http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9BBNUJ80&show_article=1 Interracial couple denied marriage license in La. HAMMOND, La. (AP) - A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long. Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist. "I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children." Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said. "I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer." If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said. "I try to treat everyone equally," he said. Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint. Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples. "It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry." The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said. "He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzman said. According to the clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce. Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card. The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk's office.
Although I dont believe in interracial marriages, this violates the Pursuit of Happyness under the inalienable rights category.
Booo. What should have been a nother notch in the dwindling racism of this country will undoubtedly become another rung in the other direction thanks to this.
Jesus, what an idiot. The whole "we're worried about the children!" is such horse****. Damn near everyone in this world is of mixed race. The POTUS is of a mixed race relationship. My best friend is a white guy married to a black woman in Arkansas and I've never seen anyone give them **** about being together. I was in the wedding and people from both families came together to celebrate the marriage the same as had they married someone of their own race. Would this guy agree to marry a white and an asian? A hispanic and black?
The funniest part is I'm not sure the guy realizes he has his own issues with interracial marriage. He seems like he is genuinely concerned with the problems that potential children could go through without realizing he is projecting his own beliefs on everyone else. Then again, this is Louisiana. Much of that state is about 50-100 years behind the rest of the nation.
Besides, why would disallowing a marriage license prevent them from having children? I especially enjoyed this: Yes, that would be awful...?
Fail ... Care to essplain? Double fail: "Happyness" is not a word (yeah I know you watched the Will Smith movie) Triple fail: The pursuit of happiness is NOT a right -- it is a phrase from the declaration of independence that does not occur anywhere in the constitution. If it were a right, serial killers would have a field day. tsk tsk ... Anyways -- as for the original story, file this one under unintended consequences of latent racism. Either that or the judge is really an idiot -- "think of the children?" Er -- they never needed your permission to make babies to begin with, knucklehead. And who gave you the right to legislate a decree from your judicial chair forbidding the marriage of interracial couples, on account of perceived failure rates from personal anecdotal experience? Did this guy actually pass through law school?
[sarcasm]Barack Obama agrees with this guy's concerns... what good could possibly come out of an interracial marriage that falls apart?[/sarcasm]
Your view is of interest only because we can't understand how you can hold it. So, justify yourself in 50 words or less. (more and no one will bother)
Can't say he's racist, he has piles and piles of black friends. and he lets them use his bathroom. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff
