True dat, in both cases.
Spousal benefits? I'll give you an example: Some tactless fool called me last week because he was after my job. I was nice enough to commiserate with him over the scarcity of jobs in his field, and then he piped up with, "But you don't have to provide for your family. What does your husband do, anyway?" I told him that when I meet my husband, I'll let him know. Meanwhile I pay all of the mortgage, utilities, repair bills and everything else all by myself.
It seems that marriage in our society has become a joke, and I'm wagging my finger at straight people. I'm talking about the weddings in Las Vegas that are annulled the next day. (Not that all people who are married in Las Vegas are drunk/stupid/whatever...) I'm talking about the folks who have been married so many times that their kids need a program to keep up with their step-relatives. I'm talking about women who go into marriages with a divorce settlement in mind.
Those are the extreme examples, I know. But how many people do you watch get married with the idea that if it doesn't work out they can always end it? (And before I upset 50% of the population, I realize that there are a LOT of divorced folk out there who don't fit my description. I realize that relationships are, by nature, very difficult.) But it's pretty sad that my brother and I are in the minority by having parents who have been married only to each other for the last 43 years.
Looking at the state of marriage in the U.S., I'm not so sure why gays and lesbians are so fired up about jumping into it. But if they are as committed as the likes of Hnooe and Mr. Hnooe (among others), more power to them. I wish them the best.
lol: I can't take these long breaks from SoWal anymore! I get all up on my high horse. Ignore me--I'll get over myself tomorrow!)
What a grayt thread swgb!!
