DOMA and Prop 8. Both History.

[kandrathe]

I understand there is a difference in opinion between the religious and the non religious but in a state which has separation of church and state the one you do in church should be just for you and your family while the one you do at city hall should be the legal one. Also for religious people this should not change anything because the state- wedding can be done by just signing a document for almost no cost if you want.

There is that, and I agree. As society got bigger, the ceremonial aspect got smaller, and ultimately what used to be a big deal is now just another license. As an older man, I applaud the end to bigotry, yet I grieve for our loss of ceremonial importance. It's just another part of how the "melting pot" dissolves the differences between us -- in both good and bad ways. Marriage can mean many things in many cultures, which is why really in a secular multicultural society, the more we do not encode it into law, the better off we'll find ourselves. How about polygamy?

Regarding my regrets; for example, I'm a full blooded swede and I like the Santa Lucia part of Dec. 13th ceremony where a girl dressing in a white dress with a red sash round her waist and wears a crown of lingonberry branches and candles on her head. Which was based on an ancient pagan festival of light, in the midst of the darkness. As a Swede in America, I've lost this tradition, and I mourn that loss. If I had a daughter, I'd probably encourage the rebirth of this tradition in our home. In the same way, for me, marriage is more than a license or a contract, and the state can go to hell. They've tied too many laws to it now to unravel it, but I can still regret its purpose being diluted socially.

Again, I'm really, really happy that people are getting "equal protection", as they should... But, it was wrong to have discriminated in favor of married people in the first place.

---

...
which I believe to be generally more intelligent, as a whole, than those of the US... it will take time for the US populace to achieve the enlightenment of our neighbors to the north.

Harsher climates favor smarter people.