Tom and Diane Wimsatt
Mount Airy, Md 21771-7490
The Gazette
218 Main Street
Mount Airy, Md. 21771
Dear Gazette,
In response to Keith and Kelly Scott’s questions about homosexual marriage in the February 3 issue of the Gazette, “Marriage is for all families” please consider the following points.
It is currently the will of the people that gay unions are not recognized as marriages. The government tends to extend benefits and “rights” to those behaviors considered beneficial to society, in order to promote them. It does not extend benefits to behaviors that the society at large does not condone or want to promote. There are many good reasons this society currently does not, and should not condone or promote homosexual marriage.
The first reason homosexual unions should not be promoted is for the sake of our children A man and a woman contribute in unique ways, because of their differences, to child rearing. Gay couples must admit that both a man and woman are necessary at the most basic level of a family because there must be heterosexual unions before there can be any children. What homosexual couples are saying is that mothers and fathers are not necessary and that they can do what heterosexual couples can just as well. Really? Can a pair of men demonstrate motherhood to a little girl? What is being subtly communicated to our children by our culture is that we should be able to do whatever we want regardless of whether it is right or wrong or hurts other people. Over the last 30+ years, with the rise in promiscuity, unwed pregnancies, and sexually transmitted disease among our youth, I think the kids are getting the message loud and clear. If we are truly concerned about stable, healthy homes for our children, then gay marriage is clearly not the way to go.
Next, if it were true that all sexual matters are private and equally acceptable, then child pornography, bestiality, polygamy, incest, prostitution, etc. should all be welcomed and valued, just as traditional marriage is. Are you ready to open the gates to all of those behaviors? How can you decide that homosexual couples should receive the same rights as heterosexual married couples, but not also support the right for a man to marry his dog or a 6 year old girl or several people? Homosexuals are not looking for equal rights but special rights. They are permitted to marry under the same conditions as the rest of society.
The freedom we enjoy in this country comes with great responsibility. Yes, we are a free people in a free country, but we must use our freedoms responsibly. For example: the freedom of speech is only allowed up to the point where it becomes a danger to others, e.g. it is unacceptable to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater when there is no fire. Defamation of character is still a prosecutable offense. Placing limits on what constitutes a marriage is something that is necessary for the good of society in general.
A major issue that is being ignored is that the majority of the individuals in the homosexual community do not have any interest in getting married. The actual number of “committed” homosexual relationships (those where neither partner has affairs) is extremely low (4% at most). If homosexuals are allowed to marry, would that magically curb the unfaithful? Homosexuals see marriage as a path to social acceptance.
Finally, because marriage between one man and one woman is the best institution for committed couples and their children, it must be protected from all attacks. We cannot allow the government to follow a path that does not promote societal good. Our government represents who we are as a people, and the laws of the land are our voice.