A License for Everything

With our wedding date approaching fast...Katharine and I went to go apply for our marriage license this afternoon. We were surprised by the "oath" we had to swear prior to submitting the application. I've included sections of that oath here:

Section 1. No man shall marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, stepmother, grandfather’s wife, grandson’s wife, wife’s mother, wife’s grandmother, wife’s daughter, wife’s granddaughter, brother’s daughter, sister’s daughter, father’s sister or mother’s sister.

and the equally important Section 2 because equality is important

Section 2. No woman shall marry her father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, stepfather, grandmother’s husband, daughter’s husband, granddaughter’s husband, husband’s grandfather, husband’s son, husband’s grandson, brother’s son, sister’s son, father’s brother or mother’s brother.

WHAT? Are we serious? Most of this is common sense...in most states. Some of this is open to interpretation...well, not by ME. SOME PEOPLE might wonder why you can't marry your wife's daughter as long as she's NOT YOUR daughter and she's over 18.

I'm sorry if you're not amused by the necessity of the state of Massachusetts to make you swear to something like this under oath...I think it's funny.