Entries for February, 2006
Homosexuals Should Be Given Equal Parenting Rights
Homosexuals have lived together with heterosexuals for innumerable years. To many people, they are best friends and creative artists. This fact does not seem to dim the other fact that though they do live in the usual environment, they don’t have the rights nor the freedom heterosexuals are given to exercise. The debate over gay rights especially on marriage and parenting has been going on for as long as the idea of homosexuality. Proponents of gay parenting rights believe that they should be given equal rights in adopting and raising children like those of heterosexual men and women. Opponents argue that they are unfit to parent a child because of the "abnormality" of such situations (Agape Press/Wolfe)—that neither two men nor two women could marry nor produce children. Should gays and lesbians be given equal parenting rights like those of heterosexuals? Your answer to this question depends on how you view and handle social issues—either objectively or morally. Opinions on social issues like gay parenting should be objective and not be dimmed by what society perceives as normal or moral. Without this kind of perception, there is really no basis on the opposition of homosexual rights to adopt and raise children as their own. Promoters of gay-parenting hold the following arguments: 1. According to scientific reports, there are no considerable differences between children who grow up in homosexual households to those who grow up in heterosexual households.; 2. The primary basis on the opposition on homosexual parenting is partiality—the belief that homosexuality is a mental illness—and the implications of morality and culture and not fact based on scientific reports and studies.; and 3. The marriage of a man and a woman is not necessary to form a healthy family. On the other hand, antagonists harbor the following cases: 1. The scientific researches and studies that support gay-parenting are deeply flawed.; 2. Homosexuality is a mental illness and that the adoption of a child by homosexuals is a sign of wanting to fit in.; and 3. The marriage of a man and a woman is the basic foundation of a healthy family and is necessary and important.
Being a controversial issue, homosexual parenting have aroused many organizations to research and make reports and studies (many of which support the idea) regarding it. Advocates of gay parenting rights use these scientific supports to point out that they are emotionally and mentally capable to be parents. One such report has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare that "children in homosexual households turn out exactly the same as children with a mother and father who are married". The technical report was written by Ellen C. Perrin, MD. It further stated that "there is no systematic difference between gay and non-gay parents in emotional health, parenting skills and attitudes toward parenting. No data have pointed to any risk to children as a result of growing up in a family of one or more gay parents." On the other hand, opponents argue that such reports are "deeply flawed" (Knight) because it is "based on unreliable quantitative research and flawed methodology" (REAL Women). They further argue that the reports do not have enough statistical power to prove their assertions true. In contradiction to this opposition, Charlotte Patterson, a member of the American Psychological Association, stated that “research studies do not represent the larger population of homosexual parents and their families considering that nobody knows the actual composition of the entire population of homosexual families. Because of this, researchers result to tally which side of reports and studies are more consistent. They have found out that there is a greater number of consistent reports stating that there is really no substantial difference between gay households and heterosexual households.”
The debate on gay parenting is blurred by the ideals of morality and culture. Anything that does not conform to the usual is either shunned and left unspoken of or gossiped about and turned into an issue. More often, society chooses the latter. "Gay parents and their children are often subject to prejudice leading to negative outcomes such as loss of physical custody, restrictions on visitation and prohibitions against adoption" (Patterson). We cannot deny that moral and cultural norms have greater implications on people's opinions than scientific research and objective fact. Furthermore, "the beliefs that lead to the prejudices are often not based on personal experience but are culturally transmitted" (Patterson). A clear example would be the statement of Dr. Christopher Wolfe, professor of political science and an expert on homosexuality and American public life. He said that, "the big push for same-sex parenting has much less to do with the desire of homosexuals, generally, for children than it does with the desire that they have to not be different—to not be singled out and treated differently". Homosexuality is treated like a mental illness which according to the American Psychological Association is not. This fact is also supported by the American Psychiatric Association stating that, "homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities". Furthermore, the statement itself is prejudicial.
In totality, gay parenting boils down to the idea that persons of the same sex cannot marry. Tom Prichard, Minnesota Family Council President, explained that "marriage of one man and one woman has always been the foundation of a healthy family". This is true but is also reiterating a cultural norm that only the union of a man and a woman is acceptable to society, that a family without the foundation of marriage will not succeed which is not so. Many heterosexual marriages get dissolved and their families become dysfunctional. Compared to these, gay-parent households thrive way better. Some among the vast variety of family forms, histories and relationships may prove more conducive to healthy psycho-sexual and emotional development than others (Perrin).
Homosexual parents and their families, according to scientific research based on several findings, are found to have no substantial difference to those heterosexual parents and their families. The homosexual parents' sexual orientation which have spawned prejudices leading to the opposition because it is against cultural and moral norms is not a ground for the family to be 'abnormal'. There are also no evidences to support that families of married couples are more healthy and more successful than that of gay couples making marriage a mere requirement and not really a necessity. Therefore, I see no objective reason for homosexuals to not have the right and opportunity to adopt and raise children as their own and form a family.
