Thursday, November 20, 2003
Mass. Gov. Sees Ambiguity on Gay MarriageI've blogged on this before and I think it is an important topic for every American to keep on the front burner of their thought processes.
``I believe their decision indicates that a provision which
provides that benefits, obligations, rights and responsibilities
which are consistent with marriage but perhaps could be called by a
different name would be in conformity with their decision,'' Romney
said. ``Under that opinion, I believe a civil union type provision
would be sufficient.''This statement, this position, is going to be the make or break of the whole issue. People are going to have to search their hearts long and hard and decide what they really want out of this thing.
Marriage is a religious process at it's heart. Yes people are married in non-religious settings, atheists are married all the time. But Marriage is the state of being joined in the eyes of god. And the majority of christian religions disavow the legitimacy of same-sex relationships, let alone marriage.
So, in my own humble opinion, I think it's time to make a break. If the government is willing to acknowledge civil unions which hold the exact same rights and benefits as long as it isn't called marriage, I say go for it.
What are you losing? The right to a word? If you are a same-sex couple and you call yourself married your average bigot won't acknowledge that anyway and no amount of government sanction is going to change that. Hell, they won't acknowledge a civil union either as far as that goes so the reasonable thing to do would be to take those idiots out of the equation completely.
Is this advocating seperate but equal? Yes. But how much crap is that kind of principal worth? You're not going to change the dogma of established religion. You can change the Constitution of the United States but you can't change the bible. No matter how many pieces of paper you have saying you're married, no church that follows the bible is going to recognize you as married.
So what is more important to you? The word or what goes with the word. Is it more important to shove it in their faces and say "Nyah! I'm married and their's nothing you can do about it!" (which will never happen) or to be able to adopt your children. To not have to worry that your surviving spouse will inherit your estate.
If your church will perform a marriage ceremony for a civil union, GREAT! Then in the eyes of your church, you will be married. Which really should be all that matters. Do you really care if the Pope thinks you're married? Deity accepts love and committment from your heart without any sanction from people. If you committ yourselves to each other, Deity accepts your committment and you're as married as you need to be. All the rest is about other people and stuff.
I think it's stupid to have to have this debate. I still don't see how same-sex marriage threatens anyone or anything. If Bush the Bigot rams through his Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage it will be a shame. But just keep in mind that it used to be illegal to drink alcohol in this country too. Times change. People change. I have to hold on to the hope that not everyone is as closed minded, hateful, and bigotted as the current administration. I have to believe that it's going to get better sometime. If not, there is always the bunker in Greenland. ;oD
posted by Kimber
at 10:10 AM ::
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