Winston-Salem Journal LTE SA 05/05/12

A custom of the time

I once asked a preacher I knew why people in church don't wash each other's feet.

After all, in John 13, Jesus washes his disciples' feet and says, "Now that I, your lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

He explained that it was a custom of the time, because people wore sandals and their feet were always getting dirty. But while we try to serve each other today, literally washing feet wouldn't fit our culture.

The Bible was written by men who lived in the context of their time. That's why you find the Bible endorsing slavery. Nobody thought there was anything wrong with it back then. We know better now.

Various cultures have had many sexual practices and taboos — some of which we honor and some of which we would find strange. They don't all fit our culture.

Christians today could, if they so chose, define homosexuality as a cultural taboo of that place and time. It makes sense. We are more enlightened today and realize that we have nothing to fear from two people loving each other. We also realize that being gay isn't something you can "catch." You either are or you aren't. But if you are, you really are.

The fact that they don't make that choice lends credence to the opinion that they are motivated by bigotry.

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BILLY C. MEADOWS

Winston-Salem

A breath of fresh air

Elisabeth Motsinger is the best choice to represent the people of the 5th District. I think that she is a kind, compassionate, honest and genuine person who believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

Elisabeth has served the community well as a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board. She believes that the problems our country faces are serious but are correctable if we take the right steps. I believe she will work diligently, as our representative, to make sure the interests of the people in the district are respected.

I believe she would be a breath of fresh air in a world of greedy and dishonest politicians. I believe that the people of the 5th District deserve a true representative who actually cares about her constituents. For these reasons and many more, I will be voting for Elisabeth Motsinger, and I encourage everyone to vote for her, as well.

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PENNIE HARMON

Winston-Salem

Bribery or incentive?

My, how the language changes its meaning when it crosses the border.

When we in the U.S. want new business, we offer incentives. When our companies want to expand in other countries, it's called bribery.

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HENRY M. KIRKMAN

Winston-Salem

Stripped of civil rights

Gandhi once said, "No one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of truth." If Amendment One passed, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) individuals would not only be coerced, they would be stripped of their civil rights as well.

The constitution's purpose is to guarantee rights, not discriminate against a targeted group of citizens. An important fact to note is that gay marriage is already illegal in North Carolina. The passage of Amendment One would only further limit the rights of LGBTQ citizens in the state by banning marriage and civil unions.

Even those who are not voting for a presidential candidate in the primary election should come out and vote against Amendment One. Every vote against Amendment One is significant because the primary election will likely have a higher Republican turnout as they will be nominating a presidential candidate. Preventing the passage of this unjust piece of legislation requires commitment from everyone in the state.

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ALEXIS SHKLAR

Winston-Salem

Not a worthy amendment

Passing Amendment One is the wrong thing to do. Not only that, it's dangerous.

Could we imagine amending the U.S. Constitution to recognize only marriage between a man and a woman, on the same level with the First Amendment, freedom of speech; the Fifth Amendment, due process and the right to own property; the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery; the 14th Amendment that grants us equal protection under the law; and the 19th Amendment that finally gave women the right to vote?

If people believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, they will act on that.

It's a free country. But leave the state constitution alone.

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JOHN SHAFFNER

Winston-Salem

Plyler puts community first

Republican Dave Plyler is a Forsyth County commissioner who puts the community first. When he votes on an issue, you know that his decision was based on what he believes is best for the community. If we truly want change in the political arena, we must address the issues, not the individuals.

Some Republicans seem to have forgotten Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Reagan believed in "the big tent;" inclusion, not exclusion. He said, "The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally — not a 20-percent traitor."

That was my philosophy when I was chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party (1999–2001). Today, we have enormous problems in the country, problems that could be fixed with varying degrees of principle and statesmanship. People are attacking their own party with misstatements and sometimes actual lies. They are attacking individuals rather than issues. Such actions explain why the fastest growing group in the U.S. political spectrum is "Unaffiliated."

Dave Plyler is only one of two from Forsyth County to be elected president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners. It named Dave Plyler as the Outstanding County Commissioner of the Year for 2002-03. He also served on the board of directors of the National Association of Counties.

It's time to take personality out of politics and put principles back.

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JACK STEWART

Kernersville

God-given human rights

My professor of Political Science at Clinch Valley College taught us that "Constitutional Law is all about protecting people's God-given human rights." Supporters of Amendment One want us to believe that the issue we are voting on is about banning same-sex marriage. Current North Carolina law already does that. It shouldn't really matter which side you are on because the amendment is all about discriminating against the constitutional rights of others.

