Letters to the Editor

Well, the music department of Gothenburg High School did it again!

The most wonderful production of Meredith Wilson’s, “The Music Man.” So well performed—He would be proud.

Our thanks to the four directors and especially Ernest Blecha. We are truly blessed to have him for an instructor.

Keep up the good work, Gothenburg High School.

Neil Davis (02-29-12 letter) is claiming that my information is clearly misinformed. Well since that seems to be the case, let me begin by going over some facts.

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA 1996). It clearly states in the bill that “ that the institution of marriage is between a man and a woman.” As of recent, the Senate has voted to repeal the act and unfortunately the Republican led House of Representatives, along with very moderate Democrats, are to scared of homosexuals to afford them equal rights of a married couple.

You say Mr. Davis that the government has no place in the institution of marriage. I beg to differ. If the government has no place in standing up for injustices against someone then blacks would still be riding in the back of busses and women would not have the right to vote.

It hasn’t even been 50 years ago that the government intervened and righted the injustices of millions of Americans. Heck you weren’t even allowed to marry a person of a different race in some states before that “little piece of paper” the Civil Rights Act of 1964. So, if the government doesn’t stand up for its citizens then what exactly is its job?

Now let’s focus a little on what he claims are radical judges overturning the Proposition 8 that I am inclined to think he is referring to. Yes it was overturned in San Francisco. The radical judges you are talking about have recused themselves several times declaring they don’t feel that they could represent the best judgment of the people of California.

Again, us Californians aren’t the only ones who believe the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. What about Washington, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, the District of Columbia and, most recently, New Jersey? It seems to me that you are being fairly ignorant to believe that this argument is meant to rattle the cages of religion and their beliefs.

No homosexual goes around carrying signs if you don’t believe in homosexuality that you are bound for hell and that God hates them, and some even going as far as offering homosexual therapy. I, or anyone else, have no right to tell you what to believe in.

I never will but those of the religious community sometimes forget that little part of the Constitution claiming the separation of church and state. I have read the Constitution and find it quite offensive that you would think I wouldn’t. Just like Mr. Davis, I am just getting warmed up and I more than happy to defend myself against your very, again, biased and ignorant opinions.

Congratulations to Gothenburg High School and to all of the people who participated in a great production of “The Music Man.” On behalf of us Ainsworth grandparents, we have long been entertained by outstanding elementary and high school performances under the direction of Ernie (Mr. Piano Man) Blecha. I have no idea of how much time and effort the students, staff and other members of the community put into this recent show but we just want you all to know how much we enjoyed it.

Joe Knoedler’s letter (02-22-12) is a good representation of one reason I write letters myself. Having an informed electorate would be impossible if letters like his were the only reading material available to the public. He feels “...there are some people that try very hard to ignore change and forget what this country was built upon.” I don’t know why anyone would think those two actions belong together. It seems to me that someone who resists change might do so to retain what worked in the past and someone who espouses change might do so in spite of history. Is change always a good thing?

Knoedler wrote that he has been reading a lot of me and that my very biased viewpoints make it apparent that I like to scare people into believing being a Democrat is unpatriotic. I have written about the differences I see between traditional Democrats, liberals and socialists. Perhaps he missed reading that. I would welcome a return of the Democratic Party. It would bring a balance back to Congress that has been missing since the socialist insanity took hold. That is why I have always voted for Ben Nelson. Knoedler is wrong about so many things that I think it would be safe to say he doesn’t know what being a Democrat is.

He wrote that the Republican party refuses “...to let women have the right to choose, let people choose who they should marry...” If that is their goal they certainly haven’t been very successful. Abortion isn’t a right, but it is permissible by law. Because we live in a free country, people can oppose being forced to fund those who “choose.” So, who is under duress in this matter? The voters in his state of California (who believe marriage should be between one man and one woman) have repeatedly passed laws like the Defense of Marriage Act. These laws have been overturned by liberal activist judges. Republicans are not the ones who are interfering in the democratic process.

Personally, I don’t think someone’s choice of a partner is any of my business. I also don’t think it is any of the federal government’s business. I recently heard that the origin of marriage license in the U.S. was to keep track of inter-racial marriage. Once government gets it’s foot in the door, personal freedom always suffers. I think gay rights activists would have better luck lobbying to get government out of their lives than trying to change the convictions of religious people. Government thinks a piece of paper gives them the power to dictate who a person can include as a family member and how it would benefit them. Show me that power in the Constitution. Read and learn your Constitution people.

There is so much misinformation in Knoedler’s letter that it will take more than one letter to respond to it all.