Researching Reform thinks this is a very good petition, so we’re sharing it. But it’s a petition with a twist – a very, very interesting one.
As it suggests, the Coalition for Equal Marriage petition is calling for all types of marriage (amongst two consenting adults) to be given the same status across the board and is of course focused on removing the current stigma in politics associated with same-sex marriage.
But it doesn’t end there. There is a second petition, which is mentioned in the first, it’s Devil’s Advocate Doppelganger if you will, which is called The Coalition for Marriage. In this second petition, the title of which is “Don’t play politics – One Man plus One Woman with Marriage” you are asked to sign if you feel marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples. Like the first petition, there is a section on the page which puts arguments forward for its position. Both petitions have compelling arguments, but we’ll leave you to guess which one we signed (no peaking at the signature list)!
As they stand, the petition for the Coalition for Equal Marriage has 1,391 signatures, 432 tweets and 622 ‘Likes’ on Facebook. In contrast, the Coalition for Marriage’s petition has 27,190 signatures, 787 tweets and 960 ‘Likes’ on Facebook.
Perhaps just as fascinating is the list of political and high-profile signatories for the second petition campaigning for marriage to remain a heterosexual affair. Unsurprisingly perhaps, most of the signatories hail from the religious sector and appear to be backed by government. Another odd aspect of this petition is the assertion in the About Section that, “The Coalition is committed to a reasoned and courteous debate on this issue, and will highlight any intimidation or intolerance shown to supporters of traditional marriage“. No mention though, of highlighting any intimidation or intolerance of those who oppose it. In any event, given that this coalition wish to attack the concept of same-sex marriage, we can’t help but feel icky about their spiel.
But the really big twist? The first petition, created by two men who want nothing more than to get married was created in response to the second petition (have we confused you yet… we’re going to trip over ourselves in a minute but we’ll keep going until we do).
It takes less than twenty seconds to sign a petition… which one will you sign? 🙂
Interesting.
But why do free sovereign beings need permission to marry?
Marriage was a patriarchal creation designed to keep males and females under control.
I mean in any marriage we have the couple, plus the state and often the church- so that is 4 entities in the marriage.
Then to get out of the contract, the couple have to become children and ask for permission.
I prefer the olden days with the doughnut stone ceremony and 2 adults marrying each other and no church or state control.
In this way, we would not be bothered as to who objects or not.
Just a thought.
LikeLike
Hi Catherine, thank you for your comment. I agree with the over-arching philosophical sentiment.
LikeLike
How many people know that the real marriage is the alchemical marriage inside each human being in order to become whole/holy.?
The marriage of male and female energies into One.
It was the patriarchal church who twisted it and made marriage and INSTITUTION- something external rather than internal.
So with this knowledge all petitions are deemed are useless.
LikeLike
As understood by the Catholic Church, the ministers of marriage are a man and a woman. A priest simply blesses this agreement which must be entered into freely in order to be valid.
LikeLike
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/2797
There is also an epetition calling for Same sex marriage. Persoannly I’m signing all petition calling for marriage equality and hoping we get as many signatures as possible
LikeLike
Thank you, Vinny.
LikeLike
Why don’t you use another name for this petition? Surely you do not want to be accused of causing confusion by highjacking someone else’s work in coming up with the original title? Marriage is an agreement between a man and a woman and no number of petitions, counter-petitions or protests can change that.
LikeLike
That is the name of the petition, which is why we put it in the title. If you read the article, you will see that we give full accreditation to both sets of authors for each petition (we mention two). Please do read posts before commenting.
LikeLike
I shall ignore your rather snooty reply. I am not saying you did not give ‘accreditation’: I am saying that your title is unimaginative.
LikeLike
Thank you for letting us know. We will endeavour to be more imaginitive in the future. 🙂
LikeLike