A white justice of the peace in Louisiana refuses to marry interracial couple

I'll go one step further. I don't see how it is any business of the governement who marries who. Why does a person even need a marriage license (from the government) in order to be married. If I decided to marry some guy, with all the "'til death do ye part" stuff, why should I need the permission of the governement for that? It's basically a legal contract and has nothing to do with the government. It could be easily done just with lawyers. The whole system is just small-town nosiness and a back channel way to collect a few (tax) dollars.

 

I agree with you that the government should have no involvement when it comes to marriage. If two people regardless of whether they be a heterosexual or homosexual want to be together they should be able to do so, and no one should be able to interfere with it.

I just don't understand the stereotypes of when it comes to two girls kissing that seems to be fine and mostly accepted in society. When it comes to two guys kissing it is a taboo and not accepted. That to me is wrong and is a double standard.

I do respect people who have differenting opinions, but I think that if two people love each other that is ultimatelty the thing that is important.

 

As a black guy that love WOMAN of all races this worried me. I know normal people are still like this , and some people in the public guy may still be like this, but not a Justice.

If I ever get married I hope nothing like this happens.

 

That is why this insane clown (make me think of the Insane Clown Posse) needs to have the hammer dropped on him hard. He needs to be held up of an example of things NOT TO DO.

Abner

 

The justice of the peace is entitled to his own opinion. He should still marry whoever asks to be married (as long as they're consenting adults) even if he disagrees. If he can't do that then he should find another job. If he refuses then he should be fired. IMHO

 

Is marrying people a part of his 'official duties', or just a perk of the job? If it's the former, then I'd say he's obligated to perform those duties whether he likes it or not. If not, then he can do whatever he wants. Like any member of clergy, he doesn't HAVE to marry any couple that comes waltzing through the door. Just my 2 cents.

 

I'm totally shocked with this case.

As someone that is mixed (portuguese, spanish, black, native-brazilian, dutch) and comes from another country of immigrants but where the majority is mixed race (even the whites - we have a different concept of white in Brazil) to the point that we rarely use the term "interracial" (because it's so common that doesn't make much sense to use it) I really can't believe this judge.

His justification is absurdly offensive for any mixed-race person - which includes the President of the USA, by the way.

I feel I'm back in the Jim Crow era.

 

Bill and I understand each other in this matter.

 

HikaruBr and I understand each other in this matter.

 

He might be onto something in his "logic," but I must disagree with his conclusions. Each person in this couple is a legal adult fully entitled to decide whom they wish to love and marry. As for the children of interracial couples, they might get teased, but they (and their parents) might be the ones to lead us to that promised land where ebony and ivory are living in perfect harmony.

 

Promised land of ebony and ivory? If that DOES exist, I hope it's found soon. I live and work in a community that is mostly middle class white, yet the schools are mostly poor black. Hence there is a disparity between the general population and the school population. It's awful seeing the differences in the kids. Our black kids horrible compared to the white kids, and the white kids assume the black kids act that way because they are black. However, all the research will point to the idea that the blacks kids act the way they do not because they are black, but because they are poor. (We do have poor white kids who act in a similar manner, and middle class blacks who separate themselves from the poor blacks.) It's such an interesting, yet unfortunate, scenario.

Despite people, like myself, who try to make this community better, it just isn't happening. There's too much resentment between the races, and I'm not sure if it will ever be fixed. I just hold on to the hope that it will be.

-Matt

 

I hope I'm not being too idealistic. The good Rev. Dr. King said that he had seen the promised land, and that he may not get there with us, but we as a people will get there. Hopefully, we will get there. And what did the Good Book say about "and a little child shall lead them"?

 

He resigned today.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/03/louisiana.interracial.marriage/index.html

 

Hopefully no one minds if I don't shed a tear.

 

This is great news. We have a person who felt that he was above the law by using his own personal opinions to deny the rights of men and women regardless of race to have the right to marry. These are basic fundamental rights that we all cherish as Americans and the resignation of this justice of the peace should send a clear message that no one is above the law and that if you serve in the public square you need to uphold and honor the laws of our land.

 

flat out wrong

He was flat out wrong to refuse. His job is to marry people. Incidentally, he has resigned. Probably due to people calling for his license (which was happening.)
DeterminedAdjunct