Homosexuals have fought to reinforce their parenting rights ever since. They have been opposed every time for mere prejudice and unconformity to what is viewed as normal or moral. People should be more objective of gays and lesbians. They are also persons of the same emotional and mental capacity. Thus they should be treated like every heterosexual male and female—with respect and understanding.
{ music } Ever The Same
{ book } Brokeback Mountain
{ show } PBB Celeb Edition
{ mood } alive
Homosexuals Should Be Given Equal Parenting Rights
Homosexuals have lived together with heterosexuals for innumerable years. They serve and perform vital roles in society. This fact does not seem to dim the other fact that though they do live in the usual environment, they don’t have the rights nor the freedom heterosexuals are given to exercise. The debate over gay rights especially on marriage and parenting has been going on for so long. Proponents of gay parenting rights believe that they should be given equal rights in adopting and raising children like those of heterosexual men and women. Opponents argue that they are unfit to parent a child because of the "abnormality" of such situations (Agape Press/Wolfe)—that neither two men nor two women could marry nor produce children. Should gays and lesbians be given equal parenting rights like those of heterosexuals? Your answer to this question depends on how you view and handle social issues—either objectively or morally. Opinions on social issues like gay parenting should be objective and not be dimmed by what society perceives as normal or moral. Without this kind of perception, there is really no basis on the opposition of homosexual rights to adopt and raise children as their own. Promoters of gay-parenting hold the following arguments: 1. According to scientific reports, there are no considerable differences between children who grow up in homosexual households to those who grow up in heterosexual households.; 2. The primary basis on the opposition on homosexual parenting is partiality—the belief that homosexuality is a mental illness—and the implications of morality and culture and not fact based on scientific reports and studies.; and 3. The marriage of a man and a woman is not necessary to form a healthy family. On the other hand, antagonists harbor the following cases: 1. The scientific researches and studies that support gay-parenting are deeply flawed.; 2. Homosexuality is a mental illness and that the adoption of a child by homosexuals is a sign of wanting to fit in.; and 3. The marriage of a man and a woman is the basic foundation of a healthy family and is necessary and important.
Being a controversial issue, homosexual parenting have aroused many organizations to research and make reports and studies (many of which support the idea) regarding it. Advocates of gay parenting rights use these scientific supports to point out that they are emotionally and mentally capable to be parents. One such report has led the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare that "children in homosexual households turn out exactly the same as children with a mother and father who are married". The technical report was written by Ellen C. Perrin, MD. It further stated that "there is no systematic difference between gay and non-gay parents in emotional health, parenting skills and attitudes toward parenting. No data have pointed to any risk to children as a result of growing up in a family of one or more gay parents." On the other hand, opponents argue that such reports are "deeply flawed" (Knight) because it is "based on unreliable quantitative research and flawed methodology" (REAL Women). They further argue that the reports do not have enough statistical power to prove their assertions true. In contradiction to this opposition, Charlotte Patterson, a member of the American Psychological Association, stated that “research studies do not represent the larger population of homosexual parents and their families considering that nobody knows the actual composition of the entire population of homosexual families. Because of this, researchers result to tally which side of reports and studies are more consistent. They have found out that there is a greater number of consistent reports stating that there is really no substantial difference between gay households and heterosexual households.”
The debate on gay parenting is blurred by the ideals of morality and culture. Anything that does not conform to the usual is either shunned and left unspoken of or gossiped about and turned into an issue. More often, society chooses the latter. "Gay parents and their children are often subject to prejudice leading to negative outcomes such as loss of physical custody, restrictions on visitation and prohibitions against adoption" (Patterson). We cannot deny that moral and cultural norms have greater implications on people's opinions than scientific research and objective fact. Furthermore, "the beliefs that lead to the prejudices are often not based on personal experience but are culturally transmitted" (Patterson). A clear example would be the statement of Dr. Christopher Wolfe, professor of political science and an expert on homosexuality and American public life. He said that, "the big push for same-sex parenting has much less to do with the desire of homosexuals, generally, for children than it does with the desire that they have to not be different—to not be singled out and treated differently". Homosexuality is treated like a mental illness which according to the American Psychological Association is not. This fact is also supported by the American Psychiatric Association stating that, "homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities". Furthermore, the statement itself is prejudicial.
In totality, gay parenting boils down to the idea that persons of the same sex cannot marry. Tom Prichard, Minnesota Family Council President, explained that "marriage of one man and one woman has always been the foundation of a healthy family". This is true but is also reiterating a cultural norm that only the union of a man and a woman is acceptable to society, that a family without the foundation of marriage will not succeed which is not so. Many heterosexual marriages get dissolved and their families become dysfunctional. Compared to these, gay-parent households thrive way better. Some among the vast variety of family forms, histories and relationships may prove more conducive to healthy psycho-sexual and emotional development than others (Perrin).
