Saddened by the vote on Question 1
To the editor:
So as I have noticed that the votes are in and looks like the “yes” votes got it. Well I don’t agree at all with that turnout whatsoever. I’m a mother of three children and they go to public school. My son brought home a paper he did last year and it had bible verses on it. I don’t go to church and I don’t talk about God in my home unless my kids ask. But I didn’t say anything to anyone about this because who am I to say what my kids can believe in? Just like the gay marriage thing, who are any of you to say that your children can’t believe in something that they feel is right? Most people allow their children to believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny, but it is wrong to love someone of the same sex? Give me a break! I believe that the people that voted “yes” on this are just ignorant to the idea. I’m not gay but I do know and love people that are and my children know and love people that are.
I taught my children that it doesn’t matter who you love, man or woman, just be thankful that you found that person and cherish them. And no matter what, you will always be “my babies” and I will love you. To me everyone should teach their children that it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t change who they are, they’re still people and deserve respect!
I was told the other day that people lost their morals. I disagree, this has always been around just like anything else, it just wasn’t talked about. Well, news flash people, it’s now 2009 and well the world keeps changing. I listen to the radio with my kids and they talk about every drug out there and that’s OK to let our young ones know about those things — things that could hurt their bodies or even kill them but it’s wrong to talk about gay marriage — weird isn’t it? I guess where I’m going with is for all of you that voted “yes” for this, you should be ashamed! And if you can honestly stop loving your children or loved ones for loving someone of the same sex how shallow are you? Your children are your children and you want to protect them and make them safe but not allowing them to be who they are and making them feel like there’s something wrong with them for loving someone and for believing in something they feel is right. Ask yourself what are you really doing to and for your child?
Last time I checked, we lived in a free country and well this subject shouldn’t be any different than anything else — yes we all voted and it’s over but to me there shouldn’t have been an issue. People believe in different things, that’s what makes us individuals. And we need to realize that most things kids learn is at school, they talk about sex and drugs at school, and as I noted even God, so why should this be any different instead of preparing our children and teaching them that gay people are just like everyone else we are teaching them that it is wrong! And that’s not OK because how hard is that on the people in this world that are gay? I’m all for gay marriage and I’m not scared to talk to my kids about it. I feel bad for those who are so closed minded and believe that they live in the Bible world because things aren’t like that anymore. And you will realize it when someone you love and care for commits suicide because they don’t have anyone to talk to about the way they feel! When you all go to bed tonight think about it and think about all the lives affected by this vote and then ask yourselves if it was all worth crushing people’s hopes and dreams of being treated like a human with the same rights as you and I?
Presque Isle
Only one thing is inevitable
To the editor:
It is often said among many of us that we can finally breath a collective sigh of relief now that our civic duties are done and over with, at least for now. But there were many sighs in the early minutes of last Wednesday morning that had nothing to do with relief. For those in the “No on 1” camp the repeal of the law that entitled them to the same civil liberties their straight counterparts enjoy was a crushing defeat, even though the margin of victory for the “Yes” campaign was a meager six points. It appears, for the moment, that the cause of equality is itself breathing a sigh of frustration at the prospect of fighting another day.
But does this not, in its turn, bring up the question of inevitability? It does not seem to matter who you talk to, both conservatives and liberals beat this drum incessantly. Even the religious zealots – though reticent to admit it – often claim that some day the broader culture will fall to the supposed ignominy of same-sex marriage. Cultural trends lend legitimacy to this assertion: the younger generation is more tolerant, the entertainment industry is incredibly more inclusive than even 10 years ago, and the fastest growing minority in the country are those who have no religious affiliation.
History, however, has proven that nothing is inevitable. As the night ramped up last Tuesday leaders of the “Yes” campaign in interview after interview kept banking on what they called, “the silent majority.” One is led to wonder as to whom, exactly, they were talking about. There is no doubt many in the “Yes” camp were depending on the heavy Catholic majority in the Franco-American areas of Lewiston and Auburn. Here in Aroostook County the ubiquitous “Yes” signs outnumbered “No” signs, no doubt placed by a large evangelical voting bloc. But this religious coalition was anything but silent in the days leading up to the election. In fact, the rancorous rhetoric was all too familiar.
How many of us heard the insipid recitations that homosexuality would be taught to children? It did not seem to matter that these claims were proven false time and again by public officials. Where were the pious when it was revealed that Mrs. Charla Bansley was not a public school teacher from Ellsworth, but is instead a member of the fringe rightwing group, Concerned Women for America? And what of the comment made by Marc Mutty, public affairs director of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, in the Bangor Daily News, that the campaign was not about, “hating gays”? Apparently he misses the inherent implication that homosexuality is so bad any mention of it must not fall on children’s ears. How many of our young gay students in Maine high schools have now been demonized by this nefarious tactic?
It could be years before this issue is brought before us again. But let no mistake be made about the inevitability of gay marriage. The parties of God will be there every step of the way. Theocracy is not isolated to far off places like Iran – which I suspect is the secret envy of many fundamentalist pastors and priests – it is here, in our midst. And unless these people are fought and their arcane revelations are refuted the only inevitable outcome will be a Maine that looks a little too much like the streets of Tehran.
Presque Isle
