In protest over the bigotry of the Marshall/Newman amendment to Virginia’s constitution, and in support of all our gay and lesbian friends, Erci and I have decided to stop calling each other husband and wife. Henceforth we shall call each other domestic partner instead, and we shall introduce each other to people we meet as “my domestic partner” in the hopes that it will cause more people to really think about having some compassion for their fellow human beings.
I mentioned this to some guys a work and Rob suggested extending it from just spouses calling each other “domestic partner” to using the generic term partner to describe all kinds of relationships between same and different sexed people. What an awesome idea. So now you are all partners!
In other news I wore my “Jim Webb for Senate” t-shirt today and walked into a Baja Fresh for a burrito. Another customer said hello and asked if I worked the Webb campaign. I told him I had as well as several other campaigns. He said he used to be involved in politics, got focused on family and career for a number of years but would like to get involved again. He asked me to hook him up with the local Democratic party, that the Webb victory gives him hope, and gave me his business card. Now I am glad I wore that shirt today! I met a new partner in continuing to bring compassion and democracy to the state.
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Why is it necessary “to marry” someone else? The institution of marriage, where does it come from and what is the purpose of marriage? In modern culture what is the benefits of marriage on the whole of society, and the more importantly what are the detriments?
The province of marriage should one of religion, not politics. However, since marriage is also a monetary union of two or more individuals it becomes a political issue. In a nutshell, taxes.
How taxes are obtained, regulated, and eventually spent is a reflection on a society. The mechanics of our economy is driven by it, and it is inescapable as a citizen. As an individual, in the United States, I naturally pay taxes and am concerned how they are utilized, and more specifically how much I “have” to pay.
It is my humble opinion that if two, or more individuals find happiness sharing their lives together, more power to them. If there is a religion that wishes to sanctify this union amongst consenting adults in pomp and ceremony, wonderful! If they live long and fruitful lives without discord, being happy productive citizens, happy-happy joy-joy! Let’s stop fantasizing and look at reality – it is rare, if even conceivable in modern society.
Perhaps the government should revise its laws and ignore martial status? Oops, can’t do that – there is that money snag again. Property, assets, income, all the things that make the world go round – and generate taxes for services provided by Uncle Sam.
Is it just Uncle Sam though? No. Big Business is a part of this act. Once we acknowledge “any” consenting adults may incorporate for the benefit financial well-being will change the landscape of our economy. Change can sometimes be good, and yet anything that detracts from the next generation to fulfill the current one is a recipe for extinction.
So, what are the detriments of allowing anyone to “marry” anyone else? For that matter, a group of people bonding together into a harmonious loving group? They would have to be accepted as well. Where do we draw the line, and how deeply do we draw that line?
Well, for one – human beings have this nasty tendency to become dissatisfied with the status quo. Who carries the burden for all the various divorce cases? You know there is going to be some. Oh yeah – the taxpayers, aka ME.
What about healthcare? Now anyone can become anyone else’s dependent, how will that affect insurance companies and eventually the government’s policies? They’re going to have to make up the difference somewhere for the loss in revenues. Probably Me.
In summation, I believe each and every individual should be free to elect a course for their life provided it does not infringe on the necessities of others. That the continuing goal of society is to nurture that will best guarantee its survival and sucess for generations to come.
The amount of time, effort and money devoted by the peoples of this nation toward the debate of same-sex marriages is a atrocity. A point that has no contention other then to deter from matters of far greater concern.
Call your significant other whatever you wish, do with respect and admiration that you feel for that person. No law, legislation, or crazy street corner prophet would be able to change that if it is true and from your heart. The only reason anyone wants to struggle for this right is empowerment, not to love, or to cherish, or to hold, or anything else you wish to make of it.
Your point about government already being unable to control who loves who is valid, but I am confused. How is it you think you are impacted by enabling others to declare each other as beneficiaries and dependents?
We don’t have socialized medicine in the United States, so your taxes are not helping dependents get medical care.
I guess I am baffled; I see no impact to my bottom line.
Also, married people generally pay more in taxes (one less deduction, single household filing). Why not get more people who pay more into the system?
I paid less in taxes last year because I am married, nominally less, but less. By allowing same sex marriages to gain the benefit would weaken any argument to decrease taxes for opposite sex couples.
Socialize medicine would make my argument a non-point, I was referring to capitalistic enterprises that offers health insurance to married couples and their progeny ONLY – at a discount.
In retort, I will ask this. Why would you need a governing body to consecrate a union of two people? What is the resultant?
In this declaration of love and fidelity between partners, is the argument for same sex marriages only? Or can other variations to this non-gender specific marriage be realized?
I believe that people have this wanting need to be treated equally, however, its gone about all wrong. The values of the old world will be destroyed and will never be recovered, so move on. If people want to make the choice of what they want to do or what they want to call themselves, so be it, do it, ssshhh!!!!! A marriage that includes a husband and a wife is to the vows that were agreed upon depending on the ceremony. If a same sex marriage is accepted, what vows are being agreed too? Whether it be your religion or a strong belief, fine but the problem is that it is announced to the nation for special treatment. One may claim that they are being discriminated against, oh, the victim. Then it becomes a public discussion. I am a woman who is married to a man. Where is my holiday, my month, my parade, or my sexual orientation symbol? This is not about the equality to be happy and like a husband and wife marriage, this is about attention. The biggest topic that is talked about nation wide, and no one says a word about the husband and wife. Who are they and where have they gone. Poof, all gone. Perhaps, if people did as they feel and kept it between them and their friends, just like husband and wife do, then maybe we can all get along. There wouldn’t be all this debate. If you want to call someone a husband, wife, partner, or what ever, then do it for the right reasons. Until the IRS has an option on my tax forms that says Partner, then it is not legal, move on and live as you wish. Begging for a piece of paper to say that two people are legally married, should not change how you live or what you are called. What is the purpose? Attention. Don’t get me wrong, I do have lots of friends that are wanting to be of the same sex marriage and I love them, but I don’t want to know the details, as I would not tell them mine. It’s personal not public. The whole point to my opinion is that I don’t want to hear every single day about how same sex marriage should be legal. So should pot, but people smoke it anyway. They just don’t tell everyone.
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