[Dennis Kalma]

I think the guy who made the distinction between tolerance and acceptance has it right. Tolerance is my sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own. I do not accept them or agree with them, but I believe (also) in freedom of choice, hence I will take no action other than perhaps a spirited debate if the other party wishes to participate in proving that their belief is wrong.

Acceptance are beliefs or behaviour that I generally approve of and support and promote.

Coming to the gay marriage question, I really do not care what particular orifice is used by any person in the privacy of their own bedroom, fill your boots or whatever. Not my problem, while I have limits as to what I will accept, I have much broader limits as to what I will tolerate in others. Just leave the kids out of it, if you are two consenting adults and not in my living room, do what you want.

In terms of marriage, I accept heterosexual marriages as the only kind of union that I am willing to call marriage. It has long term social history, it fits with my Christian beliefs....it is the only thing that I call marriage, regardless of what anyone else says. It is the only kind celebrated in my church (I am Presbyterian) and if that ever changed, I would leave.

The folks who promote gay marriage are trying to limit my right of choice. They want me to accept a gay union on the same basis as a heterosexual marriage. That will never happen, and I am getting pissed off that they keep on trying.

Call it a union, civil relationship, queeriage...couldn''t care less....I'll even pay more in insurance premiums for the broader range of people covered, but it ain't a marriage.

People keep on wanting the converse of rights....drives me nuts. Freedom of speech does not obligate anyone to listen to you at all. Freedom of belief does not obligate anyone at all to agree with you or support you in your belief. Freedom of association does not obligate anyone to come near you or want to be your friend.

I can disagree with your beliefs, argue with them in any public forum and most certainly in private ones, and run away screaming any time you get near me. Or just quietly ignore you as well. My choice. My freedoms.

And personally, I do not give a flying f*ck at a rolling doughnut whether anyone else agrees with me, talks with me or wants to be my friend...

Dennis