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.
