One view: Governments should *not* have the right to perform marriages. They should be only allowed to create civil unions. The concept of marriage is steeped in tradition and even allowing government entities to perform them weakens our traditions. Only a religious entity should be allowed to deem a civil union a marriage. To those that might say, "What about atheists"? I say, how can one participate in a tradition created by religion if one is an atheist without being a hypocrit?
The poster has joined with the "dearly departed" now.
(Means "banned or suspended" from FR).