NEWS: I Hate Huckabees: \"Covenant Marriage\" Sticks It to Gays

CULTURE: I Hate Huckabees: "Covenant Marriage" Sticks It to Gays

Arkansans, led by Governor Mike Huckabee and his wife Janet, used the occasion of Valentine's Day to bask in their heterosexuality, and participate in a "Celebration of Marriage" at Alltel Arena in Little Rock.

After overwhelming electoral victories in Arkansas outlawing gay marriage and domestic partnerships in the name of traditional values, Gov. Huckabee decided it might be a good idea to do something about that pesky third highest in the nation divorce rate. Enter covenant marriage.

Huckabee led the charge in this new initiative on Monday, as he and his wife converted to covenant marriage before the crowd, in a touching ceremony that included a vow by Janet to "submit" to Mike. An enthusiastic crowd repeated the vows.

Afterwards they went home, secure in the knowledge they had staved off the insidious homosexual agenda for at least another day.

Way to go. I hope turning the clock back to the 15th century pleases these guys.

ha ha ha... So much for the "Land of the Free"!

sounds like legal endorsement for creative evasion techniques in undocumentable abusive situations of all kinds. (Yes - 15th century). <gag>

... ... ...
Why is it that 'traditional' people feel that their level of commitment should be imposed on everyone? Why do those who are not gay - and don't like gays just ignore them then? Why do gays have to suffer for being who they are? I'll never understand why 'leaders' feel it is needed to stamp out an entire group of people because they don't like them.... There are some days that I get really sad because the system doesn't work the way it's designed.

and the pursuit of happiness and justice for all...years ago, i actuallty thot that gay people were just selfish not wanting to share in procreation...now after a little education and more than enough common sense, i know i was wrong then and that these right wing ass faces are wrong now. rebel.

So here's the stupid question of the day; Is this now the marriage in Arkansas or is it a type of marriage?
Either way though it is pretty fucked up.

[Edited on Feb 16, 2005 9:13AM]

Just a thought, but isn't their view of 'Traditional' marriage coming from the say time period where I could beat my wife without fear of legal reprecussion, be almost garunteed the kids in the advent of divorce, and more or less sleep around with impunity, but god help her if she ever cheated on me? That's pretty much the vibe I'm getting from this whole movement.

It's supposed to an option, but who knows what will happen one day in my "great" state.

This is the problem with fundamentalism. Returning to the "fundamentals" requires returning to an era before that pesky "women's movement."

Covenant marriages are pretty wack, but usually don't require women to submit to their husbands.

It's just for people who feel they want a stronger bond, nothing wrong with that, though it may not be my cup o tea.

Arkansas must be more backward than I thought

Yep, the article implies that it's optional. That if you choose Covenant Marriage when you tie the knot, you are bound by that law you and your spouse argreed to. Of course, I'm sure you can still be saved from that pesky Covenant Marriage with a quickie Las Vegas divorce.

It seems to me that these folks who shouted their assent at this gathering are fundies anyway so there's no particular gain or loss.

wow....this has left me speechless.....and disgusted.

Seems liek this is just an option, sort of a reverse-prenup. It's not imposed on anyone else, so why get all twisted up about it? In fact, people's overreaction to this (which doesn not impact their lives in any way) reminds me of the reaction of bigots to gay people getting married. It's not like THEY have to get a gay mariage and it's not like YOU have to get a covenant marriage.

I like how they say it can be breached if there is "habitual drunkenness for one year."

"Well damn I've been an alcoholic for 10 months now, I'd better make the most of these two last months before my wife divorces me."

Exactly. No one is forcing you to get a covenant marriage.

How much longer til "Super-Duper Unbreakable Solid Steel Jesus-Blessed Awesome Double No-Reverses Pinky Swear" Marriages?

I feel for you, I got nothing to worry about, I've been stoned for uh . . . well, more than a year and am happy to here my marriage is safe.

I'm sure that'll work out just super.

The more I hear stuff like this, the more I am determined to enter into a civil union instead of getting married. Are heterosexual couples allowed to do that in Vermont? Because if this is the sort of thing "traditional matrimony" is really about, I want no part of it.

So, are these folks doing this because they think a covenant marraige is the best thing for them? Or are they doing it as a big "FUCK YOU" to the gays?

If they want to do it because they want to do it, that's fine. But I question their motives.

Hey, not only can we get married, but we can get mega-married! And you can't!

The entire article plays up the ant-gay message more. I didn't include much of it in the write up.

This part seems to suggest more of a "fuck you"

I'd be annoyed by that, but it's so hilariously stupid. Hahahaha.

Though I don't really see this as sticking it to the gays in any way.

in a touching ceremony that included a vow by Janet to "submit" to Mike.

this is the part that actually disgusted me the most, strangely enough. the gay hating im used to hearing, but that actually made me cringe.

Solid Steel Jesus!!!

Now I know what to call my new comic book.

What they really need to do is completely remove non-secular marriage from governmental involvement.

I said this in another thread somewhere but I'm too lazy to look for it.

Basically, it breaks down like this. Remove any and all governmental involvement with non-secular marriage. In doing so, you remove the financial benefits associated with marriage as well. Leave any religious aspect of marriage up to the consenting couple's respective church. If your religion permits you to marry another man, woman, goat, motorcycle...more power to you...however it will have no financial benefit or penalty as far as the government is involved.

Conversely...assign any financial benefits associated with marriage to a domestic partnership that is available to any two consenting adults who seek it. This way...religious people get to keep their precious "sanctity of marriage"...and homosexuals cannot claim governmental discrimination.

For example...Dick & Jane, a heterosexual couple, decide they want to marry. They go to their church and have a religious ceremony. Hoorya for them...they're joined in the eyes of God & their church. Now...in order for the government to give a shit, they'd have to go to town hall to file for doomestic partnership.

or...

Dick & Jane don't give a crap about religion...the just dig each other and want to live as a domestic union. The skip the church stuff and go down to city hall and file for domestic partnership.

or...

Dick & Dick or Jane & Jane love each other and decide they want to Marry. They find a chruch that is willing to recognize their marriage and they get married. They are now joined in the eyes of God & their church. Now...in order for the government to give a shit, they have to go down to city hall and file for a domestic partnership.

or...

Dick & Dick or Jane & Jane don't give a crpa about religion and just want to live together as a domestic union. They skip the church crap, go down to city hall and file for domestic partnership and live happily ever after.

Thsi way...the government, which is supposedly of the people, by the people and for the people...treats "the people" equally. Churches, which are completely voluntary organizations, get to keep their precious homophobic rules.

I think this is an excellent way to get just one more aspect of religion OUT of government.