Same-Sex Marriage

It’s been an issue for the last 10-20 years. Some states are legalizing it. Others aren’t. People have very strong beliefs about gay marriage. Some say, “It isn’t fair for them not to be given the same civil rights because they are different.” Other people say, “Gay marriage is a sin,” or “It is between a man and a woman. Should they be given the same rights as straight people? Should they be treated differently?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-dreher_1108edi.State.Edition1.2295efb.html

In the article, “One Gay Marriage, Empathy is a 2-Way Street” by Rod Dreher, the author informs people that there are both negative and positive things about same sex marriage, and that there are good arguments for both sides. He states that, “That's not an argument against gay marriage, but it is an explanation for why gay marriage remains unpopular in this country.” He is referring to his first piece of information. “Gay marriage represents a ‘cultural revolution’, a redefinition of what marriage is. Same-sex marriage hasn’t really been an issue up until about 10-20 years ago, so the society hasn’t had to deal with it. It was among the unthinkable. Now, since it is legal in some states, humankind still finds it unthinkable.” This shows that he isn’t for same sex marriage, but he isn’t specifically against it either. The author doesn’t show a real viewpoint, but there are hints that he is leaning against same sex marriage. Dreher is focusing on the negative comments about same sex marriage rather than the positive side, but he still does not really bring his viewpoint into his writing. The author uses description to describe what people are thinking about same sex marriage, and why they think what they think. Since the author has no real viewpoint, there is no real conflicting evidence. Dreher uses words like, “unthinkable” and “unpopular” to say that he doesn’t think the same sex marriage issue is that much of a disgrace. He doesn’t use words like “terrible” or “a disgraceful issue.” He has no real bias or slant.

Rod Dreher is a reliable source because he has been writing for a long time. He has wriiten for many different newspapers, like Dallas News and the Wall Street Journal. His credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University. This article was published in late 2009, so roughly 2 years ago, so it isn’t that out of date.  I find this a reliable source because he knows what he is doing.

http://wrightjj1.people.cofc.edu/teaching/PHIL3000/Wedgewood,%20The%20Fundamental%20Argument%20for%20Same-Sex%20Marriage%20(1999).pdf

 In the article, “The Fundamental Argument for Same Sex Marriage” by Ralph Wedgwood strives to persuade the reader that same sex marriage  is a question of fairness and equality. Wedgwood believes that banning same sex marriage is the denial of equality. That it isn’t fair to gays that they have to be denied of being happy just because they are different then the marriage between a man and woman. He says, “But many same sex couples have the same interests, which marriage would serve in essentially the same way. So restricting marriage to opposite sex couples is a denial of equality.” He obviously doesn’t take this issue lightly just by his word choice. He is using a mixture of description and compare and contrast to show the readers that the discrimination against same sex marriage violates their right to equality. He handles conflicting evidence by coming back with an even bigger argument than the conflicting evidence itself. For example, he says that the laws preventing same sex couples from getting married defies their legal rights as citizens. Wedgwood uses words with powerful persuasion definitions like, “abridges” and “binding,” which makes his case even more convincing. These words definitely create a bias of what his own viewpoint is. The author uses ethos to support his argument that denying same sex couples the right to marry is unfair.

Ralph Wedgwood is a philosophy professor at University of Southern California. I believe this is a very reliable article because of his credentials. They include a bachelor’s degree in Classics and Modern Languages, and a PhD in philosophy at Cornell University. Though the article was written more than 10 years ago, not a lot has changed with the issue of same sex marriage. With everything he wrote and everywhere he has taught or been involved with, this is a very reliable article to go off of.

The sources of these viewpoints are as followed:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-dreher_1108edi.State.Edition1.2295efb.html

http://wrightjj1.people.cofc.edu/teaching/PHIL3000/Wedgewood,%20The%20Fundamental%20Argument%20for%20Same-Sex%20Marriage%20(1999).pdf