On Sat, 14 Dec 1996 12:55:06 -0600 (CST), SKJAM! wrote:

	"So!" gleefully exclaimed Shampoo.  "All time, people say Amazon 
laws not hold in Japan.  Now they do.  Ranma Shampoo's husband!" 

Uh, no. It doesn't work that way. Nabiki should know this. I guess she
is just playing along to pressure Ranma into marrying Akane, and/or to
get money by providing legal assistance to Ranma after Shampoo tries
to sue.

	Assume the rest of the language makes it clear that that was the 
intent of the law...  Actually, how would it work?

My understanding of "full faith and credit" is that if, say, Mousse
and Shampoo were to be married under Amazon law, the Japanese
government would be required to recognize the marriage. That means
they could file joint tax returns and the like.

As far as Amazon law being binding on non-amazons, you've gotta be
kidding. That would mean that, if I were the dictator of Lower
Slobovia, and if I were diplomatically recognized as such by the
Japanese, that I could pass a law saying that Chiasa Aonuma had to
marry me. Or maybe even that every citizen of Japan had to pay me 5000
Yen. (No, Nabiki, don't even think about it.)

No, there's no way that a foriegn government can pass laws that are
binding on people over in Japan. And even if I'm wrong and the law
*does* say that, Shampoo would have to sue Ranma in a Japanese court
to claim that she was his wife. I can't see any jury voting to force
Ranma into a marriage that was totally non-consentual on his part even
if that *is* what the law says.

I know I'm analyzing something seriously that was just there for fun,
oh well, such is fandom.

Gary

Gary Kleppe
kleppe@execpc.com, http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe
Uninvited commercial solicitations will be charged a Downloading Fee of $5000.
(And I WON'T buy whatever you're selling even if it really IS a great bargain.)