Preview

Summary Of Against Gay Marriage By William Bennett

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
732 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Summary Of Against Gay Marriage By William Bennett
Although the world has developed-and is still developing- controversial topics like gay marriage are still prominent is today’s society. William J. Bennett, an influential figure in America, strongly voiced out his standpoint on the topic of same-sex marriage through his article “Against Gay Marriage.” His concerns persistently argue that the rights for gay marriages are “pointless and even oxymoronic” (Bennett, 2011, p.409). One does not need to fully agree with his assertions to acknowledge the intensity and goodness of his mind. Although Bennett’s stance constructs serious opposition and serves as a valuable argument, committing numerous logical fallacies in his text weaken his argument and made his overall reasoning less credible.
Bennett’s
…show more content…
The attempts he made to support his argument, though, lacks factual evidence, expert opinions, and specificity. For example, although Bennett (2011) is respected for his opinions, he instantaneously remarks an exaggerated statement in his opening stating, “same-sex marriages would do significant, long-term social damage” (p.409). This creates confusion because Bennett uses this as a conclusion for a paragraph, leaving the reader wondering on what grounds this idea supports his statement. The succeeding paragraph does not attempt to identify what is meant by “long-term” nor does it provide precise examples on what kind of social damages same-sex marriage can …show more content…
He makes the assertion that “homosexuality would cause a lot of confusion” (Bennett, 2011, p.410). Although he tries to validate his argument, he falls short. The author assumes that teenagers are claiming to be gay based on the statistics of “fifty teenagers and dozens of school counselors” (Bennett, 2011, p.410). In the quantitative data, the present variable of the number fifty does not properly represent the teen aged group. The school counselors can also be ruled out in favor of his argument because this does not reflect an opinion of a whole. By pushing the argument that children are affected, Bennett breeds another logical fallacy in the following

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Gay Marriages: Make Them Legal is an article written by Thomas B. Stoddard, an executive director of a gay rights organization called the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. In the aforementioned article, he painfully illustrates the injustices and imbalance of the typical “traditional marriage” and its impact on average, devoted homosexual couples. More than just state his opinion on marriage between homosexuals, he emphasizes the injustice by accentuating real world situations. Not only does Stoddard denote the negative effects on loving gay couples, he illuminates the idea of gay marriage as something beneficial not only to gay partners, but society as a whole (722).…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Please read “A Gay Man’s Case Against Gay Marriage” by Michael Bronski on pages 687–690 of your text. Then reply with your analysis of the rhetorical situation of the essay. What is Bronski’s reason for writing? What is his purpose and angle? Who do you think his audience might be? Finally, think about the writing strategies Bronski uses to achieve his overall purpose. Based on our discussions of commentary and argumentative writing, what strategies do you think he relies upon to present his position?…

    • 179 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    William J. Bennett is a well-known writer and thinker who is widely appreciated for his insights and wisdom. That 's what makes the article in question so disappointing. Of course, part of the explanation might be the fact that Bennett originally wrote the article as a newspaper op-ed column. Newspaper editorials are not conducive to documentation of facts and evidence. Still, by more carefully following his own high standards of reasoning and avoiding such exaggeration, "straw man" reasoning, sweeping generalization, and "either/or" fallacies as I 've cited, Bennett clearly could have made his case much…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In his essay "Against Gay Marriage," William Bennett, a great spokesman for conservatives and former Secretary of education under President Reagan, maintains his conservative stance that allowing same-sex couples to marry would have a harmful and lasting effect on our society 's intrinsic values and, in his view, would stretch the "fragile" institution of marriage beyond recognition (409). Bennett, as the title indicates, presents a powerful argument "Against Gay Marriage." He argues that allowing gay marriage would change the meaning of marriage, the ideal of marriage as being an "honorable estate," and would have a large role in molding sexuality (409).…

    • 1615 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout this opinionated editorial, the author tries to convince her audience that same sex marriage should not be legalized. She hopes to appeal to the readers of the Wall Street Journal by the use of facts, rhetorical appeals, and religious accusations.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the story by Robert Benne and Gerald Mcdermott “Speaking out: Why Gay Marriage Would Be Harmful”, it asks “How would the legalization of gay marriage harm current and future heterosexual marriages?” In “Who Cares if Gays Marry?” by Gregory Blair, it speaks of Americans being the ones who care the most about gay couples marrying each other.…

