Real reasons for equality in marriage
I just read Pat Gee’s Nov. 26 letter (“Not afraid to be called homophobic”) where she states she is glad to be called homophobic.
Good for her! She has every right to wear that badge proudly. Just as the Nazis, Ku Klux Klan and skinheads all have the right to wear their badges proudly too.
I think she, like many, misses the point about equality. Equality would simply mean that people could live their lives without needing to seek the approval of people like her. Her right to believe what she does would still be protected.
Equality would simply mean that a minority segment of the population would feel respected and protected just like the majority.
Equality doesn’t mean that everyone would have to agree. It does mean that we would live in a society that is tolerant of each other, even if we don’t completely understand or agree with each other’s stand. I was raised to believe that was what America was all about.
She states that the Washington state constitution defines marriage as that of a man and woman. Maybe so, but that doesn’t make it right. Our constitutions were originally intended to grant liberties that protect the few from the many. The current trend of using a state or the federal constitution to deny civil rights by a simple majority vote flies in the face of what “freedom” and protecting the few is meant to be.
Donn Porter
Seattle
In memory of Lloyd Gardner
I want to add my admiration of Lloyd Gardner, having known him for about 40 years. He was one who tirelessly worked to make his community a better place, although often others may not have agreed with him.
I saw him so many times at Federal Way School Board meetings, when at that time they were rotating them at different school buildings. He always had some comment to make to improve a student’s education.
He was one person who got me involved in the political process when he was the Republican district chairman. I can’t count how many hours he put into getting people involved, plus the years of making signs in his yard.
It was hard to believe that he came in late at a Republican precinct committee meeting on Nov. 19 and he passed away on Nov. 23. When I asked him if he wanted some “stakes” for signs, which I had brought and he usually would take, he said he’d come with someone else. He’s been a example to many.
Lynda Jenkins
Federal Way
Spread some good news
I couldn’t find my checkbook last night. I was trying to remember where I’d last had it.
Could it have been at home or at the last store where I’d been shopping? It never occurred to me that it might have fallen out when I went to a baby shower. I worried and fretted about it. I was going to call the store this morning.
At 7:30 a.m. just after I’d woken up, the doorbell rang. There was a woman returning my checkbook, which she had found in her yard this morning. She lived on the street where the shower was. She said she would have been so worried if it were her checkbook and wanted to let me know it was OK. And since our address is on the checks, she came right over.
I told this story to many people today and it brings a smile. Bad news travels fast, but good news needs to travel faster.
So thank you to this kind woman. And to all the kindnesses that happen every day.
Gerry Jones
Federal Way
The military experience
I would like to compliment Mirror editor Andy Hobbs’s column “The military: Our most influential educator” (Nov. 29).
Our people need more editors like you.
In some respects, you describe me. I served six and a half months in combat in Europe during World War II. I came home and got an engineering degree at Oregon State University. Then the Korean War came along and I spent another two years in the Army. I have been married 60 years, have one son and five daughters. All of them have university educations and four have masters degrees. All of them are productive members of society. We now have nine grandchildren and five great-grandkids.
I thank the military experience in large part for this good life.
Leo J. Thoennes
Federal Way
