Posted by rayww on November 10, 2008, at 23:05:29
In reply to Re: Marriage definition, posted by Dinah on November 9, 2008, at 20:54:35
> I'm not trying to be difficult or anything. But why limit it to two people?
>
> A fair amount of trouble was caused in my family by the interference of the federal government into legal (at the time) polygamous marriages. My greatgrandparents happened to be children of second wives who were in one stroke of the pen made illegitimate and certainly didn't receive equal inheritances. If the definition of marriage is to be opened up, why limit it to two people? My ancestors had committed three member relationships (both happened to be three member, although I understand there were sometimes more) that seemed to work well enough for them.
>
> It's always kind of bothered me that my poor respectable great great grandmothers had their marriages invalidated when Utah joined the Union. There should have at the very least been a grandfather clause, so to speak.I hear you Dinah. It was the Edmunds Tucker Act passed in 1887. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EdmundsTucker_Act
Abraham Lincoln in 1862 signed a bill but didn't have the funds to support it, so chose to ignore it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrill_Anti-Bigamy_Act
Mormons started practicing polygamy in 1852. My ancestry is similar to yours. In fact I wouldn't be here either.
I have often wondered if the government decided to relax the marriage laws if we would go back to 1852.
Let me just ask the gay community if they would tolerate Mormons practicing polygamy, not saying that we would, but how do you feel about that definition of marriage?
I don't mean polygamy like the Jeffs community. I mean where it is done right and legal, where no one has to hide behind closed doors, where we dress normal and work, and buy junk food and toys like everyone else.
I'm not saying I would like it. I'm just asking, trying to persuade a relational discussion.
poster:rayww
thread:861505
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20081002/msgs/862190.html