Several of us have pointed out that legalization of gay marriage will pave the way for polygamy. But few have done it as deftly and succinctly as Marita Herrera, of Olympia Washington, whose letter to her local newspaper was (in its entirety) as follows:

Now that Washington state has redefined matrimony, is it legal for two consenting adult women to marry the man they love, have his children and form a very happy family life? And if it is not legal, why not?

Ms. Herrera, an octogenarian immigrant from Cuba who learned English as a second language, should serve as a shining example to contemporary journalists -- who generally use many more words to say much less.