:) Hound... first off, I'm FAR from a preacher....and even less of a saint. I do believe in the Almighty, but I don't however, follow his path 100%. I'm also human and unfortunately put myself before him, many times... I find that many people, men and women alike...do not like to discuss religion. I often wonder why.....is it lack of facts? ... is it lack of belief?...is it fear of saying the wrong thing? is it because they feel they don't know enough about it??...I really don't think there's a wrong or right answer. I'll talk about anything...and if I'm clue-less, I just listen and form opinion.

My poor example: Do you like the color blue?....there's no right answer to that question, only opinion. Just like religion, it can't be proven..so it's a matter of opinion/faith/belief. I don't want to turn this thread into a religious one, like I said...I'm not a preacher, I'm no better than you...like your no better than me.....and if you choose not to believe, I don't hold that against anyone either. I don't think your an evil person if you don't believe in God, just a person with no hope :D....look at it like this, if there's no God....you live your life and die, that's it...."shows over"

the flip-side; .. . you live your life and leave your earthly body to be joined with people from your past that you shared joyous and loving moments with in a beautiful place that you cannot even begin to imagine....I don't know about you, but I like the flip-side. Something to look forward to (hope. If your a decent human being, why not believe.......just in case ;)

Homosexual men are "Gay."

Crotch crabs do not differentiate between gay or straight men.

Therefore, all crabs are potentially GAY.

nor do the differentiate between women



















or so I've been told :eek:

This is like the song that never ends and the for and agin arguments will go on forever. Seems like no side is going to convince the other and healthy discussion is good and that's one thing I like about this place. I don't have a problem with the gay marriage thing, as a matter of fact I think McGreevey signed it into existence here in NJ and since then you don't hear word one about it. Personally, I'd rather have a gay couple or person living next door than a sex offender, skinhead (except of course the Bombas-Good Skinhead! Good Skinhead!), neo-nazi, what have you.
According to my grandmother who turned 100 last month, I am gay also. Yup, from the time I was in college working summers on the Cape, to this day, anytime I am dressed up she says, "Oh Jimmy, don't you look gay." I guess if she's 100 she knows alot more about living and life than I do, so she must be right. OK, FWW, I guess I've come out of my tackle bag, too. I'm a gay fisherman.
One last thing. Bloocrab, I respect every point you make, but I believe many things (some considered miracles) in religion (i.e., the Bible) can and have been proven.

ok now its time for politics ! so how about that janet jackson think she would make a good president ? think catch and release really is better than keeping all your fish ? how about lettuce , cucumbers , tomatos and rubarb think they feel pain when we cut them fom their vines ?

Chris L---you've got volumes upon volumes of cognitive thought in those lines. Where's Spinoza when we need him. :)

Chris, don't forget the bannanas.

nobody cares about the yellow bananna ! they like them when they are cute and green . and besides that would fall under the gay toys catagory ! soft yet nevermind

Well, I must confess, No I'm not Gay, but the next worse thing has occured in my family. I , well, I have to admit, I have a brother that is a Bishop. (ohh the shame)
Anyway, He is Episcopalon or what ever, and is married with 3 kids. We were all in a hospital after a family member had passed away and it was at the time when Vermont was leaglizing this stuff. They wanted to go to Vermont and protest and yell and the sinners etc, etc. I found this so hard to believe.
Let's go to Vermont, we can nail a fag to a cross and light him on fire, boy that will teach him the Love of God!! Why is it such people that call themselves "religious" are always the first to want to crucify anyone that doesn't think their way???
Anyone that thinks "We know the right way, and you must pray our way" wasn't listening when the man was speaking.
More people have died in the name of God than for any other reason. Doesn't sound very religious to me.
The Gays want to be married for the same reason the straight people do. And concidering all of us straight guys are averaging less than 50% success rate on marraige, maybe you religious types should clean up your own house before you preach to everyone else about how they should live their lives???
Just my two cents.

I've been following this thread for some time and I've always wanted to contribute, but I didn't know how to get my thoughts together (no, I'm not gay). So I'm just gonna say what's on my mind. As for the whole gay/lesbian thing, I think that it's time that they have their own rights. Sure, I'm just a college freshman, I don't know as much as you guys out there, nor do I have as much experience. But, this summer, unknowingly, really opend up my eyes a lot regarding this matter.

