Saturday, March 14, 2009

Dispatches from the culture front

Same-sex marriage no big deal
Note to Americans: Canada resolved the contentious issue four years ago and the sky did not fall.
Vancouver Sun: With almost four years having passed since we resolved the same-sex marriage question, it's hard to remember there was controversy in the first place. The debate wrapped up without drama. Parliament passed the Civil Marriage Act on June 28, 2005, Canadians said okay, and the country went back to its business.

The Globe and Mail: Britain has the second-highest rate in the developed world with 40.4 conceptions for each 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17. The US rate is highest, with 44 births registered for each 1,000 women aged 15 to 19. In Canada, teenage pregnancies are in sharp decline, having dropped to 11 for each 1,000 women aged 15 to 19.