You're missing my point... (grin)

Hell, there's an excess of children in the world right now! ;-) But what's that got to do with the traditional definitions of "marriage" or determining how the custom came to be in our civilization or what people think regarding marriage?

I am not arguing the pros or cons for Proposition 8, Amos. I know you'd like me to...but I'm not. ;-) I hardly even care about Proposition 8 enough to draw a single passing breath over it, and I wouldn't care even if I lived in California. I don't give a darn. I did not get in on this thread out of any desire to either support or oppose Proposition 8.

Regarding your supercilious remarks about "obsession with passing one's own genes forward".... Most parents are pleased to see some of their family's characteristics evidenced in their children. It's a normal impulse and instinct to look for that. I don't see any reason to sneer at people over it.

In my own case I've decided not to have any children, so it obviously doesn't weight large in my calculations. For one thing, I didn't want to carry that kind of responsibility this time around (in this particular life). I didn't think it would suit me well. For another thing, Winona has not said "yes" as yet..... ;-)