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You don't owe them jack.

I always use descriptions. I used to write stories a lot, I had a few that were well over 500, two over 1000 I think. All rubbish, but my problem was that I always went so far with the plot that I never used descriptions. In order to fix that, I made a conscious effort to make people see what I was seeing in my mind.

So I tend to do it a bit, and other people I know do it too. I get described as, "My friend Kate, a redhead," even though my hair color has nothing to do with the story.

But then I forget that I was lucky enough to be colorblind until my teachers taught us not to be racist, which actually taught me to think of people based on their skin color. I don't expect any attitudes from any stereotype because people are all the same wherever you go. We're each unique, but we've got these patterns that you find proportionally among races. Among areas, however, the cultural influence of the PLACE takes effect. I'd expect a group of kids following me in the run down parts of DC talking loudly and matching my pace to be dangerous, just because that is where people are mugged, raped, and killed the most around my area. The same group of kids behind me in my neighborhood would give me no call for concern, though, because it's such an out of the way, neighborly little place.

I agree with that; It seems rather silly to add to the punishment of a crime, because it's committed out of "hate," since you probably wouldn't commit the same type of crime unless you hated the person.

What about crimes done out of fear? Or despair? Or lust? Or pain? Or sorrow? Or insanity? Or ignorance? Etc....

Reread what I said and tell me when you get to the word "almost"

My point is that most crimes are not done out of hate. I mean, people attack based on race, sex, etc. all the time, and not out of hate. A genuine hate crime is done out of hate. A lot of hateful crimes, and very similar crimes, are done for a variety of different reasons, but the people tend to have reasons why the situation prompted the attack. If you go out looking to kill someone, you're obviously being hateful. If you have a fear of a certain group or anger towards someone and are in a situation where you feel the need to kill someone, it's not usually out of hate. It's out of stupidity...kidding. THe person usually feels the need to do it in this situation. Otherwise, every self defense case could be labeled a hate crime if the person killed or wounded was in a racial group that the person doing the attacking didn't particularly like.

I come from a strict Christian family, and I don't really have anything against it. My religion says it's wrong, but that's when I need to remember that America doesn't consist of only one religion, and I'm not the type to push my morals on others, in most cases. Unless something really bad is going on (Example, A group of homeless in an alley people are burning babies in oil barrel fires to show respect for the trashcan gods, etc.).

And I've done a bit of research, and the only thing I've found so far is that in my beliefs, it's not encouraged. But if that's the only excuse I have for hating so many people just for being different (which I don't), I'm not going to even allow myself to vote against them, since I have nothing I can hold against them. Which is why I don't hate them or their rights. Besides, it's not like I personally have something against them, either. They seem pretty normal to me. Some are friendly, some are not, just like straight people. They have favorite colors, hobbies, friends (I would hope they do, at least), favorite movies, favorite bands, birthdays and families like us. I've yet to meet any that I dislike.

And if I don't like knowing that people are getting married in that way, that's understandable, but it's their life--not mine. Besides, there are things out there that we really need to stop. Like abortion, and someone pushing something on someone else's body. How would we feel if we weren't allowed to marry men, or if men wouldn't be allowed to marry women? That would be horrible! I would feel different, alone, and separated.

And for respect of my religion and family, even though many people might loathe me for this, when I get older, I don't plan on voting in favor of their marriage. But just the same, in no way am I going to vote against it. Besides, when I'm actually able to vote (2012), the decision will most likely have been made by then, anyway.