What does the Government have to do with Marriage anyhow?

What does the Government have to do with Marriage anyhow? 06/01/2009

Here's a quote from Micah's latest blog:

"I know, marriage is about legal rights, recognitions, etc. too. But it makes me sick to think that people are actually waiting for the government’s permission to even name their relationships with each other. When you give the government that much power over yourself . . . . It’s staggering. I can’t even finish the sentence."

He wrote this paragraph about gay marriage, but I think it's a big enough statement to extend beyond the gay marriage debate and into all marriages. Why does anyone, gay or straight, allow the government to decide what their relationship is going to be?

Comments

jim g

06/01/2009 14:55

render to caesar that which is caesar's..

April

06/01/2009 15:04

I think for me it is more about formalizing a commitment - especially for guys to make his commitment to a woman official. I guess a church could serve the same function but sad to say that membership and commitment to one particular church is harder to find than two ppl that stay married (maybe it's more interesting than sad). There are also obvious benefits to legally formalizing a marriage like taxes, being able to change your name for free, automatic joint custody of kids, etc.

Chris link

06/01/2009 16:05

Should marriage be Caesar's in the first place? That's the question.

FTP Blog link

06/02/2009 13:21

I'd say it has to do with the history of political organization (public sphere vs private sphere), civil/human/woman's rights and gender relations; for instance, consider taxes, the woman's right to vote, and child-birth - some as mentioned by April.

Nathan Key

Husband, Father, Thinker.

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