History of Same-Sex Marriage in the United States Research - 3025 Words

History of Same-Sex Marriage in the United States (Research Paper Sample) Content: History of Same-Sex Marriage in the United StatesNameCourseInstructorDateAbstractThis is a paper that critically presents a discussion on the history of the same sex in the United States. Evidently through research, same-sex marriage in the United States has a short history which is highly controversial. The issues of same-sex marriage initially came to public awareness in the year 1993. This occurred following the case witnessed at Hawaii. In this case, Judges discovered that the state's constitution needed a persuasive explanation not to broaden to gays equivalent marriage rights. With reference to other studies, the marriage of same-sex in this nation is not documented by the  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States" \o "Federal government of the United States" federal government. Nevertheless, such marriages are acknowledged by some person states as we shall note in the course of the discussion. The legalization of these types of marriages has been attained by legislative action and court rulings. IntroductionDebate over the description of matrimony, and whether matrimony should take account of partners of the same sex, has turned being the most remarkable social issues of the present age group. Such debate is playing out in churches, politics, and more and more in legislative bodies and court systems. Based on this front-burner, civilization wars subject, courts have been questioned to discover traditional meanings of matrimony infringe concepts of equivalent defense and substantive due procedure. That is been the case understanding the historical background of these efforts is indispensable to be aware of where things are nowadays and what the prospect might hold. In that sense, this is where the subject gets muggy. The following discussion critically presents a concise review of the history of same-sex marriage in the United States from a broad perception.History of Same-Sex Marriage in the Unite d StatesState legislatures in the United States are recognized to have been profoundly concerned when it comes to describing the issue concerning same-sex marriages. The major concerns in such public debates have been on the focus whether marriage should be restricted to woman and man or persons of the identical sex. [1] Without a shred of doubt, this issue has been argued for a number of years and still remains being one of the recent debates with controversy in the nation up to the moment. According to different studies, the issue concerning same sex marriage in US is somewhat short, but full of disagreement. Nevertheless, public unions have been in existence in some type or another ever since medieval Europe, and so this is another explanation behind the occurrence of the same-sex marriages in this nation. Evidently, there is a main disparity between a public union and a marriage. The issue concerning same sex marriage domed to the nations interest back in the year 1993. This was during Hawaii court case of Lewin v Baehr. In this court proceeding, the judges declared that the state would require giving an undeniable disagreement or explanation in support of why people of the same sex should not be officially permitted to have the right to get married the same as heterosexual partners. [1] The occurrence of this court case sparked the establishment and passage of Defense Marriage Act back in the year 1996. This marked the initial act to talk in relation to the issue concerning same-sex marriage and rule in the long run. For the sake of the federal law, the Act declared that marriage was only doable for people of different sex that is man and woman. [1] Despite the fact that the Defense of Marriage Act slowed down the brawl for the same sex marriage, the subject reared its head once more a small number of years later. Back in the year 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court declared that the state required giving the officially authorized advantages of marriage so th e same sex partners. Following a year later, Vermont legislature developed civil unions in an effort to provide the same sex partners the same rights to heterosexual partners. Back in the year 2003, a ruling of Massachusetts Supreme Court declared that gays had remarkably similar rights of marriage the same as heterosexuals. One year later, the same Court declared that public unions would not accomplish this previous resolution. [1] Worth to mention, it was during May 2004 that Massachusetts turned out being the initial state in the unification to endorse the same sex marriage. Connecticut in a little while accepted gay marriage, and during the year 2008, California followed suit. Nonetheless, in November 2008, the situation was inverted with the declaration of Proposition 8. In that case, the concern is still on the debate in the courts. [1] In spite of the fact that ten other, different states have agreed to homosexual couples equal rights, either through civil unions or the same sex marriages, other 27 states have passed laws and acts with the intention to forbid gay marriage in the long run. Most outstandingly, this explanation clearly proves that the State legislatures all over this country are distinguished for been enormously occupied. This is especially when it comes to addressing issues related to the same sex marriages in the country. [2] The key concerns in such public debates have been carried significantly. This is with the aim to determine whether marriage should be restricted to the person of the same sex or between a woman and man. These