>I always figured that the simple solution is to make all unions (same or opposite sex) "civil unions" as far as the law is concerned. Remove the word "marriage" from the argument and leave it to the individuals to refer to themselves as they wish. The whole hangup seems to be because of a word. Well, that and the money and the issue of course. ;)
Yes, I think the solution is indeed to make the civil recognition of partnership just that - a civil contract and voluntary acceptance of a mutual status regarding guardian and conservatorship, inheritance and common property rights etc. And that would apply to the states' involvement in hetero or homosexual partnerships. "Marriage" should be one way of characterizing the union and people could adopt it or not as part of the contract.
Charles Hankey
Though a good deal is too strange to be believed, nothing is too strange to have happened.
- Thomas Hardy
Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm-- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.
-- T. S. Eliot
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.
- Ben Franklin
Pardon him, Theodotus. He is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.
