Recently, I exchanged multiple emails with an amendment supporter. She challenged me that if we allow gay marriage, we open the door to all sorts of different kinds of marriages. I shared with her my “Note to Jessie” where I debunk several of the scare tactics the other side uses to say that this change to “traditional” marriage opens up Pandora’s box.
However, she was still not satisfied. So, I took to Google. In my research, I found a rather enjoyable 2-minute YouTube video from John Corvino. In the video, Corvino addresses the question:
And people say, ‘well if you make one change to marriage, why not make any other change?’ To which my answer is, ‘because each of these things needs to be evaluated on its own merits.’
Whether it’s a good idea to allow people to marry one unrelated person of the same sex is a different question from whether it’s a good idea to allow them to marry multiple partners, or their relatives or their pets, or their kitchen appliances or whatever.
Of course, if you marry your kitchen appliances, what are people going to get you as a shower gift?
Corvino answers the question using humor, history and examples to explain the reasoning why this comparison doesn’t make sense.
While I doubt this video will satisfy the amendment supporter that has been emailing me, it did make me smile. Sometimes, you need to keep perspective when having these types of conversations. It’s too easy to get stuck arguing or frustrated with the other side. Every now and again, you just need a little bit of humor to get back up on your feet to fight the good fight!
Roger Niccum
/ March 21, 2013This movement is self-identified by the acronym of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). Polygamy will address the desire of the bisexual to be married to a male and female.