ralphie
New Member
So... My sister wrote this for her Theory of Knowledge class and I thought it was pretty interesting. It's not done yet [has to be between 1800 and 2500 words and she only has 759]. But I thought I'd post it anyway. Tell me what you think.
Thesis
For this extended essay, gay marriage is the topic of choice. The topic of gay marriage captured my attention because it has been in the media so much that I began to realize how much intolerance there really is. Racial prejudice is still seen today, but it is homosexual prejudice that is rising. It is my belief that everyone should be allowed the same rights no matter their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. However, there are many people that will quickly disagree. I have researched and found many objections to gay marriage. Many of the objections are reasonable, but I am going to offer logical explanations of why I disagree. Although there is no definite truth about which is morally right, for the purpose of this paper, I will prove that, in my opinion, homosexual marriage is morally permissible in every situation.
The Explanation and Analysis of Thesis
There are many ways to interpret the meaning of my thesis, but in this paper, I will use the word “homosexual” to mean someone having a primary sexual attraction to another person of the same sex. The term “bi-sexual” although it is not in my thesis will be used to mean a person sexually attracted to both genders. “Marriage” will be used to mean two persons being legal and religiously united. Even though not all religions call this marriage, they will be referred to as marriage as well. I use “morally” to mean acting with good and correct character according to the majority of individuals in the West which support Judeo Christian values. Larry Colero of Crossroads Programs Inc. says that personal ethics and personal morality are synonyms. He also says that the principles of personal ethics are as follows: “concern of others well-being, respect for the autonomy of others, trustworthiness and honesty, willing compliance with the law (with exception to civil disobedience), basic justice or being fair, refusing to take unfair advantage, benevolence or doing good, and preventing harm.” Lastly I will use the word “permissible” to mean allowed or permitted free from discrimination and all prejudice from society and within one’s self. In this essay I will explore the reasonable arguments against homosexual marriage, but I will also be presenting many of my own ideas supporting my thesis. Although I will have many arguments that I will either defend or reject, my main argument will be there allowing homosexual marriage will not threaten the foundation of marriage.
Support of Thesis
My first support of this thesis deals with the Christian outlook on homosexuality. Whether anyone would like to believe it or not, America is a primarily Christian based country. Unfortunately Christian religions believe that homosexuality is a sin. Christians are taught that everyone sins, but Jesus died so that their sins would be forgiven and that no sin is greater than the next. If this is the truth then homosexual Christians should not feel guilty for having a sexual attraction to a person of the same sex because everyone sins.
Another idea is that all human actions are driven by self gratification. This means that everything we as humans do in life is done to make ourselves feel better. Our main purpose in life is to satisfy ourselves. If this is true and if homosexuals truly do love another person of the same sex then it would be because loving that person is satisfying to them. Is it right to forbid a person to do something that would make them even more happy as long as it’s not hurting anyone else? William Shakespeare said, “To thine own self be true.” That is exactly what everyone should do. Homosexuals have to deal with many objections of them being together when all they want to do is be happy. If a gay couple wants to be wed then they should be able to do what they want, not what everyone else wants them to do.
My third idea of why homosexual marriage is morally permissible is because it doesn’t break any moral laws. Everyone knows right from wrong. We were all taught this as children and it is believed that humans were even born with the sense of right and wrong.
Feedback. Anything. I'm in the process of trying to convince her to name it "Darth Cheney and His Plot To Take Over The World"
By the way, the grammar's off. I'm not finished editing it, and the paragraph spacing screwed up but... You all can manage, I'm sure.
Thesis
For this extended essay, gay marriage is the topic of choice. The topic of gay marriage captured my attention because it has been in the media so much that I began to realize how much intolerance there really is. Racial prejudice is still seen today, but it is homosexual prejudice that is rising. It is my belief that everyone should be allowed the same rights no matter their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. However, there are many people that will quickly disagree. I have researched and found many objections to gay marriage. Many of the objections are reasonable, but I am going to offer logical explanations of why I disagree. Although there is no definite truth about which is morally right, for the purpose of this paper, I will prove that, in my opinion, homosexual marriage is morally permissible in every situation.
The Explanation and Analysis of Thesis
There are many ways to interpret the meaning of my thesis, but in this paper, I will use the word “homosexual” to mean someone having a primary sexual attraction to another person of the same sex. The term “bi-sexual” although it is not in my thesis will be used to mean a person sexually attracted to both genders. “Marriage” will be used to mean two persons being legal and religiously united. Even though not all religions call this marriage, they will be referred to as marriage as well. I use “morally” to mean acting with good and correct character according to the majority of individuals in the West which support Judeo Christian values. Larry Colero of Crossroads Programs Inc. says that personal ethics and personal morality are synonyms. He also says that the principles of personal ethics are as follows: “concern of others well-being, respect for the autonomy of others, trustworthiness and honesty, willing compliance with the law (with exception to civil disobedience), basic justice or being fair, refusing to take unfair advantage, benevolence or doing good, and preventing harm.” Lastly I will use the word “permissible” to mean allowed or permitted free from discrimination and all prejudice from society and within one’s self. In this essay I will explore the reasonable arguments against homosexual marriage, but I will also be presenting many of my own ideas supporting my thesis. Although I will have many arguments that I will either defend or reject, my main argument will be there allowing homosexual marriage will not threaten the foundation of marriage.
Support of Thesis
My first support of this thesis deals with the Christian outlook on homosexuality. Whether anyone would like to believe it or not, America is a primarily Christian based country. Unfortunately Christian religions believe that homosexuality is a sin. Christians are taught that everyone sins, but Jesus died so that their sins would be forgiven and that no sin is greater than the next. If this is the truth then homosexual Christians should not feel guilty for having a sexual attraction to a person of the same sex because everyone sins.
Another idea is that all human actions are driven by self gratification. This means that everything we as humans do in life is done to make ourselves feel better. Our main purpose in life is to satisfy ourselves. If this is true and if homosexuals truly do love another person of the same sex then it would be because loving that person is satisfying to them. Is it right to forbid a person to do something that would make them even more happy as long as it’s not hurting anyone else? William Shakespeare said, “To thine own self be true.” That is exactly what everyone should do. Homosexuals have to deal with many objections of them being together when all they want to do is be happy. If a gay couple wants to be wed then they should be able to do what they want, not what everyone else wants them to do.
My third idea of why homosexual marriage is morally permissible is because it doesn’t break any moral laws. Everyone knows right from wrong. We were all taught this as children and it is believed that humans were even born with the sense of right and wrong.
Feedback. Anything. I'm in the process of trying to convince her to name it "Darth Cheney and His Plot To Take Over The World"
By the way, the grammar's off. I'm not finished editing it, and the paragraph spacing screwed up but... You all can manage, I'm sure.