Marriage in America

On Friday, the Baylor Lariat, our not-so-auspicious student newspaper, published an editorial stating that the City of San Francisco should appeal the ruling of the court that gay marriages are unconstitutional.

here's the link:
if that doesn't' work, cut and paste this bad boy: http://www.baylorlariat.com/archive.cfm?file=http://www.baylorlariat.com/archives/2004/20040227/022704a.html

Hilarity ensues on Monday morning as President Sloan issues a statement upon the second page of the Lariat officially censuring the Lariat Editorial Staff for their opinion. To be honest, that didn't bother me in the least. This is a Baptist University, they have the right to control how University resources, in this case, the Lariat, are used insofar as they have to agree with the basic Christian tenants that dictate the world view of this University. As far as I'm concerned, that's all kosher, baby. I might not agree with the way the censuring was done, but then again I'm definitely not the President of this University (yet) and I most definitely don't understand all pressures and burdens laying therein. Bobby Sloan, if you're reading this, we're square.

My beef is with my fellow Christians. Or rather, not with them so much as their rhetoric. For a few choice examples, I gladly refer you to March 2nd's "Lariat letters to the Editor" page: http://www3.baylor.edu/Lariat/

I'm sick of everyone talking about how allowing for Gay Marriage will "desecrate the meaning of marriage." I'm sorry, but I don't think there's a whole lot more this country can do to desecrate marriage than it already has. I mean, lets look at this.

50% of all marriages end in divorce. What the hell?!?! For some reason, I'm not thinking that people are taking the "for better or worse, tile death do us part" vow too seriously.

The fastest growing field of law is family and marriage arbitration. That, my friends, is a fact. It sickens me. As much money is being made off of alimony/divorce payments than most of our nations professional sports programs... Combined.

But hey, lets keep talking about keeping the sanctity of marriage.

Here's what I say. I say that the word "marriage" be taken completely out of any federal and state laws and replaced with "civil unions." I don't think that a Gay couple should be allowed to get "married", but I have absolutely no problem with a "civil union". I mean, C'mon, they already enjoy many of the privileges. They can live together, laws against sodomy have been ruled unconstitutional. They can raise adopted children. And, to be honest, I don't mind that. Many children in America need good homes, I'm glad there are people willing to open their doors. But as long as they're enjoying the priviledges, why not let them enjoy some of the responsibilities as well?

Another point I'd like to add in support of the word "marriage" being taken out of any laws is that I think that "marriage" is a religious term. I don't think a wedding ceremony that can take place inside a courthouse, devoid of a priest or pastor should get the label of "marriage", but currently they do.

I truly do believe that the words "marriage" and "wedding" are becoming more and more secularized by the day. While looking through the wedding stuff at Hallmark's, (yes, I do look at that stuff... sometimes) I noticed that the white that brides wear on their wedding days no longer stand for "purity" but now for "joy". I was in disbelief until I saw the television show "for better or worse" where the couple's families handle the arrangements in return for a free wedding and one of the jerk designers echoed Hallmark's statement on what white "meant" when he suggested a peach wedding dress.

Yet another point I'd like to delineate would be why do Christians have such a vested interest in all of this? I mean, its not like any gay couples are going to be married in any of our churches as a result of the legalization of same sex civil unions. I don't understand why this has to offend us. Especially if they're not designated as marriage, but Civil Unions.

Besides, from a Christian tolerance stand point, I'm sorry, but I think its something that we, as Christians are going to have to start dealing with as a reality of life. We live in a country that chooses to grant equality to all, regardless of sex, creed or race. Stuff like this just comes with the territory. Opposing these civil unions... I'm just not sure that Jesus would have made such a ruckus over it. I heard one lady talk about how "Sins of gay couples shouldn't be tolerated". Are you kidding me? Toleration is the least we should do! This poor woman quoted the part of scripture where Jesus said to the woman after saving her from stoning, "to go forth, and sin no more". But if this woman did sin again, would Jesus had said "y'know what? I gave you one chance... tough."? Absolutely not. I think a more relevant piece of scripture would be that of the prodigal son. The father knew that what the son wanted was dumb. He knew it was stupid. But sometimes you need to let people do stupid things. Its okay as long as you hope and pray for them and wait with open arms for them to come home.

Finally, I'd just like to reiterate that the lack of civil unions has done nothing to curb the amounts of homosexuals living together. I mean, its not like there are a whole lot of people out there saying "hmm, I think I'd like to be gay and be hated by half of the nation, but y'know, same-sex civil unions are illegal, so I think I better just stick to dating chicks." Also, as it is right now, two gay people living together without a civil union have none of the responsibilities that would come with a civil union. If they have a child together, and one of them leaves, can one of them be legally held liable for child support? What if they don't have a child, what about alimony?

In conclusion, I'm not sure of what is going to happen to the terms "marriage" or "civil unions". To be honest, I'm fricken sick of the terms. However, my/our being sick of them is not going to solve the problem. I'm praying for the country, state and world right now, as I always have and will. I just leave you with the following question, which I want you to answer honestly unto yourself.

Which do you think made God more/less sick? The two Gay women from Wisconsin who have lived together for 43 years, ran a foster home for abused children and drove all the way to San Francisco to get married? Or Anna Nicole Smith marrying the 80-something year-old man for his money? One was legal, one was not.