The proposed amendment would prohibit the state from recognizing any "domestic legal union" except heterosexual marriage. Its vague, untested language would prohibit protection for many North Carolina families.

If passed, local governments could no longer offer domestic-partner benefits to their employees. Courts could interpret the amendment to bar the state from giving rights to any unmarried couple. It could take away child custody, parenting protection and rob unmarried people of protection from domestic violence and stalking.

As a person of faith, I strive to be guided by a defiant Jesus who championed human rights and who died for his vision of inclusiveness. Amendment One is clearly unconstitutional and it has no regard for the hurt it would cause many people. For me it is another terribly bad idea whose agenda is to deny people of the rights that my college professor taught us were sacred, God-given and undeniable.

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THE REV. RANDY HILLMAN

Winston-Salem

Hard choices

Amendment One harms seniors. Touted as a ban on gay marriage, it fails because gay marriage is already illegal in North Carolina.  What Amendment One would actively do is force some seniors to choose between legal rights and their pensions and health care.

A single or widowed senior couple could be forced to marry to keep legal protections like the right to bequeath or inherit to one another, or assign health-care power of attorney.  Once married, these seniors would lose benefits such as pensions, health care and Social Security.  

Vote "No" to Amendment One and protect seniors.

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JOYCE McCLOY

Winston-Salem

Plain and simple

The crucial decision we must make regarding Amendment One is whether or not we want to write discrimination into our constitution — plain and simple. To do so would mock the ideal of equal protection under the law that is the cornerstone of our freedoms, our democracy, this nation and our state. Vote for liberty and justice for all. Please vote against Amendment One.

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PATRICK DONNELLY

Advance

A safe, happy home

For several years, my father has been a proponent of my returning to North Carolina to plant roots in one of the state's more liberal enclaves. He told me that he would like me to be close enough for Sunday dinners and the occasional extra hand with yard work. This was his way of demonstrating his closeness to me. It also served as an acknowledgment that not all parts of North Carolina would provide a safe, happy home for my partner and our family. I understand his fatherly desire, and I love him for it.

As the thoughtless vitriol surrounding Amendment One took form, he told me that he understood why North Carolina would be the last place I could safely and happily raise my family. From a pragmatic perspective, I am grateful for his thoughts. But my heart sinks as I realize that given his previous desire, this amendment will increase the distance between us — physically and otherwise.

Indeed, his are authentic family values. Fear not, naysayers: a vote against Amendment One will not legalize same-sex marriage. Instead, a vote "against" confirms that we wish to continue dialogue — with critical thought and open hearts — on the equality of all North Carolinians. That's a win for every single one of us.

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PATRICK MOLITORIS

Winston-Salem

For Lowder

I will be voting for Gene Lowder for Forsyth County commissioner. He's a hard worker and he'll be good for Forsyth County.

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SYLVIA CARDWELL

Clemmons

A threat to service members

"Don't ask, don't tell" disenfranchised many members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Now Amendment One threatens to do the same.

Not only will this disenfranchise gay and lesbian service members who now can serve openly, but it will also affect those who chose to enter into domestic partnerships with someone of the opposite sex.

Should the men and women who serve our state with such honor be dishonored by being told that they are less than? Should they be going off to fight for the rights of others when their basic right to love who they choose is up for public debate?

We are asking the men and women of this state to go and protect our way of life. Are we going to protect their way of life? Are we going to say all our citizens are equal? Are all of the soldiers, seamen, airmen and Marines who call North Carolina home going to be treated equally?

As someone who served proudly and with honor, I am asking that we honor all our men and women of the armed services by not writing discrimination into the state constitution and not disenfranchising some of the very people who are giving their lives to defend our way of life. They work to leave the world a better place; let's do our part at home to make North Carolina a better place. We should all vote against the bad legislation that harms our military, our families, our children and our friends.

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TIMOTHY STURGIS

Winston-Salem

Right of a citizen

For goodness sake, how can anyone object to voter ID? The most important right of a citizen of a free government is to be able to vote — make that a privilege. To say that it is difficult for certain people to obtain ID is so laughable it hardly merits consideration. What we really need is proof that you know what and for whom you are voting.

Like that would ever happen.

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SUSAN RUDD

Winston-Salem

Election Deadline

The deadline for letters about the primary election was April 26.

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