[Vision2020] Limiting Marriage

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (February 26, 2006) Lewiston Tribune with a special thanks to
Gregory Smith and a vote of gratitude to state senators Schroeder and
Stegner.

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Limiting marriage

I am distressed that the Idaho Legislature intends to put it to the people
of Idaho to amend the state constitution to limit marriage to heterosexual
couples, and even more alarmed to discover it will take only a simple
majority to pass. One of the reasons we have constitutions is to prevent the
tyranny of a majority over the rights of minorities. I can imagine that not
too long ago a simple majority of Idahoans might have seen fit to ban
marriages between the races, particularly between whites and "Negroes." 

Last Sunday I attended a fundamentalist church service in which it was
asserted that God's law requires true Christians to divorce their
"iniquitous wives" and "cast out" any children produced from such a union. I
came away with the impression that promoting tolerance and understanding in
a diverse society was not one of this congregation's goals. Yet it seems
that these are the voters to whom the Legislature is pandering. 

An effort to write into our constitution provisions that marginalize any
members of our society, simply because they have lifestyles and beliefs
different from the majority of their fellow citizens, is shameful. Although
I do not share the political affiliation of Sens. [Gary] Schroeder and [Joe]
Stegner, I applaud their courage in standing up to their colleagues. 

Gregory Newell Smith 
Moscow

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The same holds true for gay parents looking to adopt.

As Bill Maher (or was it Jon Stewart) sarcastically stated (paraphrasing
here):  

"Why allow gay parents to adopt?  What makes those children feel that they
have a right to parents?"

Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

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"You may leave here for 4 days in space
But when you return, it's the same old place
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace."
 
- Barry McGuire
 
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