    • 632 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of same sex marriage is one that causes great debate in today’s society. There are many views on weather it should or should not be allowed and the effects it could have on the United States if it were allowed. The debate has been an ongoing one and as more states begin contemplating legalization the debates have become more heated. In an article written by Katha Pollitt, entitled What’s Wrong with Gay Marriage? , she argues for the legalization of same sex marriage making a multitude of valuable points. In an opposing article entitled Gay “Marriage”: Societal Suicide by Charles Colson her argues in opposition against same sex marriage using statistics and history to make his valid points. Both writers argue their points exceptionally but Pollitt’s essay is the better one as it is incredibly fair and reasonable and argues the opposition’s points perfectly.…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    america, the free?

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Our country, founded on the premise that we are all created equal, endowed by our creator, with certain unalienable rights isn’t holding true to its declaration. In a recent study conducted by The University of Virginia, almost one in four Americans polled do not believe that all men are created equal. Equality in this country has been an issue long debated and dates back to the beginning of our founding, starting with women’s rights. Recently, the virus of inequality has spread to the gay community. Discrimination against homosexuals is wrong. As quoted by Harvey Milk “It takes no compromise to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” As the land of the free, majority of us have the right to marry and reproduce without judgment. Unfortunately 1.7 million Americans are not granted that right due to the inequality and discrimination against them. Macklemore’s “Same Love” and “Marriage = Biology” addresses inequality, discrimination and gay rights differently. Though “Marriage = Biology” presents its argument for assimilation in an effective, strategic and structured manner, “Same Love” utilizes ethos, style and pathos to establish the idea to influence the reader’s viewpoints on gay rights.…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Article Rebuttal

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The article I decided to do is from the New York Daily News. It is on the topic of Gay Marriage and its title is “Five arguments against gay marriage: Society must brace for corrosive change.” In this article there are different areas of concern that the author talks about. One is religious freedom. The Author Wrote “A recent Newsday editorial said opponents “will be seen by future generations in much the same light as those who opposed school desegregation. Devout Catholics, Orthodox Jews and, ironically, the 70% of African-Americans who oppose gay marriage will become the new Ku Klux Klan?” (Forman, 2011) I disagree with this, there is no such thing as traditional marriage. Given the prevalence of modern and ancient examples of family arrangements based on polygamy, communal child-rearing, the use of concubines and mistresses and the commonality of prostitution, heterosexual monogamy can be considered "unnatural” in evolutionary terms. (Pro & Con Arguments: "Should gay marriage be legal?" 2011) The second argument is the Rights of Children. In the article the author says “More children living in gay homes means more children living lives absent a relationship with at least one biological parent. This will result in some emotional pain and confusion”. A study published in Pediatrics on June 7, 2010 found that children of lesbian mothers were rated higher than children of heterosexual parents in social and academic competence and had fewer social problems. And a July 2010 study found that children of gay fathers were "as well-adjusted as those adopted by heterosexual parents.” (Pro & Con Arguments: "Should gay marriage be legal?" 2011).The third argument concerns traditional marriage. “Eliminating the complementarily of the sexes in marriage changes its essence. It may be old-fashioned to believe women are still necessary to domesticate sexually predatory men. But…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gay marriages have been one of the hottest and controversial topics in our society. There are still problems concerning this issue of homosexuality and gay marriages. Same sex marriages are legal in Hawaii, but in all other states couples must be of the opposite sex to form a marriage. Hawaii’s decision to legalize same sex marriages is considered a milestone victory for gays and may cause a ripple affect for similar action in other states. Those who support gay marriages justify their position by the concept of love. These supporters of gay marriages feel as though gay people are being deprived of their right to love. Many people believe that gay people deserve the right to love and to take that love and form a marriage. These people believe that gays want to feel justified, meaning that as a couple they should be able to define their own marriage for themselves and make their own set of rules. Supports of same-sex marriages feel as though homosexuals are being deprived of their God given right to get married. They believe that arguments against same sex marriages are unconstitutional, and they simply do not justify a ban on same sex marriages. It is not the idea of two people of the same sex getting married that frightens people so much, but it is the thought of change and the fact that the federal government will redefine marriage to allow same sex unions. When people picture the results of same sex marriages, they see images of unstable homes. Everyone would probably agree that homosexuality has changed our society, and legalizing same sex marriages is not likely to be an exception. It would be an injustice to discriminate against a person if he or she were…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harvey Milk

