A Return to Common Sense

I know it has been ages since I have written anything, and everyone says that, so I take it back. It is a hollow apology. Deal with it, I was busy.

You may wonder what inspired me to dust off the pen once more, despite my breakneck schedule? It is a subject I feel very passionately about. Not because it is something I deal with directly, but because it flies in the face of some of the strongest ideals that should sculpt this country. The ones that should be our torch, our beacon. To what am I referring? Gay marriage of course.

Finally an article was printed in Newsweek (See the article at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/229957), someone has seen reason & logic. The fact that that person happens to be a major Republican lawyer surprised and thrilled me. What made me even more gleeful was that his argument was one I had been expostulating for YEARS!

You take any person against gay marriage, and ask for their reasons, they cannot give ONE logical reason they oppose it. The most common arguments are that marriage is traditionally between a man & a woman, but that argument really makes no sense. Lots of laws and situations changed traditions over the years, and usually for the best. How about women winning the right to vote? Equal rights for all races? These changed traditional laws here in the United States, but these were all positive changes that helped move us towards being the free country we value.

The other common argument is that it is unnatural under religious law. I will not dignify that one with a paragraph (OK, I changed my mind), as we know that the government is not supposed to rule this country based on the teachings of one religion. Some claim that thou shalt not kill is one we use every day, but not hurting or killing another being is a value not exclusive to the bible, and two men, or women coming together in marriage would hardly be classified as killing or hurting another person. This argument is fallacious.

As much as the moral aspect of this argument is enough for me, there are other aspects of discussion to make same sex marriage even more beneficial to this country. Two words: The economy. With millions of GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Trans-gendered) individuals out there, I am unable to imagine how many want to tie the knot, but I bet I could not count them all on two hands. The money these ceremonies and events could contribute back into our economy would be enormous, and that, I think liberals and conservatives can be happy about.

If you think of the money that goes into making a wedding, and honeymoon, and the broad area of business this touches, it is really staggering. We are talking clothing retail, caterers and food, location renting, travel services on many levels, not to mention general retail that will be affected by wedding present and shower shopping purposes. With marriage also brings home sales for the new couples. The sky is the limit.... Can you imagine!?

So where I always say, that all people in this country should share equal rights, there is a multitude of facets not yet touched on. So as Valentines day tip toes closer and closer, we as a country need to realize that everyone needs love, and the right to have that love recognized as valid by the country they calls home is a necessity.