Overview of Major Assignments in CO150

Description: With this approach it is concerned with the health and well being of athletes. There are many doctors that have proven that performance enhancing drugs (PED's) have negative side effects to them. Take for example in the Howard Taras interview the states “For creatine, there have been no scientific studies of its long-term effects or its side-effects in children--or what happens when it's used beyond ‘recommended' doses”. This is only one PED that scientist and doctors do not know much about. Another PED that is used is tetrahydrogestrinone (THG); it is an undetectable drug through urine samples that has become popular in athletics today. Even though these drugs have positive side effects that athletes are looking for, they can be harmful to their health take for example Patricia D Mess article. She states that "including the high-profile deaths of athletes such as Minnesota Viking Korey Stringer and Baltimore Oriole Steve Bechler, have focused needed attention on safety issues for ergogenic drugs." So the worst negative side effect of these PED's is death.

Common Needs and Interests: With these articles there is one common desired need of these health experts and that is the total evaporation of PED's in sports. They are mainly concerned with the health of all of the athletes, either it be from high school to all professional sports. In Patricia D Mess's article she talks about President Bush stating that in high school teachers, coaches and parents need to start teaching young adults about the dangers of using PED's. Along with death there are many negative side effects that go along with PED's, some of them are increased acne, predisposition to muscle and tendon injuries, liver dysfunction or tumors, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Shared Values: Their values are as I stated before is the health of the athletes and also the concern for the future of our youth. Since most of them are health experts in some way or another, they are concerned with this issue. It is also their job. Take for example Dr Taras, he is a clinical professor at the University of California , is a physician for the San Diego city schools, and co-chairs a national effort to develop school health guidelines. So it goes to show that his values are very deeply rooted in teaching healthy habits to students at an early age and up through college. Don H. Catlin is a Professor of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at the University of California at Los Angeles . He is working with the Olympic Analytical Laboratories to find ways to test for different types of PED's. In Weintraub's article he says, “The drug Catlin encountered last year is an anabolic steroid called tetrahydrogestrinone. It doesn't show up in standard urine tests-and indeed, the compound is shrouded in mystery.” So you can see that Catlin has taken his values of health and used it in his job of trying to stay ahead of the rouge scientists who produce PED's.

Shared Beliefs: These authors have written these articles as a belief of informing society of the dangers of PED's. They believe in interviewing these doctors and health experts, because the authors maybe better equipped to document these doctors and health experts and spread their work.

Sources in this Approach:

Anonymous. "Survey projects 1.1M teens have used sports supplements, drugs." Managed Care Weekly Digest 2p 24 11 (2003): 32-. Academic Search Premier, Colorado State University . 7/9/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=11486566&db=aph>.

This is a short health article that warns society of the ramped use of performance enhancing drugs in Americas youth. " Based on projections from a nationally representative survey released by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), approximately 1.1 million young people between ages 12 and 17 have taken potentially dangerous performance-enhancing supplements and drugs." It also warns about the dangers of different types of drugs found in these drugs such as androstenedione and ephedra and their potentialy dangerous side effects. This will be a good article for me because it is from a reliable source. It gives me real life numbers of doping and it comes from the health concerns of doctors and parents.

Donovan, RJ, G. Egger, V. Kapernick, J. Mendoza. "A Conceptual Framework for Achieving Performance Enhancing Drug Compliance in Sport.." Sports Medicine 32.4 (2002): 269-. Abstract. Academic Search Premier, SAGR. 7/14/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=6356791&db=aph>.

"To date, the main focus on controlling the use of PEDs has been on testing athletes and the development of tests to detect usage." This is not quite the case in this article because it talks about how the athlete thinks. They say its the phsycological part of the athlete who will take the performance enhancing drug. It also talks about six different inputs to the athlete taking performance enhancing drugs. This is my best article because it goes into the mind of the athlete and why they would take performance enehancing drugs.

Mees, Patricia D.. "Bush Addresses Drugs in Sport." Physician & Sportsmedicine 32.2 2 (2004): 10-. Academic Search Premier, SAGE. 7/14/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=12320016&db=aph>.

This article talks about President Bush's state of the union addressing drugs in sports. He states that drug use in sports is ruining the games itself. Professional sprots needs to set a better example to young adults and kids by not using performance drugs. He also is concerned with the health aspects of it too. Expecially as he is quoted here, "including the high-profile deaths of athletes such as Minnesota Viking Korey Stringer and Baltimore Oriole Steve Bechler, have focused needed attention on safety issues for ergogenic drugs." This is a good article because it talks about our president and his opinion as a fan of sports. It also gives the opinion of a Dr. regarding the public outrage of doping.

Taras, Howard. Interview. Feb, 1999.

In this interview with Dr. Howard Taras, he talks about the wide use of steroids and creatine in youth. Now men are not the only ones using these products, but the rise of women who are taking them. He also talks about the risks of taking these drugs, "For creatine, there have been no scientific studies of its long-term effects or its side-effects in children--or what happens when it's used beyond "recommended" doses. This lack of knowledge should deter everyone from using it." This is a good credible source because it is coming from a highly touted physician. It will help in my health argument.

