Liberty Alone

I’ve just read this article describing Christmas in a polygamous family in the second half of the 20th Century.

It tells of times when the family could not be together because they were being pursued by the state for the ‘crime’ of polygamy.
Personally, I know I couldn’t cope with polygamy (or polyandry or whatever other arrangements there are) (the conclusion the author makes for herself), but I can see no reason for it to be outlawed.

The thing which really struck me was the harm that the legal intervention did. It fractured the household, it nearly got the children taken from a loving (if unconventional) family and given up to the state - something which today would do incredible harm, 40 years ago I shudder to think of the consequences for the children.

This story strengthens my belief that marriage should just be a private contract, entered into as people see fit, devoid of any state sanction or rules. The Church can refuse to bless anything they see as wrong, it would be up to the church.
People can publicly acknowledge their love for each other and their commitment to each other however they wish on terms of their choosing. If that be multiple husbands or wives, so be it. Why should the state care?

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.