Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJuly 31st, 2011
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, fresh off his remarks at the Western Conservative Summit in Colorado Friday night, is now touring Iowa saying that a constitutional amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex marriage, saying, “You can’t have fifty different definitions of marriage.” He continued:
“It’s wrong and we should fight it in every state and we should try to pass a federal law that makes sure that it is a uniform definition. … I think this is an issue that needs to be settled collectively by the American public, not by a few groups of elites who think it best to redesign the American culture.”
Santorum argues that the only solution is to change the U.S. Constitution. I, who love the Constitution exactly the way it is, believe that the Constitution as currently written already addresses the problem quite nicely:
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.
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bls
July 31st, 2011
Interesting that he doesn’t address the different definitions of marriage that already exist between the states…..
Timothy Kincaid
August 1st, 2011
How peculiar that Santorum (like so many that seek to “protect” marriage) is unable to distinguish between “definition” and “criteria”.
In many amusement parks, rides will have a sign that says “Must be this tall to ride this ride”. Should research determine that the height requirement can be decreased by an inch, it changes the criteria for riding, but it doesn’t redefine the ride.
Furthermore, some amusement park chains have identical rides. Should one park’s management reduce the height requirement while others watch to monitor whether there are any complications, it doesn’t mean that the ride is “defined” any differently.
And, of course, how one responds to the ride is determined mostly by the individual. Some delight in the abandon while keeping their arms safely inside the vehicle at all time, some enhance the experience by raising their hands in the scary parts, and others spend the ride thinking that it’s a waste of time because it just isn’t as good as some other ride that is faster, steeper and has sharper turns. There is no “right way” to enjoy it.
Different criteria, different experience, same ride.
We have 50 distinct sets of criteria for marriage (more when you count DC and the territories). Most are quite similar with distinctions that impact few couples seeking marriage (such as couples that are closely related, have one member who is quite young, are the same sex, etc.) or with process peculiarities (blood tests, waiting periods, etc.)
And, of course, how each person experiences marriage – careful, freespirited, or bitter – is largely driven by their attitude and approach.
But regardless of the criteria to the wild ride that is marriage or how one responds to it, the ride is the same.
Mark F.
August 1st, 2011
Although the states generally recognize all straight marriages performed in other states, there has never been a court decision compelling them to do so.
Désirée
August 1st, 2011
because why would a court case be required unless one wishes to claim that a marriage *isn’t* a public Acts Record, or judicial Proceeding. If it’s not, what is it?
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