The furor over gay marriage and its phantom threat to the so-called American way of life has provoked a bitter debate in this country. The reason Americans oppose gay marriage more than Europeans is because Americans are a more faithful people, more willingly to let "traditional values" guide their lives.
US News and World Report did a cover story last week entitled Defining America. One page listed some interesting numbers. By far more Americans than any other Western country said that "religion plays a very important role in their lives."
PEOPLE WHO SAY RELIGION PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THEIR LIVES
US 59%
Britain 32%
Canada 30%
Italy 27%
Russia 13%
Japan 12%
France 11%
DIVORCE RATE PER THOUSAND (15-64 years in 2000)
USA 6.2
Denmark 4.0
Canada 3.4
Japan 3.1
Spain 1.4
Italy 1.0
So nearly twice as many Americans than Canadians said religion plays a very important role in their lives, yet the divorce rate in the US is nearly twice as high as in Canada. More than twice as many Americans as Italians said religion is very important, but the divorce rate in the US is more than 6 times as high.
Of course, it's really hoe-moe-sex-uals who remain the primary scapegoat, er threat, to the institution of marriage.
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