A well-meaning constituent wrote me this week and asked me why I had not signed The Marriage Protection Pledge.

I wrote her back and told her that I had not been asked to sign such a pledge and that her communication with me was the first I had received on this subject.

The truth of the matter is I had never heard of The Marriage Protection Pledge, however, since receiving her inquiry I have pursued the subject and find that it is a federal, not a state, initiative.

That accounts for the reason I have not been exposed to the issue.

I am a state official, not a federal official.

Having secured a copy of the pledge and read it, I find no disagreement with it at all.

It merely affirms the biblical view of marriage, that being a union between a man and a woman.

Unfortunately, marriage has become a political buzzword because of a recent ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court forbidding discrimination of gays and lesbians in seeking marriage licenses.

The Massachusetts court order went so far as to direct their state legislature to codify their ruling.

Frankly, I do not believe there is such a thing as a "gay marriage."

To me this is an oxymoron.

The Bible clearly states that marriage is God's "invention" and it is to be between a man and a woman.

From that union we produce and nurture our families.

I think just about everyone aspires to a happy marriage, blessed with children and a long life of sharing each other's innermost hopes and dreams.

However, based on the nation's divorce rate, one must question just how successful we are at achieving these goals.

The very fabric of our society is deteriorating in so many ways that it is not surprising that marriage as we know it and have practiced it since the Garden of Eden is now under attack.

I am hopeful that the United States Congress will take immediate and aggressive steps to act on any legislation that is needed to correct the Massachusetts court order or any similar rendering which comes from a federal court, including the United States Supreme Court.

In the meantime, I pledge my support for any state action that is required to preserve the institution of marriage as authorized and blessed by God himself through Holy Scripture.

Let me close today by wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

We live in a nation that abounds with "milk and honey," to borrow an Old Testament phrase, and we need to be reminded of these blessings and not take them for granted.

Remember, &uot;I’ll go with you or I’ll go for you&uot; to help you solve any problem related to state government.

Senator Wendell Mitchell can

be reached at 334-242-7883, or by writing

to P.O. Box 225, Luverne, AL 36049.