Collin
its helpful to see actual results like that. Now, I'm wondering if a 'small committed group' did some work to raise public awareness of where this might lead, another poll in 12 months or 2 yrs may show a different result.
As for the care factor, sure, most people fail to see how such things can 'effect them' and the old Aussie sense of 'fair go' prevails. But on issues like this, most people are about as aware of the long term social impact as they are about the possibility of a close election being won or lost on the basis of one ethnic group or religious group concentrating in one political seat and voting a certain way.
You can be sure of one thing.. that political reality is becoming 'quite the topic' of conversation among some circles, so.. in Melbourne, we have about 5 marginal seats in my area, all with large numbers of evangelicals in them, who will vote on principle.
Isn't democracy wonderful ? Well.. if we can't have theocracy.. democracy is the next best thing :) (but for the re-assurance of those still picking themselves up off the floor after that remark... no, I dont want a theocracy) And yes, I'll be one of them voting on principle. For anyone who doesnt like it.. change the sytem, dont whine about it. We have had laws and views 'imposed' on us as members of the community for a rather long time now and its becoming rather tiresome. So.. people are becoming more pasionate, more active, more involved, and are sensing the possibilities.
Lets see what happens in the next few elections on a federal and state level. And just like those who are quite happy for 'their' outcomes to prevail, I hope they can rejoice as much if 'ours' prevail.

NORM I have no idea actually. But given that NAMBLA by nature is a homosexual organization, I somehow sense that the 'lack' of linkages would be hard to show.

boaz-david, why does it bother you so much what other people do with their private parts? How does it 'hurt' you?

Rather strange that BOAZ_David would bring up NAMBLA since he and his like minded friends have been arguing on other threads that a group like this should be allowed to exist?

No if we raise ourselves out of religion driven dogma and look at the facts most men who commit sexual crimes on children don't live as homosexuals and don't identify themselves as such, there is no evidence to support what the rabid right wing christians are saying, But then again do they ever let facts get in the way of a good hate fest.

It's sad, but predictable, that homophobes such as _David BOAZ_ and _Norm5Kj_ would throw the issue of NAMBLA into the middle of an argument for equal rights and justice for lesbian and gay people.

This has been a long-term strategy of the anti-gay movement and the Religious Right generally.

NAMBLA is an appalling organistion, which in answer to Norm's question, has been repeatedly condemned by gay rights groups, and is refused permission to ever join the International Lesbian & Gay Rights Assoction (ILGA).

But of course it suits the anti-gay lobby to overlook this and to throw mud and scream "peadophiles!" everytime reasonable steps are taken to secure human rights and equality under the law for homosexual people.

It would be so very, very easy for any gay or lesbian person to point to the shocking levels of child sexual abuse that happens in families - mostly dads against daughters - and use that as an argument to condemn heterosexual people, to call for the crimilalisation of heterosexuality, or to justify unequal consent ages between heterosexual girls and heterosexual adult males. Easy, but very silly.

Equally, a quick search of the Internet will reveal countless porn sights aimed at heterosexual males, and which promote "underage girls", "barely legal whores" and "Lolita" sex sites, featuring thousands of very young, and mostly underage girls.

But no-one would be silly enough to use this plethora of teeny girlie porn sites as overwhelming evidence of heterosexual depravity, or argue the case of a strong and automatic link between straight men and peadophillia.

The NAMBLA smear by Mr Boaz and Norm, shows how selective people can be in their condemnation of sexual oriention. And it shows a wilfull blindness when it comes to pointing fingers at those who are most likely to hurt children.

Kelpie
PERT

Kenny
I was not advocating them at ALL..I was saying and will re-state it here, that in a society based on moral relativism u can expect them to advance their point, and u have as much 'right' to stop them as u have to stop the advancement of any issue, 'none' (in such a climate)
To speak about 'damage' to young lives is a fact not supported by section 47 of the crimes act 1958 (Vic and WA) (u better read it CLOSEly).
What I am saying, is that unless we have a social foundation based on revealed truth, its 'anything goes' ultimately if pressure groups push the boundaries hard enough. Get it now ?????

It goes without saying that those who are driving the gay agenda will attempt to distance themselves from Nambla (who are all homosexual men) and also condemn the likes of me. They go together. Even the condemnation in the post of Kelpie was a political statement "Homophobe" I remember when we didn't even know that word.. but boy we sure do now..not a bad tool. Its simple really.. "invent a word and use it in such a way that its meaning is clearly negative, and splash it on all who oppose you as much as possible."

Now we are hear of 'Christaphobes and Muslimaphobes'etc.

To refer to Nambla as 'paedophiles' is not really productive. It might have good short term 'impact' and shock value, but I prefer to evaluate it in terms of moral relativism in general, and show how their strategy is very similar to the early gay strategy. (i.e. persuasive) It might be some time before we hear the crys of "We love, We're here, and its all OK" or something, but that is the direction. Eventually they will decide that community hate against them has to be fought sacrificially. (sound familiar)

I have no apology to those who feel my position is either bigoted or unjustified, I've watched it all happen. I do emphasise though, that for those who are simply struggling with their sexuality, they have my compassion. But for those who are politically advancing this agenda, it is willful and deliberate and compassion on a personal level does not mean the lack of a passionate opposition to the behavior or agenda on a political,social and cultural level.

Welcome to democracy.