Gay Marriage Amendment? Don't we have anything else to debate?

Last week, the US Senate debated an amendement to the Constitution to ban same-sex marriages in the US.  What a waste of my tax dollars. 

There are too many things going on in this country and this world to waste time like this, just so Republican Senators can show their conservative constituents that they really do share their "values".  Take your pick of better topics: Iraq, Immigration, Education, Poverty, Darfur, anyone remember that North Korea has nuclear weapons now?

It's not that I think the Gay Marriage amendment isn't important.  It means everything to some folks.  I just know that even if the religious right Republican party managed to pass it, it would never be upheld in the Supreme Court.  No matter, because the Republicans don't even have the votes to make it debatable.  Doesn't stop them from debating it though, does it?

Now, as far as my personal feelings on gay marriage, I say let them have it.  Marriage is more of a religious institution than a governmental one.  And the government cannot, and should not, make rules based on the views of a few (not even all Christians think homosexuals are evil).  If your church doesn't want gay people to be able to commit themselves to each other for life, then don't let them get married in your church.  You can't take the whole option away.  Of course, you don't even hear the Democrats taking that argument for fear of losing votes.  At least they don't want to write it into the Constitution.