legislatures are acknowledged to have comprehensively gone both ways in relation to the issues pertaining to marriage of the same sex. [2] Some of the legislatures have gone the step of endorsing regulations and constitutional provisions. This is towards preserving marriages, whilst other legislatures have agreed to laws that consent to individuals of the equivalent sex to get married.Statistics on the modern r esearch justify that over 38 states in this nation are recognized for adopting regulations that make illegal marriage of the same sex. To some extent, this has been enhanced through the adoption of what is commonly regarded as defense of marriage requirements in their constitutions. [2] It is across the world acknowledged that marriage means an officially authorized union between one woman and man. They are thus acknowledged as wife and husband. Other parts of the states are also recognized to forbid the same sex marriages and gender. Looking at the twenty states of the United States, they have placed this language in relation to their state constitutions. An extra ten states have governmental language that adopts the preventive language. [2] This does not take account of Washington and Maryland as during the start of this year that is 2012, they adopted regulations that permitted the same sex marriages. At present, there are as well six states and the District of Columbia that are known to authorize marriage by individuals of the same sex. The uppermost courts in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa declared that the states establishment does consent to the same sex couples to be awarded equivalent rights as those of the opposite sex. [2] Looking at DC, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, their legislative elements are acknowledged to have passed legislative alterations permitting the same sex marriage. Such states are well-known to carry out equivalent sex marriages. That is been the case marriages between people of the same sex in this country are found in some states, whilst in other states the practice is never allowed or practiced. From a historical perspective in the United States, there is an existing disagreement that denies gay partners from getting married as a violation of the Religious liberty. This has considerably led for it to be acknowledged that civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions. All main religions think in relatio n to gay marriage being a sin. [2] The First Amendment of the Constitution unmistakably states that an individuals religious analysis or lack of them should be defended. Marriage, be it in the form of state is as a result, a secular activity and the regime should not begin making regulations since the religion declares that they should. [2] Through looking at the history of the same sex, one can deduce that marriage to present, the issue remains being controversial and talked for innumerable reasons. To some extent and through the declaration of some courts, the same sex marriage partners are worthy to enjoy the benefits just like the other marital couples do enjoy. [2] However, the whole issue becomes more complicated when other courts do not permit the same sex couples to enjoy their benefits in terms of marriage like the other marital partners. In that manner, there is an existing controversy as far as marriage of the same sex is concerned. Some of the states and courts that agre e to the same sex marriage provide or consent to benefits similar to joint ownership and having the decision making capacity. All in all, marriage in the United States is considered being more than just a legal status. [3] In its implication, marriage is identified to have an influence in relation to tax, ownership of property, benefits from the insurance, and agency laws. It can also affect critical medical decisions. Medical decision may include when an individual has been incapacitated or needs a certain surgery.The surge in opposition to same-sex marriage has not been restricted to the courts. State legislatures and congress have vehemently required turning back endangered judicial activity with the designation of marriage. Subsequent to the Hawaii Supreme Court's judgment in Baehr, Congress acted in response in 1996 with the Defense of Marriage Act. [HYPERLINK \l "D...

Neglect Leads to Ultimate Destruction - Literature Essay Samples

In Franz Kafkas classic, The Metamorphosis, family members of Gregor Samsa, the main character who is a giant insect, ignore Gregor for a majority of the plot. Disregard for Gregor eventually obliterates him. In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus neglects the wise words of many oracles and even his mother, something leading to his demise. In both of these masterpieces, the authors use irony to show that hubris, excessive humility, and egotism epitomize the causes of neglect and thus ultimately lead to a tragic fiasco. The continued disregard toward an individual leads to the bane of both parties.Both Kafka and Sophocles cleverly allow the reader to suffer throughout the plot with sardonic scenes. Oedipus typifies hubris, or excessive pride toward oneself. Oedipus, a Corinthian, rules the city of Thebes and defends it like his prized fortress. As a young child, Oedipus kills a stranger at the crossroads, but that stranger later turns out to be his biological father King Laius. Aft er Oedipus grows up, he becomes the King of Thebes and marries the widow queen Jocasta although he does not realize that she gave birth to him. During his rule, a plague strikes the city of Thebes, and an oracle tells Oedipus that the murderer of Laius caused the plague. Consequently, Oedipus vows to find the