I’m so bloody tired of people saying marriage is a sacred institution that has not changed since the dawn of time. Because you know what? It keeps changing. My father does not have to own a large herd of goats in order to convince some man I’m worth marrying. I don’t have to worry about being bartered away to some slovenly baron in attempt to strengthen our family ties and prevent a petty war. If I do get married, and my husband dies, I now have the right to inherit his property. In America, men are allowed the privilege of only one wife—no “complete the set for extra social status!” rubbish. I don’t have to have an arranged marriage that involves marrying now, falling in love later. I have the right to marry a person of any race (well, technically, not in South Carolina). Two people of different religions can fall madly in love and marry each other, without the worry of religiously inspired “honor” killings. And if a marriage goes sour, divorce is a viable option. And don’t get me started on how wedding ceremonies have changed throughout the years. As we become more materialistically comfortable (and thus don’t have to rely on a partner to help us take care of the farm and raise the kids so we don’t die of starvation), we have the freedom to marry for love. Because that is what marriage has become synonymous for: Love. True, marriage comes with those important inheritance and hospital visitation rights and such. But in this age, it is seen as an official declaration of life-long love. “We are civilly unionized” just doesn’t have the same ring as, “we are married!” If we, as a society, were to be honest and just, we would legalize gay marriage, and, perhaps, ban the short Las Vegas mistake marriages, the twenty year-olds marrying dying billionaire marriages, and loveless shotgun weddings.