Show a Cousin Some Love

This is awful.

It couldn't happen in their state of Pennsylvania, though, or 23 other states that prohibit first cousins from marrying each other.

Instead, they tied the knot in Maryland last month.

If you weren't aware, I'm from Pennsylvania. On behalf of the commonwealth, PLEASE STAY THE HELL OUT OF HERE, YOU WOULD-BE INBREEDERS.

Ahem.

I like this too:

Robin Bennett, associate director of the medical genetics clinic at the University of Washington, said laws prohibiting cousins from marrying are ''a form of genetic discrimination.''

But then in the next paragraph:

Close cousins face a risk of birth defects that is 1.7 percent to 2.8 percent higher than for unrelated couples, according to a study, funded by the National Society of Genetic Counselors, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.

Sounds like nature is doing the "discriminating," doesn't it? Of course, discrimination, the ability to differentiate between things, is human. It is only when discrimination is illegitimate that it's a bad thing, and, call me a reactionary, but I think family reunions are not the best place to meet singles.