Upstream. A Mohawk Valley Blogzine.

Friday, December 30, 2005

Bigamy in Oppenheim and the Definition of Marriage.

The arrest of an Oppenheim woman, Lisa D. Siver, for bigamy is important, not just because it is the first bigamy case in Fulton County for a long time. But it could be the very last case of bigamy to be prosecuted in Fulton County if the long accepted definition of marriage as a legal relationship entered into by one man and one woman is changed as some want it to be. Clearly, if marriage is allowed between two people of the same sex, it won't be long before others will be challenging the marriage laws to allow bigamy, polygamy, polyandry and other relationships.

The arrest of Lisa D. Siver is important because it reveals that current bigamy laws (which I support) do underscore the traditional definition of marriage. If the laws on marriage are to change, clearly the definition of the word marriage will have to be stretched and given a new meaning. But that's not unusual. Generally, good laws cannot be twisted and abused until the English language is first twisted and abused.

The abuse of language is always the first step towards abuse of the law and abuse of people. A simple study of totalitarian governments shows this to be true.

2 Comments:

  • I can't tell you how glad I am that because you posted a comment on my blog, I get to read yours. What well written and solidly supported opinions! Good work.

    By Blogger threecollie, at 6:37 AM  

  • And I can't tell you how glad I am that because you posted a comment on threecollie's blog, and she linked to yours, that I get to read both of them!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:28 AM  

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