Perkin Warbeck,
An IVF sperm donor is not a father. He is a convenient human incubator of sperm, but he is not a father.

He is a feminist's dream.

Dear Philo,

A closed mind is like a closed book - just a piece of
wood. I'm puzzled by your lack of comprehension skills.
Did you read my entire post?

Marriage patterns have changed. There is an immense range
in marriage - whether you approve or not is beside the point.
You're entitled to lead your life as you see fit - what
you're not entitled to do is impose your views on other
people. Judging others is not your job. All I can say is
whatever is eating you - must be suffering horribly.

Lexi,
I realize we are living in a society post 60's "free love", with anyone is OK. But the fact is that, that society has led to the destruction of the secure and wholesome family unit and the increase in juvenile crime. I compare what society was like before and after that period, and witness the responsible and mature attitudes of children growing up in families with mother and father still together and in love.

Lexi,
I don't assume you realize you are wishing to impose your values and definitions on me and my society.

Philo

Lexi has not demanded that you turn gay, nor give up your beliefs, merely that you apply the same acceptance that you demand for yourself to others.

Your words:

>> Obviously homosexuals do not understand that marriage exists exclusivily (sic) for family and the continuance of the human species. <<

Are among the most ignorant I have read, how many times, how many posters have pointed out that marriage is not always for procreation?

If that were so, women would still be dying early from having baby after baby instead of using the pill. We have not seen massive families of ten or more children since the early part of the 20th century. I am sure that married couples when they have had the number of children they want, are still having sex. Do you still have sex?

FYI - the human race will not die out, there will always be far more straights and bisexuals to continue the species.

There is not a single valid argument you can make to discriminate against people who love each other declaring their love in a formal union - it is all down to your prejudices which you support from the Old Testament - there is nothing against homosexuality in the New Testament. I understand that you claim to be Christian and not Jewish, or are you cherry picking, yet again, to bolster your own prejudices?

If you have difficulties thinking about gay love, believe me you wouldn't want to spend too much time thinking about straight sex either, for example; the ageing Rupert Murdoch and his lovely young wife, John and Janette Howard, Hugh Hefner with anyone.

Philo a lot of the perception of crime could be about coverage.

The trend in homicide rates in Australia has been declining for some time (with occasional blip's).

http://www.aic.gov.au/statistics/homicide.aspx

It's sometimes useful to look at trends in events that won't be impacted by reporting (homicides tend to get reported, petty crime man or may not depending on other factors).

Assault rates have gone up but part of that may be an increased willingness to report assaults (my view). http://www.aic.gov.au/en/statistics/violent%20crime.aspx

I'm not convinced that our society is in the death spiral that some wish to believe it is.

R0bert