Posted by AuntieMel on December 13, 2004, at 14:32:51
In reply to Re: Gay marriage (rhetoric) and logic » AuntieMel, posted by MKB on December 13, 2004, at 12:26:02
Interesting. I don't remember anyone saying that churches could be forced to do that. I don't recall that churches are forced to do *any* marriage, for that matter.
I am talking about rhetoric and logic, while (for now) taking no side.
From a speech by Bush:
" Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all. Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife. The amendment should fully protect marriage, while leaving the state legislatures free to make their own choices in defining legal arrangements other than marriage."
Mel's observations:
Marriage, in this country has two definitions, civil and religeous. The only one the government recognizes is the civil union. Religious weddings won't get you a hill of beans with the irs.
But according to the speech (and I've heard several like this) there won't be a ban on civil unions. So, the only part of marriage left is the religious part. Effectively, the only gay marriages the proposed ammendment would forbid would be the religious ones.
Mind you, I'm parsing words. But I do wonder if there isn't some greater meaning behind the words. I think so - but I haven't figured out what it is yet.
poster:AuntieMel
thread:427221
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20041129/msgs/428956.html