Homosexual parents and their families, according to scientific research based on several findings, are found to have no substantial difference to those heterosexual parents and their families. The homosexual parents' sexual orientation which have spawned prejudices leading to the opposition because it is against cultural and moral norms is not a ground for the family to be 'abnormal'. There are also no evidences to support that families of married couples are more healthy and more successful than that of gay couples making marriage a mere requirement and not really a necessity. Therefore, I see no objective reason for homosexuals to not have the right and opportunity to adopt and raise children as their own and form a family.
Homosexuals have fought to reinforce their parenting rights ever since. They have been opposed every time for mere prejudice and unconformity to what is viewed as normal or moral. People should be more objective of gays and lesbians. They are also persons of the same emotional and mental capacity. Thus they should be treated like every heterosexual male and female—with respect and understanding.
{ music } --- ---
{ book } The Second Mrs. Giaconda
{ show } --- ---
{ mood } relieved
Best Positions in Bed
{ music } --- ---
{ book } --- ---
{ show } --- ---
{ mood } nostalgic
Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two.
1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you..
2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.
3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all t hey have.
4.. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.
6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.
12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try! and know someone else and expect them to know you.
13! . Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.
REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
True friends: How many people actually have 8 true friends?
Hardly anyone I know! But some of us have all right friends and good friends!!!
{ music } --- ---
{ book } --- ---
{ show } --- ---
{ mood } nostalgic
Dance With My Father
Luther Vandross
Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around ‘til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
How I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He’d make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
‘Cause I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
Sometimes I’d listen outside her door
And I’d hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
I know I’m praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don’t do it usually
But dear Lord she’s dying
To dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream
{ music } Dance With My Father
{ book } Champion Of The World
{ show } --- ---
{ mood } sweet sorrow
i feel so bored with life. yeah, with life itself. there are some things to look forward to but there are more things that make everything fall to where i think it is.
i was just made an honorary bridge of a relationship everyone is apprehensive of. i'm not like jamie. it does feel good to be part of a blossoming love story, if it really is that but then i don't also want to be a part of something vague. in short, i don't want to meddle. love is such a fragile thing. i asked the guy, why her? he said he doesn't know. i'm a firm opponent of the principle of sufficient reason but then i really want to have a clear answer. this is so futile. what the heck?! he asked for help and i'll give it. after all, he just said i'm one of the few who understand him. who can say no after that?!
my grades are good except my major. double drat!
i'm still a literary prisoner. our next assignment for engl 112 is an individual research paper. we have to choose between interpreting literature and proposing a solution. obviously i chose the former. he told those who'll interpret literature to give three authors on monday so he can give us advice and we can go on with the writing. it's definite that MAYA ANGELOU is one. the next two, i'm still thinking... SHEL SILVERSTEIN, E.L. KONIGSBURG or O. HENRY. i really like writing stuff. reading... i love brokeback mountain by annie proulx. it's really a love story, contemporary and heart-warming. there was not a single time that i thought it vulgar or scandalous in any way. we really need stories like this. i'm looking forward watching the movie adaptation. i'm almost done reading the 'fudge' series. only one more. come to think of it, i'll add JUDY BLUME to my pick list.
it's been a long time since i've written something impromptu. glad to be back.
let's talk about my teachers this semester since it's almost over and i haven't written anything 'bout them. che made me do this! hehehe her entry anyway. let's do it chronologically. let's not name names para safe. wehehe
FFP-the most boring teacher in the history of my academic life. no more to be said.
ACCTG-a very good teacher and the best teacher to teach our course. she gives you what you deserve, even more sometimes.
ENGL-very knowledgeable. systematic and knows what academic writing is about unlike the others.
FIN-incompetent. all he gives us are excuses and stories about his successful students. such a gripper.
ECON-fun and smart. i never thought econ could be fun. discussions with him are never dull.
FIL-unfair. we never had a single decent lesson with her. we want our equity.
IT-she's nice. she taught me things i didn't know pa so that's a plus. i learned from her a lot.
CHEM-draggy but can't blame her 'coz it's the basic of all basics. nice to recall what you've learned then.
well, that's them. hope i don't get sued or expelled becuase of this. haha!
'til the next entry... 
{ music } Blurry
{ book } Superfudge
{ show } --- ---
{ mood } sore
my english teacher just murdered my essay. that's not new because he also murdered my first essay, the essay before the essay i said he just murdered. grrr... i can't even talk sense after... oh, futile... forgive this, all you readers.
there are two essays left. the first is individual and the last will be by group. the first i think he will murder again, if not then i'll be thankful. the last one, i guess not becuase my companions are two of his exemplary studs. he implied the latter sentence. hmph... or else i'll bring doom to the group and ruin the essay altogether. stop! the mere thought of it unnerves me. i don't know what he wants so how can i deliver?! everything is lousy! im writing maya angelou for the next essay and i hope for the better. :c
the worm showed off again last IT class. such a disease!
i don't know what to do. HELP!!!
{ music } clicks and tabs
{ book } i know why the caged bird sings
{ show } ever after
{ mood } infuriated
These are some of our pictures from last Saturday's ateneo PEiesta I grabbed from the e-class gallery.