I ask this because the word seems to be confusing people.
To me, marriage is the public declaration and legal recognition of love between two people. When I get married it is so I can commit to my spouse and give myself over to him (?) wholeheartedly. It will be when we are seen by the state as, essentially, one person, with the same assets. It will be when we are seen but the state as family. It will be when I want to celebrate my undying love for the person I have fallen head over heals for.
It will not be a religious event.
Although, if I was religious, it definitely would be. I'm sure I would want religion to be a part of one of the most important moments of my life.
The fact of the matter is, to plenty of people, marriage is a declaration of love, sure, but it's also like asking God's permission to be physically intimate. In some of the arguments I've seen, I feel like getting married is like turning twenty-one. Except instead of suddenly being allowed to drink, you're allowed to have sex. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I respect those who believe that marriage is a religious union between two people (man and woman?) and is, primarily, for the purpose of reproducing. However, that is not what it is to me.
I want kids. But if I didn't, if I met the right guy, I'd still want to get married. Will you not allow me to do so?
(The following are hypothetical scenarios and not true. I have never been married, am only 19, and as far as I know my doctor says I'm fine!)
I want kids. But I was recently told by my gynecologist that I have uteran cancer and though they can probably cure it, it will leave me barren. I'm engaged. Should my fiance and I call off the wedding because I cannot reproduce?
I already had kids. I divorced my husband five years ago, but I think I am in love for real this time, and we're going to get married. But we don't want anymore children. Should we not be allowed to marry?
I am seventy-two years old. My husband died of a stroke ten years ago, but God has given me one last chance at love. If we wed in the eyes of the state, are we married in the eyes of God?
The point of these blurbs is to point out that marriage means different things to different people. Sometimes they have kids, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they see it as religious and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get married in a garden, sometimes in a church, sometimes on the beach, sometimes in Vegas.
One thing that never changes in what marriage means to a person is LOVE.
That said, what right does the state have to ban infertile couples, or old couples, or divorcees from marrying?
... what right does the state have to ban gay couples from getting married in what the term "marriage" means to them, whatever that may be?
To me, marriage is the public declaration and legal recognition of love between two people. When I get married it is so I can commit to my spouse and give myself over to him (?) wholeheartedly. It will be when we are seen by the state as, essentially, one person, with the same assets. It will be when we are seen but the state as family. It will be when I want to celebrate my undying love for the person I have fallen head over heals for.
It will not be a religious event.
Although, if I was religious, it definitely would be. I'm sure I would want religion to be a part of one of the most important moments of my life.
The fact of the matter is, to plenty of people, marriage is a declaration of love, sure, but it's also like asking God's permission to be physically intimate. In some of the arguments I've seen, I feel like getting married is like turning twenty-one. Except instead of suddenly being allowed to drink, you're allowed to have sex. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I respect those who believe that marriage is a religious union between two people (man and woman?) and is, primarily, for the purpose of reproducing. However, that is not what it is to me.
I want kids. But if I didn't, if I met the right guy, I'd still want to get married. Will you not allow me to do so?
(The following are hypothetical scenarios and not true. I have never been married, am only 19, and as far as I know my doctor says I'm fine!)
I want kids. But I was recently told by my gynecologist that I have uteran cancer and though they can probably cure it, it will leave me barren. I'm engaged. Should my fiance and I call off the wedding because I cannot reproduce?
I already had kids. I divorced my husband five years ago, but I think I am in love for real this time, and we're going to get married. But we don't want anymore children. Should we not be allowed to marry?
I am seventy-two years old. My husband died of a stroke ten years ago, but God has given me one last chance at love. If we wed in the eyes of the state, are we married in the eyes of God?
The point of these blurbs is to point out that marriage means different things to different people. Sometimes they have kids, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they see it as religious and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get married in a garden, sometimes in a church, sometimes on the beach, sometimes in Vegas.
One thing that never changes in what marriage means to a person is LOVE.
That said, what right does the state have to ban infertile couples, or old couples, or divorcees from marrying?
... what right does the state have to ban gay couples from getting married in what the term "marriage" means to them, whatever that may be?
