Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ I dropped by the Capital as well. It was a respectable turnout (in numbers) but fell short of the pro-amendment rally.
I was also intrigued by the speech Senator Mua gave. In it, Senator Mua invoked the intentions of �our forefathers� which got me thinking. Senator Mua�s forefathers in Laos did not have anything more to do with the founding of America than mine did in Ireland. Her family and mine immigrated to a country already well founded and proceeded to get to the business of integrating with American society. In fact, as a part of that integration, her countrymen had to give up marriage customs that are rooted in centuries of her culture. Hmong marriages were (and still are in Indochina) arranged affairs that sometimes meant very young girls (13 and younger) found themselves wedded to adult men much older than themselves. In addition, polygamy was and is a well accepted practice within Hmong society. I�ll be writing her to ask if she feels that her people were wronged by making them conform to our WASPy concept of acceptable matrimony and if that concept is changed to include homosexuals whether she plans to introduce legislation to right that injustice. And if she does not, by what thought process does she now accept the discrimination of one minority but not another. After all, it�s all about celebrating diversity now isn�t it? I also stopped by councilperson Thune�s office to make it official that I had taken the rest of this week and next off from work (using my vacation) to coordinate a group collecting signatures opposing the adoption of his resolution. He wasn�t in, perhaps he was enjoying the after rally festivities. Although it appears that he cannot be compelled to do so, I can not conceive why he would not put this issue on the public discussion agenda so that his constituents (and those of the other members) may have their say. After all, if his unilateral decision to speak for us all on this subject is not the dishonest act of hypocrisy it appears on it's face, the vast majority of St. Paul residents are in complete agreement with him and my friends and I should not be able to rally anyone�right? TSwift Cherokee Park "This is MY United States of Whatever!" __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
