America faces a defining moment in its history, as an institution that has been the lifeblood of this great nation is under attack. Whereas other mores of society have come and gone, throughout history the institution of marriage has been a constant. The traditional understanding of marriage, however, is now being called into question. Opponents reason that the one man/one woman definition may be too outdated or narrow-minded for modernized nations such as the United States. Certain U.S. federal courts have ruled that forbidding gay marriage is unconstitutional, and a handful of local officials have blatantly disregarded their own states' laws, which clearly support this long-established tradition. The wheels of change are in motion, and without decisive action, marriage, as America knows it, will cease to exist.Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, understands that this nation is at a crossroads, and he strives to drive home this point in
Marriage Under Fire
. Dobson writes with urgency in detailing how the legalization of gay marriage, by redefining the family, would seriously damage society at its very core. He emphasizes the need to win the battle for an institution that is "one of the Creator's most marvelous and enduring gifts to mankind". Dobson works under the assumption that marriage is part of God's divine plan for humanity, and for him, that is what makes it a sacred institution. Yet he does not rely only on this conviction as he explores the problems surrounding the acceptance of same-sex marriage.
Before getting to the substance of his arguments, Dobson takes a step back and puts the present debate into perspective. He examines how marriage in America has steadily declined through the past three decades. One of the single greatest hits to this institution was the introduction of no-fault divorce in 1969, which made it "easier for a spouse to legally get out of a thirty-year marriage than it was to break a pool maintenance contract". Couple the ease of divorce with the Sexual Revolution, a rise in cohabitation, politicians who have been unwilling to address a touchy subject, and most recently a Supreme Court that seems intent in rewriting the Constitution, and it is no wonder that marriage and the home have been seriously undermined.
Dobson outlines eleven repercussions of legalizing gay marriage, although he mentions that he could list at least fifty. The most convincing argument against it is that if the current definition is expanded, the precedence would be set to acknowledge a marriage as something other than a one man/one woman relationship. From there, polygamy would only be the starting point. Marriage would come to represent little more than a legal agreement that provided health care benefits to
any number of partners. But the real victims of gay marriage would be America's youth who, as Dobson notes, would become confused about sexual identity and who would sometimes be forced to live in unstable homes, since homosexuals are "rarely monogamous".
Although the institution of marriage is already on the rocks, Dobson argues that Americans cannot afford to simply be onlookers this time. Activists cannot be allowed to do as they please as politicians just sit on their hands. Dobson notes early on in his book that "the institution of marriage represents the very foundation of human social order". Those who truly care about the home, the family, and the sanctity of marriage must take up arms. They must
call and write their representatives, and they must elect those who agree that the preservation of marriage is imperative for the future success of America.
So what is the solution for the preservation of marriage? Dobson argues for a constitutional amendment that "would impose upon willful judges and justices a limitation on their ability to redefine the family". And while the Federal Marriage Amendment, which he so vehemently supported, did not receive the needed congressional backing, Dobson seems to insinuate that fighting for comparable legislation is not only the right but the necessary course of action.
Supporters of traditional marriage should be prepared to be labeled with terms like "bigot" and "homophobe", but such rhetoric must not change their determination or cause them to respond to critics in a similar manner. Dobson advocates "loving firmness in the face of temper tantrums and accusations".
Marriage Under Fire effectively summarizes the major talking points for winning the fight for marriage, the home, and ultimately the family. Dobson poignantly lays out his case against same-sex marriage and articulates the consequences of allowing the courts to rule the U.S. as an oligarchy. In this book, he provides the analysis and tools for change. It's up to readers to make the difference and transform knowledge into power and action.
Ken Yarmosh works for an IT consulting firm in the Northern Virginia area. He holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania.
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