Simply Speaking

Friday, February 20, 2004

According to a news story released by the Associated Press and published in the Wednesday, Jan. 28 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail, Missouri State Rep. Brian Baker apparently places same-sex marriage on the same level as murder.

" 'We legislate morality here all the time,' Baker responded. 'We define morality all the time.'

"Baker said laws against murder were just as much a question of morality as same-sex marriage." said the article.

I find it very hard to believe that anyone could possibly equate the criminal ending of a person's life, with the desire of two people who love each other to gain the federal protections and benefits proffered by marriage. In fact I find it reprehensible.

Marriage between two people does not damage any property. It does not harm any person. The only thing injured are some people's sensibilities. And the fact that something offends a certain group of people is not reason enough to make that thing unconstitutional or illegal.

Two people who commit themselves to each other in the name of love ought to be afforded the same protections and benefits that everyone else receives. I thought we'd learned our lessons about segregating a group of people a long time ago.

If Rep. Baker believes that same sex marriages are such a threat to the institution of marriage. He ought to take another look at the facts. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about half of all marriages end in divorce. And I needn't remind everyone of Britney Spears' little fling. She was married a total of about 55 hours. The result of a "joke gone too far," according to representatives for Spears.

If people think of marriage as nothing more than a "joke," then same-sex couples should be the least of Rep. Baker's worries.

Nick Wright is editorial assistant at the Nevada Daily Mail.