The biological facts on marriage

Dear editor, I agree with Jeffrey Schulz that the California educational system — presuming there to be any such thing — is in a deplorable state (“In diverse land, a narrow-minded vote,” Jan. 4).

But this judgment is not supported by November’s vote on Proposition 8. It is supported, on the contrary, by the illogical and self-contradictory arguments trotted out by people like Schulz when they’re unhappy with the democratic process.

Schulz argues in essence that the diverse character of the California electorate requires all voters to cast their ballots in accord with the judgment of rich, white, urban and suburban people.

The fact is that diverse ethnic groups, such as blacks and Latinos, voted overwhelmingly for Proposition 8 because they didn’t buy any of the goofy propaganda spouted against it under the auspices of enlightenment. Good for them! May they prove impervious to these lies for generations to come!

Schulz also displays a complete lack of historical perspective when he suggests that the American experiment in self-government and religious tolerance requires us to allow homosexual marriage.

If this is true, why didn’t Thomas Jefferson marry George Washington? Why didn’t Sam Houston marry Davy Crockett?

If Jefferson Davis had married Abraham Lincoln, could their union have averted the Civil War? We’ll never know — because it never occurred to them. And it shouldn’t be occurring to us.

Wizards of smart like Schulz are missing one important thing. The drive to recognize homosexual marriage is rooted in an implicit denial of the biological fact that men and women are different.

All marriage customs from cultures around the world, no matter how diverse, proceed from this fact so that even cultures highly tolerant of homosexuality traditionally insist that men marry women and vice versa. When a man concludes some sort of relationship with another man, it is no more a marriage than kerosene is a fine wine. Saying otherwise will not alter the fact.

Tom Riley / Napa

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