There's a camp for the deaf in northern CT that I've gone to for four years when I was younger. There was one counselor that was there for all four years. He was the waterfront director, and he was the nicest man I've ever met. He taught me how to sail, how to read wind patterns, how to get myself out of trouble on the water. You couldn't not like him; he was funny, he always smiled, he never forgot your name, and he was always there to offer a helping hand. However, as a camper, I always knew there was something "odd" about him, but I never let that come between our friendship. Four years later, senior summer, I had a lot of things planned, but one morning I get a phone call. That call was from the director of that camp, and he offered me a job as a kitchen aide for the whole summer, and that I've been reccomended by a few staff members. When I arrived a few days later, there he was, Mr. Smith (not his real name to protect his identity). He came out and greeted me with a big smile on his face (later I found out that he was the one who reccomended me for the job), despite the fact that I haven't contatcted him in four years. I later found out that I'd be living with him the whole time in a cabin across the lake from the camp. But now that I've grown up considerably since I last saw him, I got a sneaky suspicion that he might have been gay, but I never asked. One night after a joking session between a couple of counselors, things started to come up that proved my suspicions earlier. That night we had a nice little chat as usual, then he came out and told me that he knew I knew that he was gay and that it was true. We had a long talk afterwards, he was very open, and he answered all my questions. Throughout the summer we've always joked around with it with me teasing him and etc... But the thing was, around the kids, he never acted gay, he was just one of us, you would never know, nor did he ever try to "bend the rules" a bit. However, the summer passed and I learned a lot more from him, more to life than I ever knew before. When he first told me, I was nervous because I've always had the negative perspective of gay people, but he helped me change that viewpoint (though he knows that I like girls a whole lot better than guys).

I don't know if this helps at all, but what I'm trying to say is who are we to prohibit people based on what they believe. Doesn't the declaration of independence say "...All men are created equal..." and that our we should support "...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"

But what do I know? I'm just a kid in college, not a parent.

(I'm also a catholic to boot, but I'm not gonna bring religion to my argument)

Just my two cents.

From my experience with gays.... They are people who are different than I am. The particular gays that I've met are far more patient than the straights. Years ago I worked with the first openly gay that I ever KNEW that I met. He was the most patient human being that I ever met. He answered my most igorant and assinine questions with grace. And he never made me feel feel like the total rube that I was. Based on his answers, I'm for gay marriage or whatever they want to call it.

Its so easy to say" if it doesn't effect me or my family, then I don't care!" I do it . This whole marriage issue IMO.... boils down to how strong your beleives are in what ever religion you are a part of. The more involved you are in a parish, church, synagogue ect. the stronger you feel on this issue, I'm not talkin about the many people who say they belong to this or that group and go through the motions. I do pratice my faith and make an effort to understand it by joining parish groups. Everyone will agree I'm no saint. I do strongly beleive what God made is perfect. Through free will, it is man kind that abuses and kills life. I could give my religious reasons why its important that marriage should consist of male and female but it seems to me that unless you are a christian I'ld be waisting my time.

Also, please don't categorize the church with the few nut cases out there that give us a bad name.

Well said Goose. I believe the same.

I for one certainly do not want my tax dollars supporting this lifestyle, and I do not want to see the day when homosexuals try to break into my church demanding the right to be married under the state laws...

That is what's coming as this agenda continues to desensitize many...

What arrogance it is for homosexuals to force this agenda upon society,the church... and above all... God.

God's laws are far greater... :btu:

And unfortunately, many who practice and approve of this lifestyle will find out the truth and importance of this subject from a righteous God just moments after death.

I'm outa here before this thread gets highjacked & shut down because it is politically incorrect!

I spoke my peace on this issue before...

ouch

not my intention

Okay, who's gonna talk about the hazards of foreign proteins in the rectum? :yak: :eek: :D

did you hear about the one with the gerbil? :eek5:

Come on, I'm eating!!!:yak5:

ok,

i didn't start this because i expected to hear this

shoulda known :(

It's a good topic, and there was some good discussion. Yes, there was some clowning around, but still... some good points were made.

queer eye for the fish Guy

:laughs: :smash: :smash: :laughs: :smash: :laughs:

God says that it is a sin for man to be with man or woman to be with woman. We are His children and He loves us all.
As a follower of His Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ who teaches us to love each other then here is the way it was explained to me by a back woods Preacher way up in the woods of Vermont.

"We should follow the teachings of Christ and tell these persons,"
"I love you as a human being but I detest your sin."

So far as the marrage stuff I stand on what the Bible teaches, Man with Woman O. K.
Any other way, Not O. K.

Remember this...There is a major difference between Loving one another as God and Jesus Loves us and the street definition of what is not Love but Sex!

