Great news for stand-up comedians.

Now they can make jokes about The Wife and The Mother-in-Law, all in one hilarious double-whammy.

It boggles the mind what kind of man would want to marry his mother-in-law.

So I guess that explains Scotland and Northern Ireland, eh?

Not necessarily, but certainly explains Continental Europe's inability to reproduce at its population level.

Why was there a law about this in the first place? Is there nothing so silly that solons will leave off legislating about it?

Because it is disgusting?

I rather liked the judicious qualification about the blood link, though.

(Can't say the European Court isn't highly discriminating.)

Scotland's own Parliament, because they don't have much else to do, legalized it last year or so.

It was illegal because it's easier to sustain certain taboos when they're absolute as opposed to riddled with conditions. Considering that sexual abuse is a problem (and a problem that is even more common when there is a parental relation but no blood relation), it is reasonable.

Posted by: John Thacker at September 14, 2005 9:00 AM

Note that this is not just about marrying a mother-in-law after the death of a spouse, which would be dicey enough for the kids. We're talking about Jerry Springer's dream here, divorcing a spouse to marry her mother (and also by extension legitimizing or accepting romantic attractions during the marriage). Do we really need psychological expertise to tell us that is not the healthiest contribution to family life and should be a no-no?

Brit:

Brings back memories of a popular song from years ago. Excerpt:

This made my dad my son-in-law
And changed my very life
For my daughter was my mother
'Cause she was my father's wife
To complicate the matter
Though it really brought me joy
I soon became the father
Of a bouncing baby boy

This little baby then became
A brother-in-law to Dad
And so became my uncle
Though it made me very sad
For if he was my uncle
Then that also made him brother
Of the widow's grown-up daughter
Who of course is my step-mother

Good-bye MILF, Hello MILILF!

In all probabliity the original impetus for this manifestation of "progress" came from a particular case. What is making it a matter of "human rights" is the idea that all customs of the ancestors are presumptively wrong and must be overturned.

Do we see what is happenening here? The point is being made that the rule is that there are no rules. We can come up with all kinds of policy reasons in support of the affinity taboo--several of these have been stated above. the reasons don't matter. The goal of this measure is the tearing down of traditional society and aggrandizement of state power.

Santorum was right: animals are next.

Were in not for the fact that is would make things more difficult for us militarily, I am almost ready of say that Europe would be better off being run by the Camel-jockeys

Peter:

You've got it all wrong. It's a great civilised leap forward. In remote parts of Wales, for example, it's quite normal to be your own uncle, and for your children to be their own grandfathers etc.

Marrying mothers-in-law will extend their horizons immeasurably. I'm sure the same would apply in the American Deep South. Or at least, that's the impression I get from watching 'Deliverance'.

Well apparently Mrs. Robinson was A OK.

Rick T.

I think the name of the song was "he's is own grandpa". Sung by Phil Harris in the 1940's.