True Marriage

In reading more about arranged marriages in the article "Child Brides" by Sheri & Bob Stritof on About.com, they state that child brides and forced marriages most often occur in Egypt, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan, India, and the Middle East. Though these underage marriages are illegal in the U.S, some secret illegal child weddings are still being performed. Most of these ceremonies are religious and forced by a child's parents, although some are simply more customary and traditional. In these cases, families will marry off their daughters at an extremely young age to ensure early childbearing, obedience to the husband, and financial and social security. However, forced and child marriage can often lead to isolation, slave labor, lack of education, abuse, and health problems. According to a report issued by the United Nations, "marriage under the age of 18 can threaten a child's human rights (including the right to education, leisure, good health, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination)".

So here's what bugs me...WHY can we not let homosexual couples (people who are old enough to understand and abide by the institution of marriage, and people who are willing to love and cherish their partner and their relationship for the rest of their lives) have the right to marry when other people are being married off before they can even understand what marriage is and before they even get a chance to know the person they will be spending the rest of their lives with?!! (I know that was a long sentence, but bear with me, I'm mid-rant). How can we say that homosexual couples can't partake in marriage because they will not be like "normal" familes or that they will bring shame to the idea of marriage and what-not? That is CRAP. There are people out there that are being married off, despite what will-power they may or may not have or whether or not they are ready. THEY are the ones bringing shame to marriage, for they are treating it as an easy way out of financial and social burdens rather than an act of love and unity. When marriage is directly resulting in people's abuse, lack-of-education, unhappiness, and everything else that I stated, we know that that is not a true marriage. A true marriage is something that reveals and confirms love and that begins a life of happiness and well-being with another person. A true marriage cannot be arranged. A true marriage cannot be forced.