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Allow All People to Marry

Written by H. Shuckhart Wednesday, 06 January 2010 18:41

Argus Leader Letters 1/4/10: Allow all people to marry

Harold E. Shuckhart -- Sioux Falls

During the past several months, there have been many letters in the Argus Leader dealing with same-sex marriage. Some of the well-meaning writers have quoted from the Bible as opposing these marriages, while other well-intentioned writers have raised biblical contradictions.

Both sides have used a variety of arguments to make their cases, but as a society we have not moved much closer to resolving the issue. Perhaps we need to take a new approach?

Most of the major religions of the world - Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and others - have a common thread, sometimes referred to as the golden rule. I prefer a slightly modified statement of that rule: "Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself."

I have been married for more than 45 years to the same wonderful, understanding, comforting, loving woman. I would have been quite upset 46 years ago if someone had told me that I could not marry because there was a law against it.

Just as I would not have wanted my marriage hindered, so, too, I should not try to hinder the union of any two people who want to marry.

Any two people who love each other and are willing to make the legal commitment of marriage should be allowed, even encouraged, to marry.

We encourage opposite-sex marriage with tax laws and employee benefits. Those laws and benefits should be extended to same-sex marriages. To do less is selfish and a violation of the golden rule.

In mostly Christian America, we should ask ourselves: "What would Jesus do?" I will be maligned for saying it, but I think Jesus would be at the same-sex wedding, blessing the couple and pouring the wine to celebrate with them.

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