Weintraub, Arlene. "Can Drug-Busters Beat New Steroids." Business Week 2p.4c 14 6 (2004): 82-. Academic Search Permier, 7/9/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=13374159&db=aph>.

Scientist are fighting with other scientist to get an upper hand on the fight against performance enhancing drugs. They have developed different types of steriods that are not detectible in an urine sample. One of the more popular durg is tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which Kelli White admitted taking. With drugs that are not being able to test threw urine samples, there is even a scarier way of altering performance and that is changing an athletes genes. Wientraub states that " Rogue doctors might, for example, inject an athlete with a virus rejiggered to deliver the gene that makes erythropoeitin (EPO) -- a protein that boosts the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Right now, there is a test to detect synthetic versions of the protein, which some athletes take to improve their stamina." This article is a good source because it will give me the latest in the fight against performance enhancing drugs. It will also help in my health arguments.

Description: With the integrity of sports, it date backs to the beginning. When one man or woman could compete against another and say I am better than you are. This is the basics of sports, with no cheating. Since technology has become more advanced, the integrity has gone down hill. An athlete is always trying to get the upper hand, but cheating is no excuse. Most fans of sports want to see the home run record or any other records without an asterisk by it. That means that if Barry Bonds does break the home run record, the fans don't want him to be juice up on some PED that they can't even pronounce. This is why in Dan Patrick's article he talks to Lamine Diak the president of IAAF, about raising the punishment in getting caught for testing positive for a PED. Diak says, “Maybe there is a case for retuning to four years. We also have to examine the coaches and agents who have been implicated in their athletes' positive tests.” Here he is talking about in track the punishment for the first time offender is 2 years and he is considering raising it to 4, for the integrity of sports.

Common Needs and Interests: These authors are mainly sports analysts, who are very interested in every aspect of sports. They get paid to analyze sports. Most of them are concerned with the integrity of sports, because in a way they are the voice of the fans. They are the ones that report the sporting news to us in our busy lives, because that is their job. Not just sports analyst and your typical fan share this interest, but so does Bud Selig. He is the Commissioner of major league baseball. In Hal Bodly's article he talks about how Selig wants to implement PED testing that the minor league has. Which is “year-round testing, a 15 day suspension without pay for the first offense, 30 days for the second, 60 for the third and a full season for the fourth.” This may not be the toughest testing in sports but Selig is trying to get the integrity of sports back to what it was when it started.

Shared Values: The shared values of any fan of sports have to start when they were little children. They would believe it to be in the purest form. So this how the integrity of sports should look to these fans. This is why they value keeping sports clean of any PED that would ruin the purity of the game itself. In Tom Verducci's article “Five Strikes and You're Out”, he talks to Dr. Gary Wadler (a professor at NYU's medical school and an expert on PED's) about the criteria for test in major league baseball. Wadler states “They want people to think they are getting their house in order, but it's disingenuous because it has so many loopholes. It's unacceptable.” He is relying on his values of the integrity of sports, to say that they need to get their act together and act upon a new way of testing for PED's in baseball, to keep its integrity.

Shared Beliefs: These authors have written these articles as a belief of informing society of the down fall of the integrity of sports. They are what you could call professional sports fans and a voice for the general fan. They believe that the integrity of sports is no place for PED's or any other ways of breaking the rules.

Sources in this Approach:

Anonymous. "Steroids are major issue in minors." USA Today 10 3 (2004): -. Academic Search Premier, SAGE. 7/9/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=J0E321374623104&db=aph>.

In this short article it talks about the new regulations put into minor league baseball. This is very much like Hal Bodley's article but goes more into depth with the punishments of baseball. "Penalties for positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs are 15-game suspension for first offense, 30 games for second, 60 games for third, one-year suspension for fourth and permanent suspension for fifth. All suspensions are without pay." This is very short but it will be good for my arguement of equal testing and punishments in all sports.

Bodly, Hal. "Selig prefers to work with union on testing." USA Today 18 3 (2004): -. Academic Search Premier, SAGE. 7/9/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=J0E069110305704&db=aph>.

In this article it talks about how the cheif labor lawyer wants to impliment tougher punishment instead of tougher testing in baseball. He talks about changing the suspention of major and minor leagues. Minor leagues have had a higher positive testing for doping. "A total of 5,000 tests were performed in the minor leagues the last three seasons, with those testing positive dropping from 9% to 4%." He wants the punishments to increase by 15 days each time the athlete gets caught. This will give me a good insight on not just professional athletics but minor leagues too.

Patrick, Dan . "IAAF weighing return to longer bans." USA Today 05 11 (2003): -. Academic Search Premier, SAGE. 7/9/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=J0E225432642703&db=aph>.

In this article it also talks about the punishments of different athletics abuse for doping. The IAAF is considering the penalty for testing positive be 4 year suspensition insted of 2. " Diack said the Olympic-accredited drug testing lab in Paris will need two to three weeks to retest the 400 samples from August's World Track & Field Championships for THG." This will be a good article for the argument of increasing the punishment of doping and the possiblility of other sports fallowing suite.

