I would really feel this was a more honest discussion (the whole gay ‘marriage’ discussion, not this particular thread) if the question was put: is it time for society to change the definition of marriage and why, rather than act as if heterosexual people have some civil right that is denied homosexuals. NONE of us, to repeat, has a blanket right to marry anyone we choose, and none of us ever did.
I agree. Well said.
It’s simply a fact that at no prior time in history has it been argued that marriage is an institution that flowed into the “alternative” lifestyle of same-sex couples. Rather, it was always the case that someone choosing to life the gay lifestyle was eschewing the traditional institution of marriage altogether. This was because marriage was always about recognizing the union of a man and a woman who commit to each other, and also commit to the raising of any children that arise from their union. Only in the last 10-20 years has the definition of marriage become so obscure that it is seen in popular terms as simply “the commitment of two people-who presumably love each other-to live together for the indefinite future.” The question is whether or not it is a societal benefit to drop the latter part of the traditional definition, so that marriage become in essence, only what pop culture says it is.
In some states, like California, it’s not even an issue of legal rights. It’s just about staking a claim to the word. California already acknowledges that domestic partnerships (m/f, m/m, and f/f) all have identical rights as “married” couples. The argument (at least in California) is therefore whether or not same sex unions should be called “marriages.” The fight is over the word, becaue to the gay community, the word allegedly carries society’s “stamp of approval.” From the traditional marriage side, it is argued that changing the definition will ultimately hurt society, by uncoupling the “married couple” from their commitment to raise children together, and from its traditional origins. The argument logically follows, that if pop culture defines marriage, who knows what it will become, and what cultural changes could arise.
While there is strong objection among Catholic Christians, conservative Protestant Christians, Orthodox Christians, Orthodox Jews, Muslims, LDS, and other faith-based groups, to a change in "marriage that would signal “approval” of a lifestyle that many feel is wrong, this is not the most critical objection. However, it is often the only objection that is addressed in the media. Probably because it is the most divisive.
Peace,
Robert