This is direct response to Mary Haan's letter, "Sanctity of Marriage must be protected" (SN/ 6/10). I don't even know where to begin. I'd almost hope that someone who is a creative staff member of The State News made this up to drum up some response to the opinion section.
Is it impossible for a homosexual couple to bestow the same benefits as a heterosexual couple? Are you kidding me? Look at how many children there are today that are being raised by parents that neglect them to the point of abuse.
A person's ability to raise a child is independent of their sexual preference, and if there is proof otherwise, I'd like to see it. If you really want to protect the sanctity of marriage, why don't you start with celebrities. I know this point has been made before, but there are people out there who have had more than five marriages and people who have had marriages that lasted less than 24 hours; these are the things that take away from the sanctity of marriage - not two members of the same sex being married.
The fight for gay marriages boils down to one thing - equal rights. Not special, equal. Nothing else. Marriage could easily be defined as the loving commitment between two people-- regardless of gender. How could you imagine a situation in which 10 people try to convince the government they are married, as Haan proposed as argument against gay marriage?
For all people - gay and straight - that believe in the right of equality, I encourage you to visit the Web site of the Human Rights Campaign at www.hrc.org for more information.
One more thing - I am sick of people who use the Bible to attack homosexuality. Stop using Jesus as an excuse to support your narrow-minded ignorant views. The Bible also allows a father to sell his youngest daughter into slavery (Exodus 21:7) and says that anyone who works on the Sabbath should be put to death (Exodus 35:2), yet I see many people working on Sundays. Touching the skin of a dead swine makes one unclean (Leviticus 11:7). If they promise to wear gloves, can the Detroit Lions still play football? Does the whole town have to be together to burn everyone who wears clothes made of more than one fabric (Leviticus 19:19)? One could go on for days like this, but I think you get the point.
Steven Szczygiel
computer engineering senior
