Polygamy?

Two converging events lead me to consider the question of polygamy. The first is the new HBO series “Big Love” starring Bill Paxton. Now while I like Bill Paxton and I understand that he’s still traumatized over not finding The Heart of the Ocean, I have no intention of watching this show. It just has no attraction for me.

The second event was an article in the most recent Newsweek about REAL polygamists. Incredible as it may seem there is actually an organization trying to get it legalized.

According to Newsweek, while the polygamy supporters are observing the gay marriage process with interest, they’re not supporters. It seems most people pushing polygamy are conservative Christians that believe homosexuality is immoral. About the only justification for polygamy they seem to have is that it’s in the Bible so it must be ok.

What the heck is a flaming pinko card carrying member of the ACLU to do? Can a staunch civil rights supporter from way back possibly take a position opposed to polygamy? Wouldn’t that be hypocritical?

Yes I can and no it wouldn’t. Aside from the fact that any guy that wants more than one wife is by definition mentally deranged and shouldn’t be allowed to reproduce, the idea strikes me as impractical and unjustified.

I believe the question of gay marriage is fundamentally different from the question of polygamy. Homosexuality appears to not be a matter of choice while polygamy clearly IS a matter of choice. No one is suggesting that polygamy is a genetic trait nor have I seen any argument that it’s a religious necessity. So what’s the justification?

When infant mortality was sky high, and even the ability to carry a child to term was questionable, there may have been some justification for polygamy especially in a society with a life expectancy in the thirties or even late twenties. This was the situation at the time of the stories in the Bible that feature polygamy. What’s the justification today in an era of modern medicine and nutrition?

I might also point out that in a polygamous society, only some males get to father offspring, so there has to be some means of deciding who gets that privilege. Historically it was the royalty and the rich that had the privilege and the peasantry could go pound salt. Not exactly consistent with modern democratic principles is it?

I’m sorry but “it’s in the Bible so it must be ok” ain’t a valid reason. There are lots of things in the Bible, like genocide, rape, incest and religious intolerance, that ain’t ok and I’m not about to support making legal. Polygamy is one of those things.