Verducci, Tom, Kostya Kennedy, Mark Bechtel. "Five Strikes and You're Out." Sports Illustrated 99.20 24 11 (2003): 23-. Academic Search Premier, SAGE. 7/9/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=11452809&db=aph>.

In this article it is talking about the problems with Major League Baseball and the methods for testing for performance drugs. With baseball it is the most leanient of all professional sports for testing. But in 2004 that will change because of "all players on 40-man rosters will be tested. That program was triggered when 5% to 7% of 1,438 anonymous survey samples turned up positive for steroids. (There were 1,198 players tested, some twice.)" Still the punishment is still the least out of all sports. Take for example in the NFL the first time affenders get 25% of the season and in track it is 2 years. This will be a good article because it is written by a sports anylist who speaks for the fans. It will give me a good argument for my thesis.

Description: With this category of pressure to perform, it mainly involves the athletes, but coaches, team owners and physicians have a lot to do with it also. As the present day athlete becomes quicker, stronger, and faster it has brought competition to its highest point. Many of these athletes feel the pressure to perform from many places, either from the fans, coaches, or even just themselves. Even when the Olympic Games started athletes were trying to get the upper hand on the other athletes. It is stated in Tom Beattie's article “Winning the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece could bring fame and fortune of Beckamesque proportions. It is reported that athletes of the time would ingest any preparation, plant or compound to boost their chances of winning.” Today these athletes are using a bit more technology than just eating a plant. Take for example in Arlene Weintraub article she talks about how athletes in a couple of years may stop taking PED's and just alter their genes by injecting a virus to make erythropoietin(EPO). This is a protein that increases the production of oxygen rich red blood cells to boost their performance caused from being pressured in one way or another.

Common Needs and Interests: The common need in these articles are the athletes are feeling large amounts of pressure to perform at the level athletics are at right now. In RJ Donovan's article “A Conceptual Framework for Achieving Performance Enhancing Drug Compliance in Sport” he talks about the psychological part of the athlete will to perform at a higher standard. He states “Many athletes seem to use PED's and other ergogenic aids although there is insufficient evidence that they will improve performance. That is the incentives are so strong for some athletes, that they will try drugs and nutritional aids that are simply rumored to be effective in the hope that they will be.” This seems to be a very common theme among athletes.

Shared Values: The values of these athletes to perform are very high. Since they are athletes their values lie on the person they are competing with to perform better than them. Plus many of these athletes that are using PED's are valuing the end result of their accomplishments, either money or fame. In Donovan's article he says “Different individuals will differentially weight different rewards: some may be motivated primarily by financial rewards, while others are driven by a need for social recognition (fame), or for recognition amongst one's peers.” These rewards are other units of pressure for certain athletes to perform. Another reason Donovan gives in his article for the pressure to perform for athletes is “It is likely that many athletes use PED's, not just for fame and fortune, but for the same reason they use legitimate methods: that is, to ‘be the best they can be' at their chosen sport.” This can be related back to the values of the integrity of sports, because that is basics of sports.

Shared Beliefs: The beliefs of these athletes to perform, comes from mainly within. As I said before they want to beat the athlete they are competing with. Some of these athletes may want to get a foot above the rest by taking a form of PED, but others want to do it without. An old Olympic motto that comes up in Weintraub article “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger) is what every athlete believes in.

Sources in this Approach:

Beattie, Tom. "Drugs in Sport (Book).." Surgeon 1.1 2 (2003): 59-. Academic Search Premier, SAGE. 7/18/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=9286321&db=aph>.

This is a book review on "Pressure to Perform". It talks about the pressures to perform in todays sports and sports of the past. Beattie state "Winning the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece could bring fame and fortune of Beckhamesque proportions. It is reported that athletes of the time would ingest any preparation, plant or compound to boost their chances of winning." This proves that even the start of sports athletes were trying to get ahead of everyone. This will be a good argument for me towards the pressure to perform in sports.

Donovan, RJ, G. Egger, V. Kapernick, J. Mendoza. "A Conceptual Framework for Achieving Performance Enhancing Drug Compliance in Sport.." Sports Medicine 32.4 (2002): 269-. Abstract. Academic Search Premier, SAGR. 7/14/2004 . <http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=6356791&db=aph>.

"To date, the main focus on controlling the use of PEDs has been on testing athletes and the development of tests to detect usage." This is not quite the case in this article because it talks about how the athlete thinks. They say its the phsycological part of the athlete who will take the performance enhancing drug. It also talks about six different inputs to the athlete taking performance enhancing drugs. This is my best article because it goes into the mind of the athlete and why they would take performance enehancing drugs.

Description: According to the article “Who decides gay marriage?” passing the Federal Marriage Amendment, proposed by Colorado Representative Marilyn Musgrave, “would eliminate state-based freedoms” ("Who decides gay marriage?" 1) For under the “due process clause” of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution it declares that no person can be deprived “life, liberty or property, without due process of the law, and traditionally Americans have been free to engage in intimate relations in their own bedroom, free of government regulations” (Williams 4E). If the Federal Marriage Amendment is passed, according to this assembly of people, these rights could and would potentially be violated. So why should the nation start to change this sovereignty now?

