I read an article this morning about an inter-racial couple from Louisiana, who went to the local justice of the peace and requested a marriage license. Said Justice denied the request, on the grounds they were an inter-racial couple, and in his experience, inter-racial marriages do not last long. He asks every couple who calls him whether they are inter-racial, and if they are, does not marry them. To quote the justice: "I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way." Frankly, that's rather like the old commercial where the actor says "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." You may not think you are, but you basically support the idea anyway.
His additional reasoning is that the couple may plan on having children, and children of inter-racial marriages are not supported or accepted by either race.
Here's what I have to say to both of those arguments: What a load of crap! My own family's experience is that inter-racial marriages are lasting if you love each other and work at the marriage, the same as you would any other marriage. And children from inter-racial marriages are certainly loved and accepted by their families and by their peers, of both races.
Last time I checked, this is 2009, and not 1959. We're 45 years past the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the U.S. Supreme Court settled this question for good in 1967. This man is a paid employee of the local parrish (as a county is called in Louisiana), and a representative of the local government. And as such, he is not allowed to discriminate for any personal reason. I hope they throw the book at him.
His additional reasoning is that the couple may plan on having children, and children of inter-racial marriages are not supported or accepted by either race.
Here's what I have to say to both of those arguments: What a load of crap! My own family's experience is that inter-racial marriages are lasting if you love each other and work at the marriage, the same as you would any other marriage. And children from inter-racial marriages are certainly loved and accepted by their families and by their peers, of both races.
Last time I checked, this is 2009, and not 1959. We're 45 years past the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the U.S. Supreme Court settled this question for good in 1967. This man is a paid employee of the local parrish (as a county is called in Louisiana), and a representative of the local government. And as such, he is not allowed to discriminate for any personal reason. I hope they throw the book at him.
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