Can parents be re-educated?

Friday, February 19, 2010

To the Editor,

Each week, I look forward to reading the banter between those for and against marriage equality in this paper. Lively debate has a way of exposing facts, myths and misperceptions.

Some people say the definition of marriage hasn’t changed for “literally thousands of years.” Let’s look at some favored people from a popular history book.

A few thousand years ago, Abraham married his sister, then they had a fling with their maid Hagar.

The penalty for raping an unmarried virgin was marriage. King David had eight wives and untold number of concubines (live-in prostitutes).

Another favorite was King Solomon, who had 700 wives and 300 concubines. The punishment for adultery was being stoned to death. I can’t remember when I last saw a good stoning. Owning slaves was encouraged. And let’s not even think about where Adam and Eve’s grandchildren came from. Has the definition of marriage and civil rights changed over this period of time?

One cannot dispute that there are single- and same-gender parents with children in New Hampshire that are now legally protected. If one has spent time in Concord over the last 10 years giving testimony on various civil right bills, they would have seen families that are directly affected by this legislation. Ten years is not a very short time.

To the contrary of showing disdain for the very concept of marriage, our legislators passed civil laws that brought the same equality and protection to all families. For those that believe marriage is only for them on religious grounds, perhaps the legislature should replace all civil marriages in New Hampshire with civil unions to avoid the religious conflict.

I have read and watched examples of children learning about marriage.

They appear to say, “Two mommies or two daddies – OK. Can I have a cookie now?” It seems their parents are the ones having trouble with re-education.

In a few weeks, we citizens will be able to cast a nonbinding vote (just an opinion) on whether to revoke civil rights in our state.

I would hope the outcome of this process shows that our core identity includes the Golden Rule.

ROBERT TONNEBERGER

Brookline