Wednesday 28 June 2017

Gay Marriage and German Politics


They all want a piece of the action: Three months before the elections, German chancellor Merkel has indicated that after the September elections, she would allow a free vote (that is, CDU/CSU members of Parliament would not be bound by party discipline) on the issue of gay marriage. Not to be outdone her SPD opponent, Martin Schultz, is forcing a vote this week. If you look at their faces, you will understand: she is calm and calculating, whereas the rather unattractive Mr. Schultz is after a quickie.

Homosexual marriage excites mainly heterosexuals. The number of people who will take advantage of the new law is not expected to be very high. Doubtlessly, there is no reason why the state should interfere in the bonding arrangements its citizens wish to get into. Only, the matter of personal freedom is serious and deserves a serious and honourable discussion in parliament and should not be treated as a quickie to produce immediate satisfaction.

On the other hand, sometimes quickies result in nice babies.

3 comments:

  1. I am not sure what that law is for.
    Wasn't the late Mr. Westerwelle (a former foreign secretary who managed to shake hands with Ahmadinejad) married to his male companion?
    Without the new law?

    The new law is billed as "Marriage for everybody" which puzzles me. I understand that it includes transgender marriage.
    But are siblings allowed to marry also?
    Is marriage no longer restricted to couples from now on? After all, in parts of the Islamic world it isn't, and Germany has a need to adapt.

    I suppose it is really all about money (once again). Married folks enjoy tax advantages.

    ReplyDelete
  2. when quickies become babies, they usually cause a lot of trouble.....

    ReplyDelete
  3. Schöne conclusio bei der gay marriage: Sometimes quickies result in nice babies J
    Auch sonst: wie immer Deiner Meinung!

    ReplyDelete