Why aren't they in here, too? They were both "in" on it and they both had a say. Where are their names?

Oh, wait. They're not Republicans.

Never mind.

Hypocrite.

I just googled some amazing numbers concerning the death toll world-wide from last year's relatively benign strain of flu.

Do you also find it hard to believe that 38,000 people died of the flu last year? I also found it hard to believe that number was the lowest in 12 years.

I also still find it sometimes hard to believe the massive amount of verifiable (Not politically motivated.) data available to me on the WWW.

So, here we go again.

You still hear talk about the dreaded bird flu epidemic. Has the 12-year death toll from that reached 100 yet?

Whatever happened to SARS?

Yeah, here we go again.

You said: "We're not talking about expanding the concept of marriage to include "anything goes", here -- we're only expanding our definition of the two consenting adults by one factor."

What everyone is talking about is "equal rights" when they speak in favor of homosexual marriage. Homosexual marriage has _NOTHING_ to do with equal rights and everything to do with "special privilege."

The reason I say that is twofold:

One, we're only talking about homosexuals and no one else. The sign those people are holding in the picture included in this opinion piece we're replying to seems to include every "family" that cannot legally marry. Including polygamists, adult incestuous relationships, etc. etc. The term "equal rights" has a very definite definition. There is no slippery slope to it. It's firm, level ground with an abundance of traction.

The second requires a story be told. I know a man and a woman who have lived together for most of their sixty-something years. They have a son and a daughter who have both been known somewhat nationally. If I printed the son and daughter's names there are people who read Salon who would know them. I am sure of this. This man and woman have a healthy and loving relationship only broken once by the Vietnam War. They have lived together their entire lives. They are brother and sister. They have the sort of "marriage" that many, many people wish they had. The only problem is they can't let the public know they're siblings. You want to talk about being in the closet? They hide in a pocket in a coat that is hanging in that closet.

Why? How do they feel when they see a printed sign like the one those young girls are holding?

Seeing homosexual marriage associated with equal rights makes no sense at all. When you really want to start talking about equal rights I'll start listening.

Remember, homosexual sex used to be illegal in most places. Just like incest and polygamy, etc. are now. These things can change, too. I think they will change fairly quickly when people realize equal rights means exactly what it says.

I've yet to see a gay or lesbian say, "We want the special privilege of marrying." It just wouldn't seem right, would it?

"ALL FAMILIES DESERVE EQUALITY"

When are we going to stop focusing on giving homosexuals special privileges and make this "ALL...EQUALITY?"

Like the Saudi king's subjects give him.

Get over it. It was an extremely embarrassing mistake which has a lot of people chuckling as you are aware and crying about but we will survive. He should have kissed him on both cheeks. This is the way Saudis greet old friends and equals. Even if any of you were to meet that king you would not be expected to BOW to him. A firm handshake and refer to him as "Your Highness" is all that is required. Neither you, nor our Prime Minister, are his subjects.

Dry your tears and know that obamanation will never again occur. We will never have that to laugh and point at again.

We are not at war with Islam. Most of Islam is "lukewarm" or "cold" and does not go around killing everyone, of any religion, (Mostly other Muslims.) who doesn't agree with them. That is why we are not at war with Islam.

I'll admit that what I've laughed at most out of all of this is the Lefty's crying about anyone calling Obama to task over his mistakes. Talk about hypocrisy! How many political cartoons did we have to wade through everytime GW farted?

I absolutely love this place. Don't you people realize it's impossible to take you seriously?

Think about it. (I love saying "Think about it." to a liberal because I know that is the very last thing they will ever do. It's like saying to a dead person, "Breathe!")