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The Daily OrangeMarriage not to be toyed with
By Charles Duprey
Posted: 1/29/04, 2:31 AM EST Section: Opinion
The United States Constitution guarantees equal rights to all its citizens. Nowhere in this document, however, will you find a phrase delineating "marriage" as a right. Just as you have to apply for the privilege to obtain a driver's license, so you must apply for a marriage license.
Marriage has always been defined as the "union between a man and a woman." Conservatives would like to see the sanctity of marriage preserved, but preaching in favor of the status quo to college students will get as far as "Gigli" at the box office.
An overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of a proposed amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as a heterosexual union. There is a difference between marriage, usually meant for procreation, and an exclusive homosexual relationship.
Whether homosexuality is genetic or developed remains a mystery, and many conservatives fear that children growing up in a homosexual household would mirror the sexual tendencies of their parents. This is not to say that homosexuality is bad or inferior, just that the protection of the sanctity of marriage is important to Americans.
At a time when many Americans see the institution of marriage and the nuclear family on a steep decline, they fear that the celebration of homosexuality would spell defeat for traditional relationships. Our society tolerates all kinds of people and the relationships in which they choose to engage, and it is incorrect to claim that the conservative viewpoint is anti-gay or a form of vicious bigotry. Americans cherish the permanent, life-giving sexual and emotional type of relationship upon which the future of human life depends. All of us here are the product of the nature of marriage, so why would we seek to change that?
No one whishes to deny homosexuals the rights guaranteed in our Constitution to all men and women. Homosexuals deserve respect and dignity - it is owed to them. And those who support marriage are owed the same as well. One can appoint whoever he or she wishes as the beneficiary of an estate, or power of attorney or trustee of their medical decisions.
Marriage is more than a contract, a license or status granted by the state to a man and a woman in a tradition dating back thousands of years. Our society has no right to tinker with this institution upon which civilization has thrived since the beginning of time.
Charles Duprey is a co-chairman of the Syracuse University College Republicans - and leans right. E-mail him at cduprey@syr.edu.
Marriage has always been defined as the "union between a man and a woman." Conservatives would like to see the sanctity of marriage preserved, but preaching in favor of the status quo to college students will get as far as "Gigli" at the box office.
An overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of a proposed amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as a heterosexual union. There is a difference between marriage, usually meant for procreation, and an exclusive homosexual relationship.
Whether homosexuality is genetic or developed remains a mystery, and many conservatives fear that children growing up in a homosexual household would mirror the sexual tendencies of their parents. This is not to say that homosexuality is bad or inferior, just that the protection of the sanctity of marriage is important to Americans.
At a time when many Americans see the institution of marriage and the nuclear family on a steep decline, they fear that the celebration of homosexuality would spell defeat for traditional relationships. Our society tolerates all kinds of people and the relationships in which they choose to engage, and it is incorrect to claim that the conservative viewpoint is anti-gay or a form of vicious bigotry. Americans cherish the permanent, life-giving sexual and emotional type of relationship upon which the future of human life depends. All of us here are the product of the nature of marriage, so why would we seek to change that?
No one whishes to deny homosexuals the rights guaranteed in our Constitution to all men and women. Homosexuals deserve respect and dignity - it is owed to them. And those who support marriage are owed the same as well. One can appoint whoever he or she wishes as the beneficiary of an estate, or power of attorney or trustee of their medical decisions.
Marriage is more than a contract, a license or status granted by the state to a man and a woman in a tradition dating back thousands of years. Our society has no right to tinker with this institution upon which civilization has thrived since the beginning of time.
Charles Duprey is a co-chairman of the Syracuse University College Republicans - and leans right. E-mail him at cduprey@syr.edu.