Common Needs and Interests: The followers of this belief feel gay couples should reap similar liberties as heterosexuals. In fact, Michael Hayes stated that “some sort of legal recognition of the rights or benefits should be made available to gay couples, of course the recognition of such rights need to be developed over time” (Hayes 1). However, they need more than just marriage they need credit of partnership. The states of Oregon , New York , California and mainly Massachusetts have the hope of acknowledging these pleas. They intend to stop any form of law that denies homosexuals the right to love.

Another thing to consider on this issue is the fact that several countries throughout the rest of the world share this need and have already legalized civil unions between same sex partners. This list includes: Sweden , Norway , Iceland , the Netherlands , and Canada . In fact, “5 states in Canada have legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. Quebec in 1999, Nova Scotia in 2001, Manitoba in 2002. And another two in the summer of 2003: Ontario and British Columbia ” (“Homosexuality and Religion” 4). Other countries that have given gay and lesbian relationships at least partial rights are: South Africa, France, Germany and more notably, Denmark, who granted same sex partners full legal rights in 1999 (Homosexuality and Religion” 4).

Many people throughout the United States and the rest of the world may feel that the needs and interests of their religion concerning this issue should be protected. To some, homosexuality is against their religion and everything they stand for. Therefore, the needs that they are trying to protect with the passage of this amendment deal with the protection of their values and beliefs against same-sex partnership.

Shared Values: As many gay and lesbian couples form lines outside of various court houses across the US to receive marriage licenses, they unconsciously demonstrate their shared value on the issue of not passing the Federal Marriage Amendment. They do not want to be denied marriage because of their Constitutional right stated in the “due process clause” in the 14th Amendment. This amendment declares, in a sense, that rejecting “life, liberty or property, without due process of the law” (Williams 4E) is against the Constitution. These individuals are known for possessing the greatest value to this shared approach. For example, Cindy Bear and Angela Scala, a “lesbian couple, who have been together for nine years, said they would like to marry someday but that Colorado 's marriage law does not allow it” (Espinoza 2B). Many of the people that value the veto of this bill have been found in rallies and demonstrations in Longmont and other cities. For instance, “more than 200 protesters congregated Saturday in front of the Longmont Public Library” (Espinoza 2B). There are other groups, some of which belong to different religions that do not feel as strongly about the amendment not being signed; however, they do value their freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution already. Therefore, they do see the importance to this shared approach.

Shared Beliefs: A belief is a trust or confidence placed on someone or something. In this case, thousands accept that marriage between two people of the same sex is a freedom that needs to be protected. They feel that it is love that should be the defining line between relationships, not the partner. If the law adds restrictions to these unions what choices do these people have? According to John Farrell, “if gay friends cannot marry each other…they can marry no one” (Farrell 2A). Is it justifiable to leave these Americans without someone they can go home to after work or eat dinner with or sleep next to at night? Just as heterosexuals put many beliefs in relationships, homosexuals wish to do the same. The passing of the FMA would only refuse these emotional beings the one issue that all people hope to gain one day, someone to love. Others believe that these people should be able to share these same emotional privileges that come with life, however; they believe that they could do this with someone of the other sex. People bound by religion still feel that these partnerships are against the way humans were created to function.

Sources in this Approach:

Anonymous. Homosexuality and religion . Vexen Crabtree. 2003. March 16, 2004 . <http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/homosexuality.html>.

Three of the major religions in the world have a similar perspective on gay and lesbian lovers. “ Christian Churches consistently and strongly oppose gay rights, even the liberal church of England.” Islam condemns homosexuality in a much clearer fashion than the Christian use. Judaism has a healthy attitude towards sex; however it does not accept homosexuality.

Anonymous. "Who decides gay marriage?." Rocky Mountain News 7 March 2004 : 1-1. March 12, 2004 . <http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion/article/

0,1299,DRMN_38_2705151,00.html>.

In a similar way the gay marriage debate is like “abortion because if settled by judicial fiat the loosing side will become inflamed.” However, instead of creating a constitutional amendment that totally discards gay-marriage, it should hold one that “guarantees that states retain the right to make the decision regarding gay marriage on their own.” They should not have it forced on them by state or federal courts. This, the article states, will keep both sides from becoming irate at the situation.

Espinoza, Annette. " Longmont rally backs gay nuptials." The Denver Post 29 February 2004 : 2B-2B.

People gathered in Longmont , Colorado to, “Protest U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave's proposal to amend the U.S, Constitution to ban homosexuals from marrying.” From an earlier interview she stated that gay marriage ‘“damages the institution,” and if marriage is ever redefined, “it ought to be done throughout the legislative arena.”' Although this rally did not agree with what was said, there are many others who follow Musgrave's proposal.

Farrell, John A.. "A marriage of love and tolerance." The Denver Post 29 February 2004 : 2A-2A.

