INTERRACIAL COUPLE DENIED MARRIAGE LICENSE

LOUISIANA JUSTICE OF THE PEACE REFUSED TO ISSUE
A MARRIAGE LICENSE TO INTERRACIAL COUPLE

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A white 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. "I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told. He said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said. 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. "There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it." If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said. "I try to treat everyone equally," he said. Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.

The couple of Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint. She is white and he is black. "We are looking forward to having children," she said. "And all our f riends and co-workers have been very supportive. Except for this, we're typical happy newlyweds."

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Formerly, at least in India during my time, marriages did not take place because the boy and girl liked each other. No. ... Marriage took place only after an astrological calculation of past, present, and future had determined whether the couple would be happy in their life together. When marriage is thus sanctified, the man and the woman live peacefully and practice spiritual culture. Each one helps the other, so they live very happily and become advanced in spiritual life. And at last they go back home, back to Godhead. That is the system. Not that a grown-up girl and a grown-up boy mix together, and if he likes her and she likes him they get married, and then he leaves or she leaves. This kind of marriage was not sanctioned. But of this Kali-yuga it is said, "dām-patye 'bhirucihm-patye 'bhirucih" : Marriage will take place simply because of mutual liking, that's all.

Srila A.C. BV Swami Prabhupada:
"The Journey of Self-Discovery"
Chapter VI - Material Problems, Spiritual Solutions.