And they said it wouldn't last. According to the latest census data, 76 percent of Americans report being married just one time. That statistic should not be interpreted to mean, however, that 76 percent of Americans are happily married. The true significance of the reported figure is that whether still married or divorced, more than three-fourths of American adults only want to go around once. Only 5 percent of the three million households surveyed by the American Community Survey reported being married more than twice, with about 20 percent reporting being married twice.

Apart from those interesting statistics, the survey indicated a reduction in the number of same-sex couples who consider themselves married. Specifically, the number of homosexual respondents declaring themselves to be "married" fell by nearly 200,000 in 2008, down to roughly 565,000 from about 754,000 making that claim in 2007. This apparent diminution is in reality less a reflection of the number of homosexuals entering into monogamous unions than the result of an alteration in the manner in which the data is mined and interpreted, according to officials at the Census Bureau.

Given their pattern of zealous defense of the "normalization" of a behavior and lifestyle that was until recently considered extremely marginal, at least one group in the "gay" community has actually come out in support of the new findings, reckoning (correctly) that the drop in same-sex couples is actually a statistical anomaly rather than a shift away from monogamy in the overall homosexual population. Jaime Grant of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force based in Washington, D.C., told the USA Today, "We don't think the Census is doing us dirty here. They improved the way they designed the form, so they got fewer false reports from opposite-sex partners. But I still think it doesn't mean we're getting the full picture of LGBT [lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-sexual] people across the board." Grant and other opinion shapers in the homosexual community pushed for at least a decade for the right of same-sex couples to mark themselves as such on the official decennial census. In the census conducted in 2000, the Census Bureau did not reassign partners. Instead, it put everyone into the domestic partner category, and then classified the couples as homosexual or heterosexual. There are 3,850,524 heterosexual unmarried couples nationwide. Such a classification endows homosexual couples with a status that neither culture nor biology has provided, and has simultaneously devalued and desecrated the chief foundation of human society — the marriage of a man and a woman.

Finally, apart from the controversial assignations made regarding what it means "officially" to be a couple, there were other notable findings published in the American Community Survey. Of particular sociological interest is the insight that can be gained by examining the trends evident in marriage. For example, the 2008 data show the percentage of women 15 and over who have never married was 28.1 percent, up from 27.6 percent in 2007 and 27.3 percent in 2006.

Another picture visible in the newly released data is that of the strength of marriage as judged from its duration. The average marriage in the United States lasts approximately 18.2 years. Some sociologists have interpreted this to indicate that many couples will stay together just long enough for children to become independent. "Many [respondents] want to stay married until the children are independent or semi-independent," opines Carl Haub, senior demographer at the non-profit Population Reference Bureau. "That certainly does make some sense. Some number people will stay together for the children. That timing might not be just a coincidence," he proposes.

Regardless of the reported strength and duration of marriages across the country, however, shamefully the value and sanctity of marriage is being irreparably undermined by government-sanctioned legitimacy being afforded to same-sex relationships who, regardless of the universally accepted and time-honored definitions of the word, are being permitted to take upon themselves the honor of the "blessed and honorable" estate of marriage.

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Bonnie said:

Just what is marriage? I'm not sure I trust this American Community Survey. The survey, as I understand it, is quite intrusive. When people are uncomfortable with a question, they may not be totally forthcoming with the answers. Irregardless of the survey, there is some confusion concerning the nature of marriage. As is so often the case, it is best if the originator of marriage speak. --- Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. - Leviticus 18:22 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. - Romans 1:27 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. -Mark 10:6-12 --- Is the air clear now?

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September 22, 2009
Votes: +1

I Support Marriage for Gay Couples, Lowly rated comment [Show]

Lee Gonzales said:

No, Jon, homosexuals are the "hate-r-o-sexuals Jesus performed His first miracle at a marriage between a Man and Woman. Percy Sledge sang about a When a Man and A Woman. Poets were inspired by the love between a Man and a Woman. The great novelists wrote stories about the love between a Man and a Woman Hollywood's greatest actors and actresses portrayed the world's greatest romances between a Man and a Woman. A Man a Woman rear children in an environment of love, sanity and obedience to God's commandments.

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September 22, 2009
Votes: +2

Thomas R. Eddlem said:

Census As a subscriber who participates in Marriage preparation for my church, I'm fascinated by the statistic that while 40 percent of first-time marriages end in divorce, only 2 percent of marriages where couples attend church weekly end in divorce. The interesting thing about that fact is that it cuts across denominational lines, it doesn't matter whether you go to a Catholic or a Baptist church, or even a Jewish synogogue or a Muslim Mosque. Is there something about marriage that is religious? Well, religious people seem to have a better key into making marriage work.

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September 23, 2009
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Sharon said:

	... So if you're staying together, make it the best you can! Take a look @ amazon: "A Short Guide to a Happy Marriage."
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September 23, 2009
Votes: -1

Bonnie said:

Response to Jon: Don't shoot the messenger Gay people are just as good? No, what you should be saying is that gay people are just as bad as everyone else. Once more, we let the Creator of the universe speak: ---- What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. - Romans 3:9-12 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:23 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; - Acts 3:19 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. - John 5:14 --- "I support marriage for gay couples and so should you. It's the right thing to do."??? Sorry, but I have it on higher authority that I should not! Don't argue with me... argue with the Higher Authority.

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September 23, 2009
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Flu-Bird said:

	Any real marrage Any legal real marrage in the name of the law and in the eyes of god is between one man and one woman gay and lebian marrages are immoral
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September 23, 2009
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