The Institution(?) of Marriage

""...therefore You should not by the vulgar Notion of Marriage make yourself uneasy, since that ceremony is nothing but a piece of Formality, introduced on purpose to bring Profit to the Church; and I think that Love is much more to be Esteem'd, which has no other Motive but mutual Affection." Mary Draper (c.1718-1810)

Those who would deny marriage rights to homosexuals are in turmoil. Pity them for they know not what they protect. And pity the gay man or lesbian woman who desires to be married. Let's level the playing field and do away with this institution altogether. Let's consider making every child legitimate. Let's consider actually honoring the humanity in each person, united in couple hood or not.

Because "everyone" does anything - oh say, cross cultural rites of marriage that discriminate against homosexual people - does not mean marriage is good thing. ("Earnest men never think in vain, though their thoughts may be errors." Bulwer-Lytton) It does probably mean marriage is a tribal thing and and therefore unquestioned. What and whom does it protect? What does homosexuality actually threaten in marriage? Why do heterosexual couples so frequently say that gay marriage undermines family values? If it truly undermines their family values then those values were to weak to begin with. Quickly - someone point Leviticus and the bit about spilling seed. That usually happens about now. I always wonder why the people pointing out the phrase are not keeping a Kosher kitchen. Deli-style bigotry. But I digress. I think the fear of Marriage being violated in someway has nothing to do with homosexuals and everything to do with the fundamental differences and problems between men and women and things like property, money, birth rights. Dominance can not be hammered out in the courts. Who gets to "wear the pants" in a relationship will be some combination of gender struggle and/or force of personality but ALL the other 'stuff' could be legislated. If people still want religious ceremony - have at it. But leave it in your church. Leave it in your homes. Honor and OBEY on your own turf. Discriminate against each other. Leave discrimination against those who do not share your beliefs in your house and in your bed...not in theirs.

Let me be clear about something. I am not a Democrat. I am not a Republican. I actually equally dislike both parties.

The diatribe to SAVE Marriage sickens me more than the political mindless tribalism rife in the country these day. What about jobs? What about roads that are falling apart? What about a country that has lost nearly all its manufacturing? What about cancer? What about drought and water rights? Arguing about marriage is a distraction. A form of cultural self-mutilation. Want to get married - great, change the laws make it for everyone or do away with it but chose one or the other. Then get back to the business of the serious and costly problems facing our futures right NOW!