Ma'am;.... Since you talk about a unnecessary hurt to the feelings of Gays and Lesbians; what exactly would you consider a necessary hurt to their feelings??? From my perspective, a nation is a natural extension of a natal, that is to say, a naval relationship between soul mother and child... In other words, a nation is like an extended family and in a family no one goes about hurting feelings if for no other reason than that the association is voluntary where all enjoy equality and rights... So we need to remind people that 'Citizen' is an official title that either means something, or is meaningless on all sides... Those who think that they can abuse others of their equality only because they stand in the majority must never leave their position in the majority, because they have made every surplus of people a law unto themselves... They have surrendered unity for a pyrrhic victory, and demostrated their stupidity...Those people who would spend our unity to buy power over the weak minded are taitors to this country and to this people... Democracy should serve all, and let people serve their own needs; but those who turn the political process to their own benefit are as bad as any foreign enemy, and should be burned, and that is a necessary hurt that should teach a lesson to all... We need our unity, and those who wedge us into many peoples pursuing different goals after our own fashions need to be set apart before they divide us completely....Thanks...Sweeney

Taxpayers will respect Barack Obama more for his decision to have Pastor Rick Warren deliver the invocation at his inauguration next month. Remember, Mr. Obama has two daughters that he's trying to raise with morals, principles, integrity, and respect! Taxpayers don't want their children and grandchildren taught by the Gay Rights Community; therefore, why should Obama want this type behavior for his children? All the people who backed Obama thinking they were going to get 'special rights' needs to get a real life! All these 'special rights', 'social and welfare programs' have bankrupted America, so if Obama provoked anguish among some of his formerly ardent supporters, so be it! It's time the Christian Community stand up for their children and grandchildren, making sure they get 'Fair Tax', to include property taxes, so these honest, hard-working folks can put their children in good Christian Schools and, for a change, have a say in the future of America!
Someone asked the question "How do we address our Christmas Cards to you and your significant other?" Must have been a joke for Ellen or Rosie, right? Guess what, folks, I'm quoting from an old saying "you should be seen and not heard!"

Ms. Charen:
Let me try to give you some insight into the problem with Rick Warren from a liberal viewpoint.
Mr Warren represents the religious groups in this country who would take away many of our secular rights and radically change our way of life.
In this instance, you and the media have chosen to focus on the LBGT communities' outrage at his comments designed to demean and stigmatize those fellow Americans he should be protecting and defending. but pastor Warren and his christian fellow travellers don't stop at homophobia--
They also have a problem with anyone who believes that science trumps fantasy in their attempts to demonize evolutionary scientists who's only "crime" is that they refuse to give equal credence to the christian church's rich fantasy life as they give to real, documented scientific fact...
They have a problem with anyone who believes that their churches have engaged in 55 year criminal conspiracys to further the activitys of a ring of organized church leaders involved in pedophilia---even though the catholic church has grudgingly admitted to obstruction of justice and allowing pedophiles to be moved to new geographic venues at the churchs' order to avoid prosecution and with renewed access to new child victims....
They have a problem with those of their fellow citizens who promote scientific research into cellular mechanics and reproduction of stem cells to save lives curing diseases or to at least make the standards of living much better for the chronically ill....
They have a problem with those of their fellow citizens who believe that all societal institutions should be compelled to make transparent financial, management practice and accounting reports in a public setting...
They have a problem with those citizens who believe that such massive institutions as the churches should pay their fair share of the taxes to support the police/military protections and infrastructure that they make disproportionate use of...
In short, they have problems with much of the American public--those who don't share their right wing views, those who believe that mind trumps superstition, those who believe that ALL citizens of this country have the right to full civil rights as a basic issue of fairness and equality before the law--not just those that follow the bigoted views of the right wing christians you and Mr. Warren represent and that Obama apparently endorses.
Mr. Obama and the DLC will live to regret ignoring those of us who believe that this endorsement of hate speech and bigotry represents his true affiliations. Because we don't vote for Presidents, Senators and Congresspeople who would take away our fellow citizens' rights--nor do we vote for supporters of Luddites---nor do we support the idea that you can run on a platform of liberal principals...and then govern as if you were a centrist, moderate republican.
We on the left have given blood in the civil rights and anti-war movements over the years...those movements arguably made it possible for Mr. Obama to run successfully for president. As well, we liberals didn't desert the Democratic party over the last 25 years when many thought it dead--in fact without the support of the liberals and the unions during the 80's and 90's the Democratic party, and Mr. Obama as it's standard bearer--wouldn't exist. For them to now ensure that both we on the left and the unions are marginalized and trivialized by taking such actions to have a "sister soljah" moment is to say loud and clear--- "We don't respect your contributions to the party or this president's election enough to be concerned with your views--we don't really think we need you to win elections"
THAT IS A DANGEROUS THOUGHT PROCESS TO TAKE WITH YOUR CORE CONSTITUANCY...AND ESPECIALLY A CONSTITUENCY WITH A LONG MEMORY FOR SUCH DELIBERATE REPUDIATIONS OF OUR AGENDA.