Writer John Aloysius Farrell grew up in a Christian Home . He was taught that marriage is meant for a man and woman and that is exactly what he did. He had been married twice and has one child. He feels we need to appreciate this tradition, “savor the unparalleled memories of a bride at the alter; lips red, glowing skin, lovely in white.” We need to defend the “sanctity of Marriage” as President Bush has asked us do.

Hayes, Michael. "Same-sex couples' rights must be secured" Letter. Rocky Mountain News , 3 March 2004 : 1-1. March 12, 2004 . <http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion/article/

0,1299,DRMN_38_2698917,00.html>.

According to this letter marriage brings marital status which creates “more than 1,000 legal rights or benefits.” These benefits are brought about by men and women's responsibilities to each other and others. However, what benefits will homosexuals receive? Or should they receive? Obviously not the same as heterosexual, but they ought to generate some to be developed over time.

Williams, Armstrong. " Mass. court broke rules of democratic process." The Denver Post 29 February 2004 : 4E-4E.

Since Massachusetts State Supreme Court has allowed gay-marriages (Nov. 19) thousands of gay couples have been united in matrimony. However, what is not seen is the 70 percent of Mass. Citizens who are not in favor of this decision. This is also seen all across the nation. In fact, 60 percent of Americans are in favor of President Bush's amendment. What the nation is experiencing is, “the matter of homosexual rights that are being dictated by the whims of appointed judges.”

Description: Looking into the other side of the closet, many Americans believe the formation of the Federal Marriage Amendment was the best suggestion for the nation at this time. Many religious followers such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism and others with high moral beliefs see homosexuality as a sin as well as being ethnically wrong. Their shared approach to this issue is that these unions should be made unlawful with the passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Common Needs and Interests: The followers of these three religions feel as though they have a need to protect their beliefs and what they feel is unethical. In the Scripture it is “clear for God stated, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh' (Life Application Study Bible 2). To Christians God made woman for man and all other “couples” are considered wrong in His eyes. Another religion that is adamantly against homosexual practices is Islam. In fact, the verses concerning this issue in the Koran are clearer on the matter than those verses found in the Bible. What's more, these acts are strictly forbidden as well as illegal in all Islamic countries including Pakistan , Egypt , Libya , Saudi Arabia and Malaysia . “The debates in Islam about homosexuality are not about whether it is acceptable, but merely about how severe the punishment should be” (“Homosexuality and Religion” 3). Therefore, for the followers of this religion there is a need to protect their laws. The passing of this amendment may help the interests of these groups by backing up their customs and practices. A third major religion that addresses the issue of homosexuality is Judaism. “Judaism has a healthy attitude towards sex” (“Homosexuality and Religion” 4), but has no acceptance to these behaviors. As a matter of fact, issues surrounding homosexuality are condemned in the Torah. To the followers of the Jewish religion, there is a need to preserve the sanctity of sex, and all of the acts surrounding it. The passing of the FMA will help to keep the laws concerning this issue spelled out in the Torah. With each religion comes its share of radicals. While these followers may share the same beliefs they also have a strong interest in preserving the rights spelled out in the Constitution. If we let the Federal Government continue to spell out the different meanings of the different amendments and issues, what other rights will they try and take away?

Shared Values: Each of these three religions feel fairly strongly that the Federal Marriage Amendment should be passed. However, the value of the passage may vary from religion to religion. The Islam followers will most likely find the most value in the passage of this bill. This is due to the fact that they are so adamantly against homosexuality. To them it is almost illegal. “The debates in Islam about homosexuality are not about whether it is acceptable, but merely about how severe the punishment should be” (“Homosexuality and Religion” 3). The value of adding this amendment to the Constitution goes beyond belief to the Islams, all the way to an issue of legality. Likewise, Christians' value that marriage should be between a man and woman not between two members of the same gender. Many Christians feel that men and women involved in gay or lesbian acts are at fault and headed for disaster. They are disregarding God's plan for natural sexual relationships that are ideal for His creation. Through Scripture it is “clear for God stated, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh' (Life Application Study Bible 2). The value of this amendment goes to the custom and sanctity of marriage for most Christians. Out of the three religions discussed, Judaism is the religion that would find this amendment the least important. “…It looks like organized Judaism is generally more sensible and calm about the issue of homosexuality…” (Homosexuality and Religion 4). Moreover, Rabbi Frank Dabba Smith stated that he has seen “'no deep divisions'” over the issue (Homosexuality and Religion 4).

