ALL societies have defined marriage as the voluntary union for life of a man and a woman, to the exclusion of all others, for self-fulfilment and open to the begetting of children.
Nature and history have abundantly shown that this true marriage is the bedrock of society and must be protected for the proper birthing, bonding, nurturing, and the best security, identity and education of children.
Without this exclusive definition of marriage we soon find all sorts of civil unions wanting to claim “marriage” for their normal acceptance and for the benefits they can get from society, as in Canada right now where some are wanting the legalised acceptance of polygamy.
Those clamouring for same-sex marriage are not claiming the right to marry (how many of them want to marry?) but rather to redefine marriage altogether.
Marriage is the foundational social institution, which exists for the common good of society and the welfare of all, especially children.
The true rights of children and society are the real issue, not the claims of adults to pursue their private desires.
A prolific local letter-writer claims that any sort of “love” or “marriage” is good for children and that those who don’t agree are discriminating, prejudiced bigots.
But the overwhelming evidence from the social science research is that children do better in every measure when reared by their biological mother and father in an intact family.
Bigots are those who stubbornly refuse to change their views or ideology despite the avalanche of evidence that their own opinions are wrong.
Why do they want to change the values so time-tested and true?
They are the real bigots of today and their problem is accepting the real truth of biology.
BRENDAN KEOGH
Eaglehawk, Vic