That having been said, Come on Spring, Let us go forth and Fish!

pole smores:laughs:

Aw man, I was trying to drink my coffee :yak: :laughs:

Next time you're about to sit down to dinner, let me tell you about this fella named Gaylord Felcher. :hihi:

you keep wearing those 70's pants
 

we are gonna get the fab 5 for you.:D

At last, my brother's wishes may come true.

Guys - clean it up please... Public Family Friendly Site - remember?

Thanks

I was waiting for that FWW :laughs:

I'm with you on this one Cap't Chet!

I don't hate homosexuals at all... just the opposite... I just care enough to tell them that what they are doing is harmful to themselves...

Unfortunately, people don't want to equate the truth with love on this important issue...

I had a friend who was gay and sadly passed away in 1997. He was a great man. Not a flaming, in your face, let me show how gay I can be man, but a kind, honest hard working person who had the same partner for 40 years and didn't make a big deal out of it.

The god I listen to accepts people like this. doesn't hate them for a something that isn't a sin.

so when the jesus adoring, scripture slinging types start to accuse people such as these because they believe them sinners I hope you will review your own lifes and recognize the mistakes, shortcomings and sins that occur to all of us.

I have never read any COMMANDMENT that said you couldn't be gay.

I am not gay (cept' at christmas) and never will be. Just have personal respect for people and their lives. When it is an out right disrespectful, poorly chosen choice then the person or peoples should be prepared for judgement.

thus I understand the opinions of the hallowed

This topic makes me want to :yak:

I am disapointed to see this kind of topic here on sb.com. IMO Take it elsewhere guys. I bet few people come here to debate these kinds of issues. There are plenty of sites out there that cater to this kind of topic.

I guess when you get up to 2000 members we have to expect this. I like it better during our smaller days when this place did not need a scupper section.

it's all about respect .........

Sandman...
I have to respectfully disagree; I think the scuppers is the place to talk about whatever people want, and I tend to think this has been an interesting topic... But I like to debate.. :D
I think the beauty of having a place for this is that if you dont like the topic dont read it....
Cheers,
Bryan

and by te way sandman,

this is a topic of importance in the state of Massachusetts right now.

the reason it was begun in the first place.

I respect your opinion but if you can't handle it, stay away.

maybe we should start a forum for the inflexible, hardened fisherman who only care to discuss what THEY believe in.

oh thats right. we already have it. See Grumpy old farts.........

:)

I think it is time I move on...

you got it

"Let he without sin...cast the first stone..."


We are ALL sinners....in our own little secretive way, we commit sin. Is there a difference between a little sin and a big sin? How would this topic compare to ..say, lie-ing to your wife about how much you gambled on the SuperBowl? In God's eyes, would there be a difference?....Why can't we discuss topics like these without people taking offense? In defense of the "Scuppers" forum, "This is a new forum for the not necessarily fishing related topics..."....Mr. Sandman, how could discussing a topic make you "move on"? If it makes you :yak:, don't open it...:) No harm done.

I'm not bashing any(group), I was under the impression that beachwalker, ;) was expressing his opinion...and possibly wanted to hear ours.


"God Bless us, one and all"

Now I'm really getting tweaked here. This is an general conversation forum here on these FISHING boards. As I said in the last thread similar to this, topics SO controversial and polarizing like this on a FISHING website shouldn't be taken TOO seriously nor should they get too serious. This thread, forget about the topic, displayed a general lack of class by many here - regardless of one's position on this topic. And maybe it should be taken somewhere else that has an interest in deciding such an outcome. This is square hole board for round peg topics on a fishing board. This is where stuff that isn't too serious and that has little or nothing to do with fishing can be discussed. This forum and our FISHING boards as a hole are not intended to carry the weight of the future of mankind. Go try a serious site for something like that. Discussion IS and SHOULD be healthy and tolerated here but if it is too serious - remember we're just a fishing site.

We are again starting to drift away from how we were. Same thing happened last year in the final throws of cabin fever. I hate to see it happening again but I guess it is.

Mr Sandman - personally I'd hate to see you leave. It's been a pleasure communicating online for the 2-3 + years you've been hanging out. I don't entirely understand if it's this thread or a culmination of events - I hope not - or you need to take a day off an unwind.

Beach - you got a lot of stones in inviting someone to leave if they don't like it, especially someone that comes from this site when it was a lot smaller. Invite someone to disagree but don't invite them to leave - not your call. Not anyone's unless someone voilates the terms of the board or trashes it.

Again as for this topic, if someone wants to open it to DISCUSS it, that's fine with me. This psuedo-joking "fag ragging" has no place on this site and is really far off of our reason for being here.

Please keep it clean folks and at least semi-personable. Topics that are truly polarizing, such as religion, gay marriage, can go too far beyond the scope of this site.