Shared Beliefs: The common consensus for these three religions is they feel as though homosexuality is wrong! Many Christians believe and strongly hold to the words written in the Bible. It the same belief and feeling that the followers of Judaism feel in relation to the Torah and other parts of the Bible, and the followers of Islam feel when they look at and read the Koran. One occurrence is found in the Bible when it states, “in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error” (Life Application Study Bible 1972). Though the majority of the followers of these religions are extremely against homosexuality, each of these religions do have their fair share of radicals who feel that there is nothing wrong with these practices. For example, the Islams submit themselves to Allah. They feel that they themselves as well as all of the other animals found on this Earth need to submit themselves completely to Allah and his will. And, there are animals found on the Earth that are homosexuals. Therefore “this must mean that it is permissible by Allah to be gay, and that animals who have submitted completely to Allah can therefore also be gay. Islamic tradition is wrong to condemn homosexuality as an evil, and in denying that homosexuality is natural they are ignoring the facts of the world” (“Homosexuality and Religion” 3). Additionally, the Episcopal Church seems to be more open to the idea of homosexuality. “V. Gene Robinson knocked and was welcomed into St. Paul's sanctuary, where he officially became the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop” (“Gay bishop takes over” 1). There are Liberalists groups that can be found in both the Judaism and Christian religions too. However, these groups are much quieter in their views than the other believers. “There are groups within Christianity that are concerned with the Human Rights of sexuality, however such groups are not as boisterous and are less numerous than those that oppose any element of tolerance towards gay people” (“Homosexuality and Religion” 1). The overall feeling of these religions show that they feel very strongly about the fact that these same-sex practices need to be outlawed by the FMA as they are going against many peoples' beliefs.

Sources in this Approach:

Anonymous. Life Application Study Bible . Ed. Ronald A. Beers. Trans. Rudolf Kittel. Grand Rapids, Michigan/United States: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.

As Christians we must be careful to condemn only the practices of homosexuality and not the people. “For these people can be forgiven and their lives can be transformed.” It is not our job to judge others for the sins/activities they take part in. We must pray for those who have done wrong and hope that they find the truth.

Anonymous. Homosexuality and religion . Vexen Crabtree. 2003. March 16, 2004. <http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/homosexuality.html>.

Three of the major religions in the world have a similar perspective on gay and lesbian lovers. “Christian Churches consistently and strongly oppose gay rights, even the liberal church of England.” Islam condemns homosexuality in a much clearer fashion than the Christian use. Judaism has a healthy attitude towards sex; however it does not accept homosexuality.

Anonymous. "Gay bishop takes over." Denver Daily News 8 March 2003: 1-1.

Sunday, March 7, 2004 marked an immense change for the Episcopal Church and the rest of the world. For V. Gene Robinson became, “the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop”. This has never been seen in such a church anywhere in the nation or world.

Description: The central unit of life that will survive any natural or human disaster is the immediate family. Now Congress must uncover the detrimental effects of homosexuality on a marriage as well as the rest family unit before deciding to sign or veto their bill. Although society believes that any child can grow up and live a happy, healthy, and normal life headed by two parental units of the same gender, they could not be more wrong. Having two mothers will not satisfy a need a child has for a father and vise versa.

Common Needs and Interests: For a child to be born you need a male and female to reproduce. But, “the court believes a wife's only essential value is her womb and a husband's is his seed” (Stanton, “The Human Case Against Same-Sex Marriage”). They do not realize that a mother and father bring deep and necessary characteristics to a relationship for each other and their offspring. As a child grows he or she learns and adapts lessons from each parent. Eventually, he/she will be old enough to take on the world with these intuitions and will hopefully handle each situation in the best manner that they were taught. However, when a youth is adopted into a homosexual lifestyle they tend to react as children who grow up in stepfamilies formed after divorce. This is not necessarily the best situation. For there have been many investigations that show that neither of these family situations produces emotional healthy children. In fact, “children of step families have many more behavioral, emotional and academic problems compared to children living with their biological mother and father” (Stanton, “Examining the Research Literature on Outcomes from Same-Sex Parenting”). Therefore, if homosexual families are similar to stepfamilies does that mean these children will grow up with “emotional, behavioral and academic problems”? How can this be a healthy lifestyle for a child? A child is reliant on and needs both a mother and father. Emotionally for a relationship to survive you also need to have one man and one woman. They balance each other out. They need each other. In the best interests of the child, the marriages should only be between such a pair. This may also be true as the child grows into being a teen. A teen girl usually seems to relate to her mother during time of growth and maturity. The same is true for a boy and his father. If a mother or father is not present what will the son or daughter do? There are some people who feel that any type of family can survive as long as there is loved involved. It does not matter if the parental units are two males or females, or even a single mother/father or even a grandparent. The possibilities are endless. This group thinks that as long as there is love involved the best interests of the child will be met.

Shared Values: The value each mother and father brings to a family is as important as the egg and sperm that they give to create a family. This is seen in all pro-families including religious based ones. In the Bible it states “Behold, Children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed” (Life Applications Study Bible 1030). Therefore these people hope to see the Federal Marriage Amendment passed in order to save the valued institute of family and marriage. They want to see happy, healthy relationships for future generations. What would happen if this law was disregarded and more and more people began to marry same-sex partners? How would the world continue to grow and how would families exist? Society as a whole would begin to die out. But when, “men and women marry, they live longer lives. They enjoy higher levels of physical and mental health. They are less likely to suffer from substance abuse,” (Stanton “Will same-sex marriage hurt your family? 18) and are not as prone to abuse each other sexually or physically. Again, those that may not value the passage of this bill quite as much are those who are single or couples without children. As of yet, they may not totally understand children's needs and wants. One day: however; they will most likely share this value the first time they hold their baby in their arms.

