This expression has always caused me to shiver a little. It makes me think about men and women being married off to increase their families' wealth, maintain a certain status, and submit to innumerable sex roles, that while useful for organizing life, often degenerated into the woman being simply a household servant. Marriage is not a bad thing. I think I might try it some day. But the Institution of Marriage is not worth protecting. Other measures that would protect this institution? How about making it illegal for people to divorce? How about stoning people for committing adultery? That would teach all those cheaters out there! Or how about letting the parents choose the right partner for their children to avoid the mistake of marrying for love instead of prospects, economics, and homogeny?

Homosexuals should have the ability to marry someone of their choosing. They should receive the same benefits and privileges as their straight counterparts. But thinking even beyond this issue, why should married people have benefits at all over single people? Isn't this a form of discrimination? I for one do not like the idea that it is economically more secure for me to enter into a marriage before I am ready, than to stay single as long as I want. The Institution of Marriage, with all of its exclusions, does not only hurt the people who are perpetually barred from it but also all who have yet to find the right partner. I understand that such benefits were created with the idea that marriage leads to children and it is expensive to raise children. But let's face it, more and more kids are growing up in single parent households these days. Why should they suffer from this antiquated system? I think that the issue of marriage needs to be re-evaluated in our modern society. The current system is obviously not working and many, including the gays, lesbians, single parents, children of broken homes, and single people are suffering because of it. Let people love each other, but don't punish people for living outside the mold.