Arkansas Blog

There's a total separation of church and state in France. For instance you are not considered married unless you are married in a civil ceremony. You can have a religious one also, but only the civil one counts...

That sounds good to me! It certainly wouldn't hurt trying it here.

My sentiments exactly, BWC. This movement would get more traction (or less resistance) if they'd leave the words "gay" and 'marriage" separate. Call it something else -- civil union works.

The "sanctity of marriage" is ridiculous wording for the conservatives, considering half of the marriages of straight people fail. But ... whatever ... let them call it what they want. The benefits of these unions should be universal to all citizens.

Part of being a good citizen in the US is to recognize the boundary between religion and state, especially the historic reasons for this separation. Those who do not understand their proper role in that civic arena should have heard Christopher Hitchens yesterday at the Literacy Fair. I would never tell you of whatever tradition that you have to marry everyone who may come to your door. By the same token I do not want you to tell me as a citizen that I cannot form a union, under whatever name that is called, in the civic arena of my country. No one has a monopoly on truth and perhaps you should quote this verse of scripture when you are so inclined to meddle in other people's lives: Each shall sit under thier own fig tree, and none shall make them afraid. All the rest is commentary, go study.