A Legitimate Declaration on Marriage

Recently, I read an article by William Gairdner (or possible Gardner, I’m not sure which) entitled “A Declaration On Marriage.” This article expressed a view that seems to be quite common among so-called “Bible-Thumpers,” and other social conservatives. Rather than attempting to sum up the view myself, I’ll provide this quote to provide a more accurate description.

“The only justification for a state interest in the privacy of love flows from the connection between the political fact that the state has a fundamental concern for its own survival and well-being, the biological fact that all human beings require someone of the opposite sex to create life…”

The above quote reflects the idea that bearing and raising children, is not only a crucial part of a marriage, civil union, or other state-recognized relationship, but it is a necessary one. Where are the protesters when infertile couples get married? Where are the protesters when couples who simply do not wish to have children get married? Where are the protesters when same-sex couples….oh, there they are! Only when a gay couple tries to get their relationship recognized by the government do the right-wing storm troopers take to the streets. I have to say, I’m not surprised.

So, just exactly what is the all the hoop-la regarding same-sex marriage? For liberals, the issue is about equality. After all, how could the government offer benefits and legal recognition to only a certain type of couples, but not to others for no justifiable reason? For conservatives, the issue is that the institution of marriage being offered to same-sex couples, would be a deviation from the little known plan to establish the “United Christian States of America” in the spot now occupied by the United States. That’s right, they want a theocracy. They want the Bible to be the law of the land. It’s no matter that we have a separation of church and state, established by the United States Constitution, because thanks to the current far-right administration in office, the branch that interprets the Constitution is increasingly looking through slanted eyes.  Now, before you go and dismiss the article as being written by a “liberal loon,” you should probably consider the following:

• South Carolina Republicans recently approved a new license plate design, that features a Christian cross, a stained glass window, and the words “I Believe” scrawled underneath the license numbers. Currently, no other religion has it’s own license plate representation, and there are no known plans to request one. This in effect, is state endorsed religion, which is prohibited by the U.S Constitution.
• Recently, there has been a surge of “news” articles claiming that there is in fact, no separation of church and state, such as this one from the Greeley Tribune, written by Steven Grant. As soon as the American people actually fall for this, then there will be no stopping the formation of state-run religion.
• Groups such as the Alliance Defense Fund, and Focus on the Family, are actively encouraging their followers to “vote their faith.” At first glance, there seems nothing wrong with this. There isn’t, just as long as their “faith” happens to be humanitarian aid, protecting the environment, or other such secular initiatives. However, when policy is enacted because of certain doctrine within a religion, then we have achieved a theocracy. When the reason for policy becomes, “Because the Bible says so” (such is the reason for opposing same-sex marriage), then voters have effectively imposed their religion, through the creation of laws, on the entire nation.

Now, looking back at the issue of same-sex marriage, where do you stand? Will you fight for equality among governmental policies, or will you fight for state-run religion?