It's interesting that the "young as 12" argument comes up. There are cultures that marry older men to young girls. Do these cultures appear to have the same freedom and views on equality that are represented by this ruling? No, they are obviously not treating that child properly. Also, they persecute homosexuals; they deny that there are even homosexuals living in their midst. Mostly because when they find them, they kill them. If they're dead, they're not there, right? As for plural marriage, I'm not for it. I think it is not an equal partnership for all parties. I think of the groups that have it, and they represent a backward mindset - the man is the important part of the relationship, the women are subjugated. If a true polyamorous relationship can exist - and I have no doubt it can - should it be recognized by the state? I don't know if it affects me. That's for future societies to decide.
That's all very well for people who live in Utopia, I suppose, where people freely associate and disassociate without consequence or responsibility. Nobody grows old, nobody becomes ill, or dies. Nobody argues becomes abusive. Everyone pays to support their children. There's no fighting over inheritances, since there are no possessions. This goes far beyond marriage licensing, and extends into every facet of our lives as social beings. Only within the last decade in Canada has it become taken for granted that someone could appoint a same-sex partner as a spouse on their group benefits plan, or that a same-sex partner could have the same rights as a legally married or common-law partner under the law. This means entitlement to the same legal rights that a heterosexual married or shacking-up couple has. As for marriage surviving for millennia before the gummint took over, that's a myopic view. Marriages survived because women had no voice, and no choice. Marriage survived because what else could they do? Marriage survived because for many people, marriage itself was not a matter of choice, but a matter of familial and social obligation. Divorce was a huge social stigma. The alternative was to take lovers. Marriage and divorce were taken over by the church, and divorce became nearly impossible to obtain. It is only within the last 30 years that divorce has lost some of its stigma in North American culture. In other cultures, it's still very much a badge of shame. So, gummint marriage licensing is actually a force for equalization and freedom, rather than restriction and confinement.
As for plural marriage, I'm not for it. I think it is not an equal partnership for all parties. I think of the groups that have it, and they represent a backward mindset - the man is the important part of the relationship, the women are subjugated. If a true polyamorous relationship can exist - and I have no doubt it can - should it be recognized by the state? I don't know if it affects me. That's for future societies to decide.
Nobody grows old, nobody becomes ill, or dies. Nobody argues becomes abusive. Everyone pays to support their children. There's no fighting over inheritances, since there are no possessions.
This goes far beyond marriage licensing, and extends into every facet of our lives as social beings.
Only within the last decade in Canada has it become taken for granted that someone could appoint a same-sex partner as a spouse on their group benefits plan, or that a same-sex partner could have the same rights as a legally married or common-law partner under the law. This means entitlement to the same legal rights that a heterosexual married or shacking-up couple has.
As for marriage surviving for millennia before the gummint took over, that's a myopic view. Marriages survived because women had no voice, and no choice. Marriage survived because what else could they do? Marriage survived because for many people, marriage itself was not a matter of choice, but a matter of familial and social obligation. Divorce was a huge social stigma. The alternative was to take lovers. Marriage and divorce were taken over by the church, and divorce became nearly impossible to obtain. It is only within the last 30 years that divorce has lost some of its stigma in North American culture. In other cultures, it's still very much a badge of shame.
So, gummint marriage licensing is actually a force for equalization and freedom, rather than restriction and confinement.