Compare and Contrast Two Views of Gay Marriage

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William Bennett, editor of The Book of Virtues and co-director of Empower America, responded to an article that Andrew Sullivan had written supporting gay marriage in America. Bennett started out by first issuing two key points as to what divides the proponents and opponents of same-sex marriages. The two articles are derived from Sibylle Gruber’s Constructing Others: Constructing Ourselves edition. Bennett notions that legalizing same-sex marriage would weaken the meaning of it and outlines what the basic concept of marriage is. Throughout the article Bennett argues why same-sex marriage should not be legalized by moving from religion to the traditional concept of marriage between men and women, which he claims has a 4,000 year old history. Bennett argues that if gay marriage was allowed, it would bring about change to the traditional way of thinking for today’s youth. He also argues that simple, everyday human habits would also be changed to the extent of including social institutions (27).

First of all viewing Sullivan’s perspective, he questions the definition of marriage by approaching the question as to why gay men and women in America are not accepted as everyone else. He writes that the definition of marriage changes dramatically due to the changes that America has undergone since the formation of this country. He also mentions that marriage has merely been a legal agreement between men and women, seeing women as property. Sullivan also notes that marriage was later recognized as matrimony between individuals of the same ethnicity, and the definition of marriage has changed throughout history. He suggests that we have the power to change the definition of marriage once again, between males and ...

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...love and serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society” (A16). In some respects, Bush’s reply works hand in hand with Bennett’s response in saying that gay marriage will eventually cause schools to change policies and alter the perception of innocent children who should be only exposed to the “true” example of what the partnership of a husband and a wife represents. Bennett also states that tradition prevails over new ideas that try to make an effort to change the meaning of marriage. He also sees the past ritualistic reasons as a logical explanation for avoiding the declaration of legalizing gay marriage. Bush retorts, “We should conduct this difficult debate in a manner worthy of our country, without bitterness or anger. In all that lies ahead, let us match strong convictions with kindness and good will and decency” (A16).

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