"Common sense in the face of stupity, Donald Douglas, American Power:
Same-sex couples cannot claim to be biologically equal to heterosexual couples. What they seek is to change society’s discourse and overturn the historical and regenerative conception of marriage as between one man and one woman.
Same sex couples need to talk to God if they seek equality."
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"Biological equality" is a straw man. Same sex couples are not claiming men and women are biologically equal. They are claiming that men and women are (or should be) equal under the law.
The ability to procreate is lovely, but it is not the be all and end all of the legal marriage contract. It never has been. The idea that the state has an interest in restricting the legal benefits of marriage to those who have parts that fit together biologically is crazy. (If it was about procreation, the state would deny marriage to those who are too old, sick, or philospohically opposed to having children.) People marry for all sorts of reasons, many of which are applicable to same sex couples, as well.
Relying on historical concepts as a reason to avoid moving forward doesn't hold much water, either. The idea that, "We must continue to do it this way, because we've always done it this way before." is a denial of every step forward man has ever taken. To be sure, not all change is good; but it is equally true that not all change is bad, either. The fact that same sex marriage has never been permitted before is not a reason to deny permitting it now, any more than the fact that it is permitted in some places already is a reason to automatically permit it everywhere. Many laws have changed, in spite of their being laws for a very long time. People change and grow. Situations change. Knowledge changes. History doesn't have all the answers.
Besides, no one's wiping out traditional marriage. Those who want their marriage to be between one man and one woman will still be able to do so, whether or not they wish to procreate. The only difference will be, they will have less legal say in the "marriages" of those who don't love as they do.
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Added here, 4-29-09, 2:11 pm (Eastern), in light of the site's odd comment policy:
My rules are simple; This is my place, which gives me the right to do anything I jolly well please with it, including editing, or even rejecting your comments. By submitting a comment here you agree to these rules. -Bithead
On the off chance "Bithead" decides to edit my comment so it says something else (and with a policy like that, who knows?), I want it posted here, as written.
