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the culture is way ahead of the political crowd on same-sex marriage. that newspaper is aware of this trend. are the repiggies aware of this trend?
evangenital | 06.25.08 - 11:00 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ \"Whether a marriage is valid should be up to the people involved and the churches, synagogues, mosques or other religious institutions that choose to perform them or not.\"

So what on earth would you be supposed to do if you were an atheist, whether gay or straight, and you didn't want to get married in a religious institution? This person writes as if atheists didn't exist.
Sasha | 06.25.08 - 3:17 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Re: Sasha
Marriage was a originally just a religious institution. If the government hadn't so entwined itself with marriage therefore bringing it out of the religious sphere, atheists would have no need for it anyway.
Rafi | 06.25.08 - 3:50 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Um, sorry to break it to y'all, but marriage between a man and a woman was \"traditionally\" a business relationship where the woman became the property of the man. Today, the State has a vested interest in marriage for a number of reasons: marriage creates a more stable society; married people are less likely to need government support; clear rules about who has responsibility for what; etc. Religion should stay of out marriage.

My husband and I had a gay homosexual marriage in the free country of Canada and are ardent atheists. We look forward to the day that our native country recognizes our marriage.
David R. | 06.25.08 - 3:58 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Marriage existed as a contract between families before the evolution of Christianity, and for many years into the middle ages various forms of contractual non religious marriages were perfectly legal in England until Hardwicke's marriage Act in 1753.

Marriage is NOT fundamentally a religious activity at all, and \"churches\" that pretend this in order to exercise political influence are pushing their luck.

Marriage is a private contract, registered by the state for it's own purposes, and occasionally sanctioned by the religious \"social club\" of your choice.

This kind of religious power grab just doesn't exist in the UK, thank goodness.
KNorman | 06.25.08 - 6:31 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ The Orange County Register prides itself on its extreme libertarianism in its editorial policies. Sometimes that leads it to have opinions that differ from the fascistic mainstream social conservative stereotype of Orange County (see Bob Dornan). However, remember that the Supreme Court that decided the same-sex marriage issue was essentially Republican. Also, the Mormon Church's influence cannot be underestimated, so I hope we don't hit some bumps in the road.

I just wish we in California had the gumption to secede.
John | 06.25.08 - 7:38 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ As John pointed out, the OC Register is much more libertarian than conservative, and this editorial was entirely consistent with their past opinions on the matter.
RDM | 06.25.08 - 10:18 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED!

Winning marriage rights in California is crucial and tough.

After the Texas sodomy law was struck down by the Supreme Court favorable poll numbers dropped.

Gallup: Is homosexuality acceptable?
May 2003: 54% yes, 43% no
July 2003: 46% yes, 49% no

As states were putting anti-gay marriage intiatives on the ballot in 2004 favorable poll numbers plunged. Half the country ended up banning gay couples from marrying.

Gallup: Should marriage between people of the same-sex be legal?
May 2003: 60% yes, 35% no
January 2004: 46% yes, 49% no

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1651/...-Relations.aspx
Bill | 06.26.08 - 2:34 am | #

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