They are not forcing their lifestyle onto you in any way.  They aren't trying to turn you gay (well, maybe some are if they "want you"), and they are not trying to affect your personal life.  They are trying to enhance their own.  Please do not make the mistake of thinking that this issue is about "you".  Remember that I do see where you are coming from with your original post, I respect, and I agree with your opinion about the religious institution of "marriage" as it is has been passed down through tradition.  I get the feeling that you feel threatened personally from the personal choices of others' relationship decisions.  Perhaps I am wrong, but in any case, don't blame people for trying to pursue their own dream if it is of no harm or danger to others in society.

To use your breakdown, 5% in no way can be considered a majority.  Sure it is significant.  But get a balanced view of this issue, a poll of opposing stances should also be held.  I, for one, would be interested to see what that yeilded.

I'm not trying to be persnickety (man, I love that word) but polls, for better or worse, aren't ever really an accurate gauge of the thoughts of a general population.  There are all sorts of things that can affect, inhibit or otherwise alter the outcomes.  Having said this, I do agree that no judge or judges should ever have the power these judges have used.

I am aware of that and would fully support a law that makes American teachers teach children that marriage is between man and woman and homosexuality is just for fun.

The difference to me is obvious too, but what objective difference is there that doesn't rely on our religious beliefs and can be taught in school without teaching religion?

You are not shoving your lifestyle in their face? I assume you are unmarried and against any form of marriage?

Or would you not have a problem shoving the heterosexual lifestyle in other people's face?

Persnickety?  PERSNICKETY? yea, I kind of like it too.

I agree polls are not definitive.  I am saying that a petition with 5% of the voting populace shows a strong movement to address the issue.  It may fail!  After all, the 5% may all be Born Again Christians (that is the problem with petitions, we dont really know the demographics of the signatories).  But it is significant in the respect that the 5% who signed can be considered cast votes already (they went out of their way to sign it - they will be at the polls to vote on it).

IN an election, if you already have 5% of the vote in the bank, you would feel pretty good about your chances. 

Since this particular Issue already was voted on once before, {let us not forget this simple fact} and the voters of California voted by 69% to define marriage as "one man to one woman" I would say it seems fairly certain that it will pass again by a large margin. This is not some "personal issue about how I feel, it it an Issue about how four judges struck down a vote by the people of California because they did not "like the outcome" I was but one of those voters that chose to define marriage as one man to one woman, does that make me anti-gay? no it does not, but I am sure those of you narrow minded twits that must slot people might think so. Personally I could care less about what you think about what I think. I do not like judges willy nilly taking my vote and flushing it down the toilet. Maybe some of you are ok with this, but not me. Let gays have civil unions, let them draw contracts giving them all the rights and where fores of married couples, I just do not want them to use the word "marriage" if you don't like that tough shit!

Lucas will not be commenting anymore, once again his stupidity has annoyed me to the point of silencing him here. He can take his view elsewhere. Every time I take him off silence he comes in with his totally out of ass opinions and once again I get reminded what a fool I was for defending this miscreant.

You assume much to much, I feel threatened? where in the fuck did that come from, could this be what is called "a Valid projection"?

Look at my reply where I said this issue was overwhelmingly passed already in California {69%} of California voted that marriage is to be defined between One man to one woman.