Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ Thank you Javier for your accounting of the rally. From what I saw on the television news, the crowd seemed to be of good size and good nature.
I am saddened that there are those on this list that seem to have a great time calling out the traditions of the home countries of our elected officials and feel free to use the terms that I tend to think as offensive, when speaking of our American traditions. I am also saddened to think that there are those on the list that may get a very skewed view of those that call themselves religiously enlightened and use the Bible in some cases out of context, to forward their views, when the actions of Jesus Christ should be the example we look to when it comes to tolerating, no, even loving those that do not believe in the same way we do. I do think that marriage needs no defense and that marriage is defended by God and the traditions of the church and needs no mention in the constitution to further make it credible. I do however know there are more important things that need to be done by the government in this legislative session to enhance our lives, such as job creation, settling of labor disputes, education for our children and cleaning up the environment. In fact, I think there are several biblical references to taking care of those less fortunate than ourselves as well as the strong biblical charge that we are to be the caretakers of the "Garden" or earth, as was made quite clear to Adam and Eve in the creation story. I am hoping in the future there can be a better spirit sent out by those who claim to guide their lives by the spirituality evidenced in the Holy Bible. I consider myself a Christian, and I read my Bible daily, and yet, I must be focusing too much on the two most important commandments written there in the gospels. Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind, and the second most important one, Love your neighbor as yourself. Apparently, those that attended the rally in support of marriage didn't think their neighbors would see their hateful signs, or they didn't care. I DO know that God saw them, and I am certain he was saddened by the sight. Pamela Ellison Como Park Saint Paul > Index of SPPS Budget Discussion > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html > _________________________________________ > > > > I was at the Capitol today as well, and the crowd was > indeed "respectable" -- the official estimate by the > House Sergeant-At-Arms put the crowd at 4,000, the > police at 3,500. Either way, more than the 3,000 > estimated to have attended Monday's event. > > The crowd was also "respectable" in another way that > Monday's crowd was not. There were no hateful slogans > on signs (except those held by the handful of > counterprotesters); there were no attendees storming > legislators' offices and threatening and harassing > staff; nobody barged into Senator Dean Johnson's > office, loudly praying that his staff die and go to > hell (this actually happened on Monday). We simply > lobbied our legislators and did not try to intimidate > them. What a concept. > > I was very proud to hear the St. Paul City Council > resolution read to the crowd. The resolution very > clearly recognizes that people of good conscience may > disagree on the issue of gay marriage, but that the > Constitution of our state should not be used to > restrict, rather than expand, rights. > > I'm glad that Councilman Thune knows that it is wrong > for government officials to put the rights of some up > for a vote. I'm happy for Mr. Swift that he > apparently leads the kind of life of leisure that > allows him to take time off to collect signatures for > a petition demanding the restriction of others' > rights. As for me, and I think the rest of this state > and country, we probably have better things to be > thinking about, like perhaps, the economy, jobs, our > national security. Just a few that come to mind. > > Javier Morillo-Alicea > West Side > > > --- Thomas Swift <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> 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/ > > _____________________________________________ > 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/ > ----------------------------------------- Join ISP.COM today - $8.95 internet , less than 1/2 the cost of AOL Try us out, http://www.isp.com/ _____________________________________________ 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/
