance, well, the old British Navy (unofficial) motto was 'grog, buggery and whipping', in various forms. At this time our Navy was the largest and by far the most potent in the world (heh. no pun intended!). Sexual norms are a product of society, not nature. Or do you consider it 'normal' that in the UK, under those highly 'normal' Victorians, marriage was acceptable for girls at 12, and boys at 14 - this continued until less than 100 years ago (sheds an interesting light on David Copperfield, if you've ever wondered about Dora...). After all, by 'nature', most girls in the Western world are now marriageable at 13 - they're menstruating, and therefore fertile, by then. In the very most restricted sense of the word, homosexuality is a 'deviance' because it prevents reproduction. However, so does celibacy. And sterility. And, of course, contraception. Unless you believe our purpose is to breed like rabbits for the entirety of our natural life, then you're a deviant against nature. Of course, you should surely forego any but herbal medicine for said span... after all, surgery is also going against the works of nature. As are glasses and dental treatment - and indeed marriage (what? as a man, you restrict yourself to a single sexual partner for life when you're naturally equipped and designed to impregnate many different women every night??) Basically I'm not convinced...