Tradition is a set of customs or practices but tradition evolves all the time. To say that traditional marriage is supported by centuries of civilization and major Western religions to me is incorrect. The Romans were quite sexually active with same sex lovers and prostitutes. They were a major civilization in historical terms. Women and or wives had very little status or freedoms that the men did. The Roman Empire ultimately died out, and also evolved establishing new traditions and customs.
(http://www.cybercollege.com/history.htm):
The 4th century Bishop, St. Augustine, a man who admitted he had major personal problems with sex, ended up shaping Christian views on sex. His problems with sex were so pronounced that modern-day psychology would list them as obsessive-compulsive and borderline psychotic. He got the basics of his ideas from the prevailing mind-vs-body views popular at the time -- views which have long been repudiated by more enlightened thinking He was quoted to say, "If you expel prostitution from society you will unsettle everything on account of lusts."
Even Catholicism had problems with sexual issues and traditions.
http://www.affirmation.org/memorial/lesbian_mormon_history.shtml:
Since the time the pioneers entered the valley, Mormon women have fallen in love with other women. While many such experiences were private, the organization of what we would today call a lesbian community began before the end of the last century. In 1891, when the gay-associated Bohemian Club of Salt Lake was incorporated, both women and men were included as members. Its principal incorporator and benefactor was Katherine Young Schweitzer, granddaughter of Brigham Young. Still, it was not until 189Z, when the Deseret News published a story about a Memphis, Tennessee, woman who was accused of murdering her girlfriend, that the LDS community became exposed to lesbianism in a public way.
The Mormons were a very polygamist religion even within the USA in past times. This has changed over time though some sects still practice polygamy.
As for Warren's comment on redefining marriage and where one draws the line, I don't think you can safely draw a line anywhere and not violate someone's freedom of choice. As a “modern” society the USA cannot safely draw to many lines with things of this nature and still call itself a free country in my opinion. Though as a country we did manage to remove religion from “state” places and we began as a place for those seeking religious freedom. It may not happen today, or even in a hundred years but the time will probably come when what is now defined as traditional becomes unusual.

Ms. Charen,
It appears that any fool can become a Creators Syndicate commentator as you and Maggie Gallagher continue to comment wildly with no supporting documentation.
You first show you have absolutely no education in regards to human sexuality when you try to classify bisexuals. Perhaps if you would first attempt to actually study human sexuality through the Kinsey Institute which makes all of its materials available on line. Or the American Psychiatric Association which has drawn rather scientific conclusions on the matter of human sexuality. The American Medical Association has also taken current scientific studies into account when advising its members in human sexuality. All of these organizations would be fine substitutes for Wikipedia.
This all assures me that you are the perfect bigot indeed. One who draws their conclusions from prejudice which has its roots in ignorance. How fine a place it would be if Creators Syndicate would, at the very least require actual facts to support the columns it peddles. The nonsense they peddle today causes more pain and suffering to society than it helps. I know: I've seen the results of your bigotry.
Tom Harris
Fulton, MO