Here at 7daybuzz we are always excited when one of our friends agrees to write something for us.  In light of recent developments surrounding Tiger Woods, this post written by Nathan J. Bennett is timely and appropriate.  We, as a society, are constantly changing our values, morals and beliefs.  As a result, thoughts concerning marriage come up often because of actions which take place as a result of those changes.  Here is one man’s take on marriage.

The Biggest Business Deal Of Your Life

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship.  Marriage is also an institution that is historically filled with restrictions.  From age, to race, to sexual orientation, to gender, to social status, restrictions are placed on marriage by society for reasons of benefiting the children, passing on healthy genes, to keep property concentrated, or because of prejudice and fear.  As we all know many married couples opt not to procreate, and as far as the paperwork is concerned marriage is a business contract.

Since the United States has separated church and state there are a few things I find troubling from legal aspect to marriage.  Take away religion and marriage seems to me more of a business deal; investing your time, energy, and money into this deal to make your life better.  There is nothing in law stating that you have to be married to have kids or have to be married to live with someone you care about.  These are just traditions that we have kept since the church was in control.  Now we don’t even need to say “Under God” in our pledge of allegiance because it may offend someone.

So why is it, two individuals of the same sex cannot enter into this deal?  Not to say that the rest of society has to accept them as a married couple or view them in the same way as a man and woman who are married.  But why can those two individuals get the same financial breaks as a man and woman who opt to get married.  Many men and woman in this country get married for only financial gains.  Sex, partnership, kinship and pro creation have nothing to do with the act for many married couples. This is indeed sad but it does happen.

Secondly another aspect of marriage that I think would deter many people from getting married legally is if there was an enforced prenuptial agreement that couples could opt out of.  Most people do not go into marriage thinking that it is going to be over in less than 5 years, but more and more this is happening.  If two members go into a marriage with sensible heads and are really committed to making the marriage work this should not be a problem.  Let’s say by law if two members get divorced within ten years of getting married the prenuptial agreement comes into effect.  After 5 years of being married a partial amount of the agreement comes into effect.  If the marriage is so bad after only being married for two years then going back to your old lifestyle should not be a problem for you.  Things acquired while being married are joint property but prior to entering into the legally binding contract you should have some degree of protection.  At any time both members can create wills to make sure in unlikely event of their death all of their assets go to their significant other.  For the individuals who don’t want this, they can choose to opt out of it prior to the marriage.

Since the Government has got involved with that matter of our life, only for the legal aspects we should in turn protect ourselves.  This has nothing to do with religious,  or social etiquette of the matter, just the legal aspect for everyone’s personal protection.