Uniting and Identity

Marriage is between a man and a woman, and traditionally it has been this way since, well, the Ancient Egyptians and beyond.

But lately the concept of marriage has come under fire as Homosexual couples, both men and women seek to re-define this social institution to suit society as it were today.

Before I go any further, I should mention that I am not a hater of Homosexual union, far from it, as any other couple can get recognition of their love and commitment, I see no problem with widening this out.

However I do see a problem with the term marriage, not for it means “between a man and a woman” but rather it is a custom all on its own, one that means things to so many people around this world, to little girls with their barbie dolls and couples with 40 year anniversaries. Marriage is an important aspect of society, and perhaps including homosexual couples under this label might insult those who have risen marriage to mean between them and their spouse.

Through all this debate it has hardly been commented on, what men and women opposing gay unions think. We say that we’re a democratic society and that the media filters this, the only this that the media seems to be filtering is the old adage that there is “two sides to every story”.

Instead of granting the term marriage to same sex couples, why not give them the same rights, the same legal meaning as marriage but another a different name, perhaps it could be along the lines of the word “uniting”?

From my perspective I see that this isn’t such a contentious issue, for starters, they (the couples) can now legally wed and be acknowledged in this, but also forms their own traditions and customs under the ceremony of uniting.

If it were to go ahead, it would give these couples further identity and a feeling of identity, as well as exclusivity making it special for the couples involved.

In an age where there is as much talk about Lady Gaga as there are movements protesting for same-sex marriage, perhaps the powers that be have got it wrong, marriage is about identity, and of uniting, why can’t they approach it from that way?