Marriage has been, god, who knows how many things. A way to get pigs for your farm when your flock was leen, a way to quell a possible war or uprising, or a simple way of gaining respect, money, alliances, or just to be able to say "this one's mine" the way a jealous person would peck over a prized belonging. But is there, or at least has there been, a sanctaty in marriage in a "traditional" sence? Marriage, today, has become something romantic. Something you had control over. A voice and a choice.
We wouldn't let people take away that choice would we? Yet we are perfectly willing to deny that power, freedom, and choice from other people. This is my hang up. I could care less if the values of marriage were somehow destroyed by gay people securly living together in the full light of the law, to the highest of possible standings there in. Marriage has moved beyond a buisisness transaction and political power struggle to something far more personal and deep, or at least in the region I live in. Some peopel rush into it. But out of rash recklessness, not because two homosexuals are doing whatever pleases them behind their own bedroom door - that they most likely, like I would with a girl, be doing without the ring, the ceremony, and that little legal paper showing one is married.
Education/Ignorance is the monster, not equal rights. Education about sex ed, safe sex, STDs, and the idea that pregnancy is the end of you're current road, now let's move on to marriage reguardless of your own personal feelings for each other style of mentalities are. One girlfriend I had in highschool got pregnant, and she never cheated, so it was definatly mine. But she miscarried. I was saddened, but amazingly releived and happy. It destroyed that sence of invincibility I had in my 16 year old mind, and that sence of invincibility in whats in my pants. A reality check.
I was suddenly in a real situation that could alter my entire life, and not once did I ever talk about two homosexuals doing whatever it was I was doing, in the fullest light of the law and in the highest legal standing they were, or should be allowed to do it in. But I (well, not me, I never went to school really, but my girlfriend at the time) had sex ed classes telling us not to do this or that, but not what the precausions were. We spent more time on "don't" as opposed to "why you shouldn't" and that does make a difference. If I had examples, thrown in my face, like those scared straight dealies, it might have, and could have, made a differance. Maybe not in my case, but in someones.
So when it comes down to marriage, the value, the sanctity, and all that jazz being in danger, because of either A) Gay people having a legal paper and the rights of everyone else, or B) the misinformation and lack of responsibility... I think I'll chose B). Educate and be responsible, and I can guarantee you'll see happier wedded couples.