murderer of Laius and banish him. He calls forth the blind prophet. The first witness Teresias and other witnesses specifically admonish Oedipus and tell him that he murdered Laius, so he will get the promised fate. Although Teresias warns Oedipus about the torment that he will receive, Oedipus ignores him. Sophocles creates irony from this point onwards because Oedipus has already predetermined his ultimate fate. The neglect of his peers has haunted him. Kafka portrays a similar case in The Metamorphosis, but instead of his peers, Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of the plot, endures the consequences of neglect himself. The plot begins with Samsa waking up to find that he has mys teriously become a giant insect. As a result, he misses his morning bus to his office, and a chief clerk comes to his house to have a talk with his parents about his absence from the office. Gregors family needs the financial assistance with which Gregor has been providing them. However, his family finds they do not need him, so they (except his mother) disregard him and treat him like a mere pest in the house. Kafka presents the plot with dramatic and situational irony. Gregor eventually commits suicide because he cannot witness his family suffer any more. In both works irony guides the causes of neglect.The actions of a character portend to the resolution of the plot. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus hamartia (tragic error) turns out to be his hubris. Throughout the play several instances portray him as a bombastic and grandiloquent king who has no respect for others. As the plot progresses, he also gains more pomp. For example, after he answers man to the Sphinxs previously unsolved riddle, he believes that he can do anything. All his hubris gives him more reason to disregard everyones advice. Whether a blind prophet, an oracle, or even Apollo himself may seem to be right, he thinks that only he must be right, and his righteousness will prevail. Oedipus ultimately pays for discounting everybody; Jocasta commits suicide, Oedipus blinds himself, and his children have no future. All can be summed up by the Chorus words, A black sea of terror has overwhelmed him. On the other hand, Gregor Samsa in The Metamorphosis has too much humility, something that causes his neglect by the antagonists of the novel. Although his physical state throughout the novel deserves partial culpability, he does not do anything but allow himself to suffer throughout the plot. In several instances, if he had just tried to express his feelings, maybe someone would have noticed him, especially his mother or his sister Grete. For example, when Grete delivers the milk and bread to Gregor, he r ealizes that he does not like it anymore. Instead of just looking at it, he could have communicated in some way to his sister by telling her that bread and milk was not his favorite anymore. Also, Gregor could have expressed his discontent regarding his fathers treatment of him, but instead he does absolutely nothing. He knows that his father has not been treating him fairly for anything, especially money, and Gregor still does not retaliate. His apathy and excessive meekness toward everything leads to his neglect by his own family. Consequently, death proves to be what he deserved. In both works, enough evidence proves that pride in excess or lacking quantities devastates the character that exhibits it. The authors illustrate the quintessence of ego through the protagonists of their works. Both Oedipus and Gregor possess complacence displayed through their actions. Although Gregors family alienates him throughout most of the plot, several instances embody Gregors inner thoughts. Gr egor wishes his subservience to his family would sometime end, and he may live freely. However, his escape turns out to be his metamorphosis and ultimately his death. For instance, when Gregors sister and parents weep after they first see him, Gregor expresses strong opinions about them. He articulates that he merely does them a favor by providing them with financial assistance. Gregor also implies that he dislikes his enslavement in the family. Through his words, Gregor evidently proves that even a reserved person like himself can have strong internal thoughts. Kafka constantly states that Gregor [could] have gone away of his own free will. In contrast, Oedipus illustrates that an exceptionally arrogant person can obviously have an egotistic personality. As soon as Teresias informs Oedipus that Oedipus has killed his father, Oedipus gets incensed, expresses his disgruntlement with the blind prophet, and banishes him. Because Oedipus has a strong ego, he blatantly ignores Teresias a nd states that Teresias has been cursed. Of course, his statement haunts him in the end. Egotism eventually leads to neglect although it might not be explicitly expressed in The Metamorphosis. If Gregor had been a more active person who took action about his enslavement instead of just whining about it, he would have been respected more instead of being alienated by his family. Similarly, if Oedipus had just listened to the words of advice he had received and built on them instead of being headstrong, even the Thebans would have accepted a lesser punishment for Oedipus.Evidently, the authors in both The Metamorphosis and Oedipus the King utilize irony to demonstrate that hubris, humility, and egotism epitomize the causes of neglect. Oedipus possesses excessive hubris and neglects what others say, and Gregor Samsa has too much humility does nothing about his subservience to his family. Therefore, neglect gradually cripples the inner self and ultimately leads to an absolute debacle.