"Marriage Protection Week provides an opportunity to focus our efforts on preserving the sanctity of marriage (1) and on building strong and healthy marriages in America (2). Marriage is a union between a man and a woman (3), and my administration is working to support the institution of marriage by helping couples build successful marriages and be good parents (4). ...Research has shown that, on average, children raised in households headed by married parents fare better than children who grow up in other family structures (5). ...We must support the institution of marriage and help parents build stronger families. And we must continue our work to create a compassionate, welcoming society, where all people are treated with dignity and respect (6)."
1-The divorce rate has been climbing steadily since the 1950s and you're acting like you've just noticed this? Also, Dubya, a man and a woman who meet and have known each other for thirty minutes can run out and get a marriage license without even taking a test. Why don't ya work on that?
2- Two pretty much relates to one, but I also thought that I would throw in that he's pointing out the blatantly obvious again.
3- Here's the sticking point of the argument. Marriage between a man and a woman is strictly tradition like turkey at Thanksiving or presents at Christmas/Hannukah/ Kwanzaa. Sometimes, tradition has to change, George. Don't bring religion into the factor of marraige because I can get married by a justice of the peace who has no religious affiliation whatsoever. And if it is a union, you could at least support civil unions if you are sooooo persistent on "preserving" marriage.
4- Yes. According to research, Bush is funding programs for single mothers on how to find men to marry so that they can support children. Think about that...he wants to revert to seventy-five years ago when people got married not out of love, but out of necessity. How does that "preserve the sanctity of marriage?" Beats me...
5- He's absolutely right. In fact, two parents of any race, gender, or sexual orientation are going to be able to devote more time than one parent. A good thing he won't allow two people in love to lavish their love on a little boy/girl if two parents are better than one.
6- I think this is probably the most irritating part of his little speech. This is the equivalent of telling Martin Luther King Jr. that segregation is going to continue (because it's a tradition), but that we must have a society that treats everyone with respect. While you can have it both ways, it's extremely offensive and hurtful to the people you're denying rights to. Remember, for most people it's not even about the marraige aspect, it's about the benefits and the simple recognition that two people of the same sex can live together and love each other just as one man and one women can. The fight for marriage is not about gay rights; it is about equal rights.