Letters to the editor 11-20
November 19, 2008
By Administrator
Flood volunteers
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the dozens of citizen volunteers for their efforts during the recent flood event in North Bend. These caring people braved the wind and rain, filling sandbags at our Public Works shop and then stacked the bags where needed around town. Each time the city has faced an emergency situation these last few years, you have stepped forward to protect your city and your efforts are greatly appreciated.
I also want to give special thanks to a few individuals and organizations for their extra effort during the storm, mainly Councilmember Dee Williamson and his wife, Marty, Angela Barrus, and the congregations from the Cascade Covenant Church, Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church and the North Bend and Mt. Si Wards of the LDS Church.
All of the volunteers have made me very proud of my community and it is an honor to be your mayor.
Mayor Ken Hearing,
North Bend
Proposition 8
If you supported the premise behind California’s Proposition 8, this letter is for you. Denying the rights of marriage to loving, committed gay and lesbian couples is the last bastion of legalized bigotry in our country.
Proposition 8 was fashioned by religious organizations, primarily the Mormons and Catholics that hold the reprehensible position that their gods want them to force all citizens to conform to their beliefs on this matter. They raised tens of millions of dollars and enlisted thousands of their members to run grass roots efforts to pass Proposition 8. I thought we had constitutional protections against religious interference in the political process.
I ask those who oppose granting civil rights to couples who want to strengthen their commitment to each other – why is this such a big deal for you? The world has seen more than enough bigotry and hatred. In the face of crumbling marriages in this country the backers and supporters of Proposition 8 had the misguided audacity to eradicate the legal recognition and protection of marriage already granted by the California Supreme Court. Gays and lesbians want to strengthen their mutual commitment, which can only benefit marriage in this country. Supporters of Proposition 8 worked hard to take this away!
It is encouraging to see many groups and individuals, including some Mormons and Catholics letting go of gender bigotry. It would be even more satisfying to see their church leadership refrain from hijacking the political process to force their version of morality on the rest of us. These particular institutions have certainly seen more than enough persecution to have forgotten the timeless meaning behind “Do unto others…”
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
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