I was settling in tonight watching the Nightly News as I do every night and there was a segment on their recent NBC News Wall Street Journal Poll.

I was pleasantly surprised when the following result came up. 41% of people favor same sex marriages up from 30% in 2004 (source). Now we still have quite a long way to go as proven by another poll number 40% of the 49% strongly oppose it where as only 26% of the 41% strongly favor. But it is good to see that some progress is being made on one of the most basic rights as an American. We have heard time and time again that Marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman. The awesome thing is that we, as humans write the dictionaries and are able to redefine words for the common good. The thought that it is between only a man and a woman and nobody else comes strictly from religious beliefs and the bible, something which has no place in the laws of the USA.

The awesome thing? It has been redefined already by Merriam-Webster

1 a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage <same-sex marriage> b : the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock c : the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage
2 : an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
3 : an intimate or close union <the marriage of painting and poetry — J. T. Shawcross>

It’s awesome to see progress being made on this front. Marriage is something that allows quite a few rights such as being able to see your spouse in the hospital if there is a major accident. The religious will often say “What is to prevent a man from marrying a pig if we make this change” the answer to that is so simple it’s hard to see how people can use it as an argument. A pig, is not a knowing willing participant in a marriage. Where as a human being has the unique ability to choose who they mutually want to spend the rest of their life with.

Great news came out of Iowa yesterday that a law defining marriage between a man and a woman only was struck down. The opposition had this to say:

“It’s, quite frankly, a disaster,” said Brian English, a spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center, a nonprofit research and educational organization committed to strengthening the family.

“Obviously, we’re extremely disappointed,” he said. “We’re saddened. Perhaps a little bit surprised in the unanimous decision that the court handed down.”

Yea isn’t it sad that the government actually allowed them the right to marry their partners regardless of their sex. Isn’t it sad that they were allowed the equal rights they are guaranteed under this great nation’s constitution.

Marriage may be defined as between a man and a woman in the bible. But I have news for these people fighting people’s rights: this country is not a Theocracy. Marriage is defined as whatever we want it to be defined as, we wrote the dictionaries remember?

I am happy to see this news but I am sad that it is taking so long to get people the rights they deserve nationwide. Catch a video after the break.

Video via Atheist Media Blog.