I accounted for millennial evolutionary factors. The pubescent divide has certainly changed since a thousand ago. And it’s not antiquated by virtue of inhabiting the South.
As far as I’m concerned, 17 is old enough to smoke, drink, drive, marry, and die for the Country. A person 15 years of age, not so much. And I say this with complete respect to the age groups in question.
17 works for me as well. But it’s still arbitrary considering the biological purpose of puberty.
We think 15 is too young for many things. But biology doesnt care what you or I think. And again, nor does history. Alexander the Great led armies and conqured nations before 17.
Sure, there is a huge ick factor when men and women of 2014 consider this issue. I get that. I share that. But ick factor is just that. It’s what we were taught. History doesn’t care what we were taught. Nor do all the 15 yos married throughout it.