Shared Beliefs: “Marriage must be defended. Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God to bring together His creation in a perfect union. Homosexual relations must not be elevated to moral equality with the love of a husband and wife in marriage” (Bauer 1). Many people hope to revive this belief with the new amendment. As it has been stated several times throughout this paper, many people cling to this belief, especially those who belong to religious affiliations. Up until this date, the institution of marriage has been between only a man and woman. They feel that this is something that can not change and believe that if this amendment isn't passed, marriage will deteriorate to the point that it no longer means anything. Marriage is something that is supposed to last for a lifetime, and it has been proven that many homosexuals seem to have a higher rate of more sexual partners and break ups. “Instability and promiscuity typically characterize homosexual relationships” (Dailey 1). Furthermore, “P. Bell and M.S. Weinberg, in their classic study of male and female homosexuality, found that 43 percent of white male homosexuals had sex with 500 or more partners, with 28 percent having 1,000 or more sex partners” (Dailey 10). The ring that seals marriage represents a never-ending circle of love. As research has shown, many homosexuals do not seem to understand this concept. Therefore, they are not ready for marriage quite yet. Other activists feel that once this right is granted to these individuals they will prove all the research wrong and stay with their partners forever. Also, there have been some homosexual relationships that have stood the test of time. These are the groups that feel that civil union is right that need to be granted to homosexuals.

Sources in this Approach:

Anonymous. Life Application Study Bible . Ed. Ronald A. Beers. Trans. Rudolf Kittel. Grand Rapids, Michigan/United States: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.

As Christians we must be careful to condemn only the practices of homosexuality and not the people. “For these people can be forgiven and their lives can be transformed.” It is not our job to judge others for the sins/activities they take part in. We must pray for those who have done wrong and hope that they find the truth.

Bauer, Gary L.. A Federal Marriage Amendment . Thomas Nelson, Inc.. 2004. March 10, 2004. <http://www.billygraham.org/article.asp?i=400&s=69>.

A Constitutional Amendment is the only way to “guarantee that marriage in America remain between a man and woman” (just as God planned it to be). Although in the Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996, the state can refuses to acknowledge homosexual marriage “legal scholars suspect that DOMA will be struck down”. Also due to the “Full Faith and Credit” clause, “states must honor contracts made by other states.” In other words since the Supreme Court of Massachusetts has ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, other states must “honor” their decision. Therefore, a constitutional amendment must be passed to defend traditional marriage.

Dailey, Timothy J.. The Negative Health Effects of Homosexuality . Family Research Council. 2004. March 16, 2004. < http://www.frc.org/get.cfm? i=IS01B1>.

According to several articles around the United States many homosexuals believe that they can live a normal and healthy lifestyle such as heterosexuals. Even, “Hollywood and the media relentlessly propagate the image of the fit, healthy, and well-adjusted homosexual”. But, they actually are at higher risk for several STD transmissions, cancers, alcohol abuse, violence and even mental illnesses.

Stanton, Glenn T.. Examining the Research Literature on Outcomes from Same-Sex Parenting . Focus on the Family. 2002. March 12, 2004. <http://family.org/cforum/pdfs/fosi/marriage/examining_research_on_ss_parenting.pdf>.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) children brought up in homosexual families react in a healthy normal manner such as children who grow up in stepfamilies formed after divorce. However, after much study it has been proven that “children of stepfamilies have many more behavioral, emotional and academic problems compared to children living with their biological mother and father.” Therefore, which is better a homosexual lifestyle, similar to a stepfamily, or a heterosexual lifestyle, “critical to the health and well-being of future generations”?

Stanton, Glenn T. Will same-sex marriage hurt your family? . Vol. Focus on the Family. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Ron Fox, February/March 2004.

There are various reasons as to why same-sex marriage will be devastating to a family in this society. These motives can be listed from the “shallow understanding of marriage” to “marriage gives men, women and children what they need.” This article acutely explains that this opposition for gay marriage is not about whether homosexuals are good people or form loving relationships, but whether “God designed humankind for heterosexual marriage” and whether “we have the right to redefine marriage to be something it has never been.”

Stanton, Glenn T.. The Human Case Against Same-Sex Marriage . Focus on the Family. 2004. March 10, 2004. <http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/marriage/ssuap/a0029575.cfm>.

“One Primary difference in same-sex and opposite-sex couples- is the ability to create new life without outside assistance” This is what the Massachusetts's Supreme Court has affirmed. Men are only good for their sperm and women their eggs, other than that we are merely the same creatures. They fail to concede the real reason men and women need each other in a relationship: our physical, emotional, mental, etc... differences.

Description: An additional side to this issue is to look at the physical and emotional effects of homosexuality on the participants themselves and whether or not these practices are detrimental to their health. According to several articles around the United States many homosexuals believe that they can live a normal and healthy lifestyle such as heterosexuals. Even, “Hollywood and the media relentlessly propagate the image of the fit, healthy, and well-adjusted homosexual” (Dailey 1). But, they actually are at higher risk for several STD transmissions (such as HIV, HPV, hepatitis, gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Gay Bowel Syndrome), cancers, alcohol abuse, violence and even mental illnesses.

