In 1831, a French aristocrat named Alexis de Tocqueville arrived in America and spent several years traveling and studying life in the communities of the new nation.
He produced a book called Democracy in America, which Harvard professor of government Harvey Mansfield calls “at once the best book ever written on democracy and the best book ever written on America.”
Tocqueville looked at America with open eyes and saw its strengths and its flaws. He reported with honesty about the human damage caused by slavery. But he also saw the beginnings of a great country in which human potential could be realized through freedom. And he recognized the crucial role that morals and religion play in making this possible.
Tocqueville wrote, “There is no country in the world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America.”
And he wrote, “Of the world’s countries, America is surely the one where the bond of marriage is most respected, and where they have conceived the highest and most just idea of conjugal happiness.”
As we know, today times are changing. Religion and the institutions of traditional marriage and family are being challenged and, rather than being seen as enablers of our freedom, are now regularly portrayed as obstacles to it.
Since same-sex marriage was legalized in Massachusetts 10 years ago, it has become legal in 17 states and the District of Columbia and is now recognized by the federal government.
The onslaught continues where laws protecting traditional marriage in many states are being overturned by courts and lawsuits are now pending in 30 states.
Even the Bible Belt has been penetrated, and recently, a judge in Arkansas struck down state law protecting traditional marriage.
Public opinion has changed dramatically in a relatively short period of time in favor of legal recognition of same-sex marriage and this is producing an impression that the battle is over. An article this week in National Journal was headlined “Opposing same sex marriage is a waste of your time.”
Source: Washington Examiner
STAR PARKER, a Washington Examiner columnist, is an author and president of CURE, Center for Urban Renewal and Education. She can be reached at www.urbancure.org
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