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Editorial: Re-writing laws: Is it a good idea? The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind. July 6 The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed state bans on homosexual sex was the latest loud volley in an ongoing cultural war over the shape and nature of personal relationships. ... Most states long ago repealed sodomy laws. Indiana did so in 1977. But the ruling affects Texas and 12 other states with similar statutes. ... But the most visible change sought in the Culture War is radical redefinition of marriage, a core social institution, to include same-sex relationships. ... The Supreme Court anticipated speculation on the issue of same-sex marriage, noting that its Texas sodomy rule applies narrowly to consensual sex in the privacy of the home, not whether the government must recognize gay relationships. Yet in a disapproving dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia warned that the decision leaves little justification for "denying the benefits of marriage to homosexual couples." ... While the time may be right for more privacy in our bedrooms and cilvil rights protection for gays in the workplace, we don't think most people want our laws rewritten to accommodate same-sex marriage. Instead, they probably agree with Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, who wrote, "Sometimes, change destroys. No structure can stand for long when its bearing wall is removed. the bearing wall of marriage - its central and universal characteristic - is its heterosexuality. Knock that down and what is left is ruin." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -