[Loy]

....break on this thread.....

I've had to leave town for a couple days, so I haven't been on the 'puter. And as much fun as it is reading what's come after my smart-assed remark, I feel like I do need to clarify my position on a few things.

Marriage-Do I think it's wrong? Not neccesarilly. I just have a problem with how this culture deals with the concept of "love". Love, in my opinion, is a mutual experience that grows within the people involved in this feeling (be they lovers, family members, friends, whatever). However, whenever couples say "I love you", most of the time they just mean "I wanna fuck you until I'm bored with you". And it's this same mindframe of "love" a lot of people have when they get married. Maybe I'm just a soured romantic, but I think this is wrong, and that's why I don't take the institution of marriage very seriously. I have no qualms with people marrying whoever they want, I just automatically question the validity of their reasons. I don't mean to, but after seeing so many marriages go down the shitter, it's become second nature to me.

My other thing with marriage is this-why is it neccesary to have another institution validate, in their own way, your feelings for another person? This is an honest question, and I'm asking it to see how others feel about it.

The military-Toast, you're right. I've never served in the military. I absolutely refuse to. And, before you pull out the "coward" card (which, I'm assuming is going to come up next)...well, I'll just give you a shortened history.

I come from a military family. My father was a navy seal. I grew up in military towns. I've known many people who've joined up (some of whom I'm still really good friends with). I have more than enough experience with the effects of the military on the people who join up, the towns the bases are on, and the mindsets of the towns' populace. So, just because I won't join up should not preclude my ability or reasoning to question it.

And what exactly are those problems with it?

Well, since I'm trying to keep within the topic, I'll just say that you can e-mail me, and we can discuss this topic at length. I mean, if my servicemen friends can deal with me calling them "tools for hegenomy", I'm sure you can do the same.

The church-I have little bit more experience with this one, since I was in seminary to become a priest (Roman Catholic, for those who are curious). I have no qualms with people seeking out an understanding of spirituality, nor do I have a problem with people who try to help others in that quest...I'm a big fan of spirituality. I'm also a big fan of theology. My problems with the church (and this is about all churches, not just the christian one) is that it requires unquestioning belief.

Again, we could discuss this at length if you'd like (and I really hope we do), but at another time.

And to the person who made mention of priests ****** little boys-honey, it ain't just priests who've been ****** little boys. It also hasn't been just little boys. Humankinds history has been filled with all kinds of stories of rapes of all kind, done by all kinds of people. Many of whom aren't exactly leading a life of celibacy (unless you can explain how, for example, the Marquis De Sade was celibate).

I hope this clears up a few things.

Now, back to the bitch-smacking.