plutherus

Because I don't know how long they keep these archived, I thought 'd keep my own copy here.
Despite them mangling the first paragraph (can you spot the cut?) , I'm still inordinately proud of the fact that the Register-Guard printed my letter.

Legalize gay marriage

Bill Northrup's Aug. 15 letter reveals a very common logical flaw. He is absolutely correct that it is OK to say of any act that "these things don't make sense to me."

However, nobody is asking him to do it. If two men are allowed to marry, this act will have zero effect on his own marriage. None whatsoever. He will still have all of the rights given to him by the state. He will still have all the same spiritual benefits he perceives in his own marriage.

However, by keeping gay marriage illegal, there is a very real effect on other people. There are literally hundreds of special rights bundled into a state-recognized marriage. It is unfair, and offensive to the concept of equality before the law, for any one group to be singled out to be denied these rights. I will stand loudly and clearly to say that Northrup has the right to marry the willing adult partner of his choice, no matter how I feel about his chosen spouse, and no matter whether I approve of his marriage. Why won't he do the same for other people?

His religion commands him to marry only a woman. I can respect that. Nobody is trying to force him to marry a man. However, by passing laws to force other people to follow the tenets of Northrup's religion only, then he really is asking everyone else to worship his god.

PAT LUTHER

Eugene

This was, of course in response to another letter, (as well as to all-to-common attitudes), which you can find here

And now to get ready for the trip. We're heading out in a couple of hours to go visit