Common Needs and Interests: According to a Horizon Special report “Unprotected anal intercourse has the highest risk of sexual transmission of HIV” (“Preventing transmission of HIV” 1). This disease could be deadly to the people that have it, due to the fact that it could progress into the Aids virus which can be “passed very easily from men that have sex with men and from them, less rapidly, to their female sexual partners and their future children”(“Preventing transmission of HIV” 1). Another virus that many homosexuals find themselves infected with is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). According to the Family Research Council, “HPV is ‘almost universal' among homosexuals” (Dailey 1). HPV is characterized by warts, or papillomas, on various parts of the body caused by up to seventy different viruses. Furthermore, HPV can also lead to anal cancer. Other diseases that are found quite frequently among homosexuals include: hepatitis, gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Gay Bowel Syndrome. Gay Bowel Syndrome is a disease whose most direct route is through oral-anal contact which provides “many opportunities for tiny amounts of contaminated feces to find their way into the mouth of a sexual partner” (Dailey 13). Therefore, with the passing of this amendment many doctors and scientist hope to reduce the cause of such diseases and the passing between partners (homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual).

Besides diseases, gay and lesbian relationships have been found to have higher instances of violence than heterosexual relationships. In a survey of 1,099 lesbians, the Journal of Social Service Research found that "slightly more than half of the [lesbians] reported that they had been abused by a female lover/partner” (Dailey 16). With such statistics, it is obvious how necessary passing this amendment can be. For some people, in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships, they do not see the outside view of the damage being done on their lives. They only focus on the so called love that they have for each other. Even if friends and family try to stop the violence it could still persist. So in order to try and prevent these violent acts from reoccurring, signing the FMA would be beneficial to some couples.

With this knowledge there are still some skeptics who feel the need to pass this amendment is trivial. For instance, “in many parts of the world, it is still not certain the extent to which sex between men is a significant factor in the Aids epidemic and assumptions of an exclusively or predominantly male-female epidemic need to be re-examined” (“Preventing transmission of HIV” 2). In other words, if they feel the Aids virus is caused by something besides homosexual relations, then why avert these people from what they feel necessary to show their love.

Shared Values: Although studies have shown that not all homosexuals receive sexually transmitted diseases or physical abuse, those that have experienced either or both may value the enactment of this new Constitutional amendment. In a sense, having to go through an event first hand builds character and knowledge; however, these occurrences should never have to be experienced by any living being. In any gay/lesbian relationships people have a higher chance to be physically and emotionally harmed. According to a “national survey of lesbians published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that 75 percent of the nearly 2,000 respondents had pursued psychological counseling of some kind, many for treatment of long-term depression or sadness” (Dailey 14). Additionally, studies conducted on twins, where one is a heterosexual and one is a homosexual, have shown that the homosexual twin has more suicidal tendencies than their heterosexual sibling. As well as emotional turmoil there is also many diseases and violent acts to be dealt with. These abuses not only affect the persons choosing to partake in the pretenses but their children and many generations to come. Consequently, they would value the discontinuation of these effects for family, friends and the rest of the world. This value is not shared by all though. There are always people on the other side who never have experienced or will never experience hardship or maltreatment. They wish to not be stereotyped as “all homosexuals have sexually transmitted diseases or physical or emotional abuse,” and only hope to one day marry their lover no matter the gender.

Shared Beliefs: Finding the correct approach to this predicament is a very challenging feat that Congress must sort out. One belief though is that with the ratification of the amendment, to forbid gay or lesbian marriage, will create a barrier to stop many diseases, violence and various mental and emotional illnesses. The obstacle may only be able to stop marriage and not the actual relationship, but it will create new views on this outlook. For example, with “increased tolerance and understanding in young men attracted to other men will have the knowledge of how to protect themselves and would advise young women that their male partners may risk diseases through sex with other men”(“Preventing transmission of HIV” 3). If people see that the government is putting an end to same-sex marriage for reasons such as health, maybe they will think before even jumping into a relationship that could be harmful to their wellbeing. Another belief is that putting a stop to these unions will cause more emotional problems than not. If gays and lesbians find themselves in love but unable to be married, they will have to live the rest of their lives without the benefits of a true couple. They could have emotional and mental problems from not being accepted as normal. Although, “it was easier when gays were afraid, when they lived in shadows, closeted. They have now asked us to sacrifice, to alter one of our most precious somethings, so that they too can share in its grace” (Farrell 2A). They only wish to satisfy their emotional needs as any normal person must do to keep from going insane.

Shared Approach: Court rulings in favor of Same Sex Marriage / Civil Unions

Shared Approach: Court rulings banning same sex marriage / civil unions

Shared Approach: Gays and lesbians deserve a life together with a partner in marriage and all that that includes; children, love and equality.

Shared Approach: There are different reasons behind supporting the proposed amendment to the Constitution banning same sex marriage.