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Gay marriage has slowly become a social norm amongst individuals of today’s society. Initially, this leads to the discussion of homosexuals having the right to marry in society. Ultimately, conflict from the opposing position of ‘against’ gay marriage may arise that gay marriage can destroy the concept of marriage and mock the importance of the bible. In reference to this; everyone in society has the right to marry regardless of gender, thus it should be socially acceptable. However, this is why it is significant to discuss both sides of the argument, regardless homosexuals do not…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gay marriage has been the cause of intense debate in the United States for years. Sexual activity within the same gender was something that was considered normal in Greek and Roman times but in today’s society, there is a great amount of controversy concerning sexual activity between homosexuals and same-sex marriage. A couple of reasons why gay marriage has become so controversial is because of religion, the issue of procreation, and the concern for children who are raised in same sex house-holds. Although there are a great deal of people who find gay marriage to be considered a negative idea, there is also a significant amount of people who are for gay marriage and would like gay marriage to be legal in the United States. According to The Associated Press 3/27/13, a “Pew Research Center poll” that took place in March shows that the number of people in America who approve gay marriage are up to forty-nine percent and there is forty-four percent of people who do not approve (par.6). These percentages show that both sides of opinion come close in number and when there is a great amount of differences in opinion on one given subject, conflict will certainly arise.…

    • 1599 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although the idea of a same-sex wedding hasn’t been legal long enough for statistics to be developed on children of same-sex marriages’ developmental upbringing, or that they are harmed by their environment, many people seem to think that they will be less healthy or normal if the couple that raises them are homosexual. People believe that the children will grow up to be gay, or different from any normally raised child, if they don’t grow up in a “normal” family. The results of studies testing these ideas are quite contrary to the popular belief of heterosexual couples. In fact, the studies show that children raised by gay couples seem to be more adjusted than the “normally” raised ones. The argument that children raised in homosexual households will grow up to be gay is completely illegitimate. In a study of over 300 children of homosexual parents, there have been no indications that there are any disturbances in the development of the child’s sexual identity, or the lifestyle that the child will live later in life. In reality, most children raised by heterosexuals are not raised…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Writing Project three

    • 1642 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The legalization of same-sex marriage is fought strongly by both sides. Those against same-sex marriages fear legalizing them would diminish traditional marriages, along with having other concerns. The main view of those for same-sex marriage legalization is that they see it as a right to gays and lesbians. The question is which side is right? Would the legalization of same-sex marriages take away from traditional marriages or is it a right not being honored? The question of same-sex marriage brings with it the question why. Is it important for same-sex marriages to be legalized considering that same-sex couples can live in cohabitation even in the states where same-sex marriages are illegal? These are a few of the age old questions pertaining to the issue of same-sex marriage legalization. While many American’s view on marriage is that they are between a man and a woman, there are still several who believe same-sex marriages should be legalized.…

    • 1642 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    There are many controversies surrounding today's world, such as abortion, animal testing, and social reform issues. It seems that no one can come to a common agreement on the legitimacy of these topics. Personal characteristics, such as upbringing, culture, religion and ethnicity, all play a role in determining one's feelings on a given controversial issue. However, one of the most protested and discussed issues in current political debate is same-sex marriage. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, only hard pressed arguments expressing speculation regarding supposed outcomes, benefits and possible tribulations that would come along with the endorsement of gay marriage. Such ideas are shown in pieces of writing by Manuel A. Lopez, in "The Case Against Gay Marriage" and by Scott Bidstrup in " Gay Marriage: The Arguments and Motives." These issues both discuss and contend common controversy surrounding the gay marriage debate. After reading and analyzing each essay, it is observed that Manuel A. Lopez' style of writing and literary tone give him the upper hand in establishing a more effective piece.…

    • 1492 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays