Came across this fascinating article from the New York Times this morning, thought it's worth sharing: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/u...emain-undaunted.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0 "Even if we are doomed, and I’m totally naïve, I think it’s important that I do this work anyway." WASHINGTON — They hear that their cause is lost, that demographics and the march of history have doomed their campaign to keep marriage only between a man and a woman. But the young conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage — unlike most of their generation — remain undaunted. They identify themselves as part of the “pro-marriage movement” and see themselves at the beginning of a long political struggle, much like the battle over abortion. If they can begin shifting the terms of the debate away from gay rights and toward the meaning of marriage, they say, they have a chance to survive short-term defeats. “The primary challenge that our side faces right now is the intense social pressure,” said Joseph Backholm, 34, the executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington. “To the extent that the other side is able to frame this as a vote for gay people to be happy, it will be challenging for us.” To put it another way, opponents of same-sex marriage say they must argue in favor of traditional marriage, not against gay people or gay rights. “It’s really a broader defense of marriage and a stronger marriage culture,” said Will Haun, 26, a lawyer and member of the Federalist Society. ... “Most young people think if you come out with traditional marriage views, you’re a bigot,” said Thomas Peters, 27, the communications director for the National Organization for Marriage. “You can’t have that many people in the shadows.” The issue, proponents of traditional marriage say, is one of presentation. “These Republicans who are jumping ship are doing so because we have no way of messaging,” said Ashley Pratte, 23, the executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research and Cornerstone Action, a New Hampshire group that focuses on social issues. “Do you want to tell your friends when you’re out with them on a Friday night that they can’t get married? No, you don’t want to have that discussion, but you want to have a healthy discussion.” Opponents of same-sex marriage say they realize they may lose the current fight, but they optimistically take the long view, pointing to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. At the time, they say, opponents of abortion were told their cause was lost, but the fight continues 40 years later. “If you take the longer view of history — I’m not talking just 15 years, I’m talking 40 years or even 100 years — I can’t help but think that the uniqueness of man-woman marriage will be adjudicated over time,” said Andrew T. Walker, 27, a policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation. Either way, they are not planning on giving up any time soon. “Even if we are doomed, and I’m totally naïve, I think it’s important that I do this work anyway,” said Mr. Teetsel, of the Manhattan Declaration. “If what I believe is true is true, then I’ve got a responsibility to be on its side for as long as I can be.”
To see so many young people deeply embedded within important groups & think-tanks... formulating and articulating a strong Christian and cultural defense of marriage... and having a long 40-year range view in their sights. What an inspiring article!
The utter debauchery of the last 50 years in the West was not able to last. That shameful tendency of youth to disobey their parents turned out to be a blessing in the case of this generation. All this is an attempt by Hell to shut down the Evangelion and to mock God's creation, but even if the federal government mandates the blessing of homosexual union, there will always be the Gospel. Only the next generation and the next and the next and the next can keep the Flame alight.
"Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah" Isaiah 1:1 May God bless this remnant! Jeff