shocking

Yesterday, Mrs. Laura Bush told reporters that some Americans found the situation in San Francisco as "shocking, very shocking." She was referring to the numerous same-sex couples lined up to get married at the ornate San Francisco City Hall.

I must admit that I don't understand what is so shocking about people who are committed to each other publicly announcing that commitment. Perhaps she was merely referring to the Mayor challenging California's marriage laws in such a flagrant manner.

In today's New York Times, the Mayor said he was motivated to act after attending President Bush's State of the Union address in Washington earlier this year. The President made comments about gay marriage that the Mayor found outrageous. Perhaps the President's speechwriters will think more carefully about the effects of their work.

Mrs. Bush also said yesterday that she thought there should be a thorough public debate over this issue, and I concur. Unfortunately, her husband, who can only mutter two mantra-like phrases (I believe marriage is between a man and woman and I am troubled by renegade liberal judges) has yet to say why he thinks that same-sex marriages are wrong, thus requiring a constitutional amendment to make sure that they do not happen.