[Mr 5 0]

One note prompted by the discussion about the high divorce rate: It's obvious that over the past 30 years or so, Americans have taken marriage far too lightly, thanks to a much more sexually permissive society, 'no-fault' divorce laws and what seems to be an ever-expanding aversion to taking personal responsibility for your actions. That needs to change. However, I fail to see why expanding the ancient and time-tested legal definition of marriage to now include same-sex couples is going to do one thing to strengthen the institution of marriage. On the contrary, it will weaken it by opening the definition of 'marriage' to include almost any sexual coupling that anyone wants to make. Renegade Mormons have already petitioned courts to allow them to marry multiple 'wives'. How can they be denied a marriage license once same-sex couples have been allowed to be called 'married' in the eyes of the law? They will claim to seek permission to 'love' whom they please and demand the right to be married legally - over and over again. How can you deny a marriage license to step-parents wanting to marry conscenting adult step-children? You can't and we won't.

You see, once you smash the barrier that reserves marriage for the obvious and natural mating of a man and a woman, anything goes - and it will. Gays poo-poo this and their advocates sneer at the idea but the fact remains that throwing out the natural and traditional definition of what marriage is and calling what amounts to a sexual perversion: 'marriage' will bring social consequences many will find repugnant. Too late, then.