Every American Must Defend Marriage's "Sanctity"
Obviously, since many lawmakers have pointed it out, it must be true that the "sanctity" of marriage is under attack. However, focusing only on discriminating against one small and harmless group of people is only the beginning of a much larger task if we are to re-sanctify marriage. We must, as a nation, fix the other ways in which we've gone so terribly wrong with marriage by adding sufficient amendments to the Constitution, thereby bringing it into alignment with god's (that's the judeo-christian god, for you who practice other faiths or philisophical systems) will.
Here are some of that god's incontrovertable laws on marriage according to the bible -- many of which need to be put into the Constitution if we are to bring marriage in accordance with scripture (like it says in the constitution we ought to do -- if you ignore that inconvenient separation clause).
Marriage shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. Genesis 29:17-28.
Secondly, marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. II Samuel 5:13 and II Chronicles 11:21.
A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. Deuteronomy 22:13.
Marriage of a believer and a nonbeliever shall be forbidden. Genesis 24:3.
I left out the numerous citings of the punishment for adultery by women -- death by stoning, carried out by the immediate community and family members. Men get to "do" whoever they want whenever, it's women who must remain faithful. Stoning is a pretty sacred and communal act (you can imagine how long it must take to kill someone if you had to do it by throwing stones at them -- especially if it were your cousin).
Finally, it says that since there is no earthly law that can change the sanctity of these laws, divorce is not possible, and, if a married man dies, his brother has to marry his sister-in-law. Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25 :5-10
Many politicians speak as though they are priests, calling for protecting the "sanctity," or sacredness, of marriage. Oddly, they say this after having taken an oath to defend and protect the constitution, which clearly separates church and state and thereby de-sanctifies marriage in order for the states to duly and appropriately legislate on it.
Of course, if we do as these defenders of the faith ask (imagine King George II, Protector of the Faith -- has a nice reelection ring to it), we must re-instate biblical law (all in the interest of protecting the sanctity, or sacredness of our dearly-beloved institution of marriage) in the constitution.
Oh, by the by, the bible was used to argue that slavery was a "sacred" institution and ought not be abolished because of that -- so it appears we have much work to do; a big task, the re-enslaving of millions people.
Please pass this along if you please, especially to any bone-head christians who don't take their attention away from the bible long enough to read things like Constitutions, Bills of Rights, or newspapers.
love and peace
Ryan Gierach
Mr Gierach is the author of two books -- regional histories -- and has written extensively in the national and regional gay press. He is also a State of Wisconsin Society of Arts, Letters, and Sciences Project for the Book Fellow and an active member of the West Hollywood community. He facilitates a HIV emotional support/writers workshop on a volunteer basis.
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