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May 19 , 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 16, 2004 Right to marry is there for all To tell the truth, I am tired of advocates for same-sex marriage asking for "equal rights." They already have the same right I have: to marry a member of the opposite sex. I neither have, nor desire, the "right" to marry anyone, or anything, I please because I believe that marriage, by definition, is a union between a man and a woman. The simple fact that no same-sex marriages have been performed until now proves that humanity has largely been in agreement with me. Furthermore, same-sex marriage does violate the sanctity of marriage, just as does divorce, domestic violence, and adultery. Unfortunately, selfishness has allowed divorce, anger continues to breed violence, and adultery is not a violation of law. America couldn't even punish its president for that one. Now, considering the fact that our founding fathers never included a word about "rights" in the original Constitution - only the amendments allude to them at all - it is foolishness to claim that citizens have the right to same-sex marriage. However, it is as much folly to say that it is currently unconstitutional for same-sex marriage to occur. I advocate an amendment clearly defining marriage and all of its variants, if any exist. Only then should the matter enter the courts at all. Etienne Hardr� Talent Campaign ad more brainwashing I don't know why I should be surprised at the President's shameless use of the tragic visuals of the destruction of the World Trade Center to open his re-election campaign. Clearly, "anything goes" will be the rallying cry for a win at any cost in November. To capitalize on the suffering of the victim's families in an attempt to show himself as the country's courageous leader will surely backfire. After all, it happened on his watch and he has yet to be forthcoming with the investigatory commission. This first salvo in the campaign is a wake-up call to the electorate for vigilance against future media saturation brainwashing. Joan Steele Ashland Since we're using the Bible ... I thought this appropriate in the current discussion of marriage between gays or lesbians, since many seem to take the Bible as their source of truth. A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5) B. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines, in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21) C. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut 22:13-21) D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30) E. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any state, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9) F. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe. (Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10) John McClendon Ashland Bush will do anything to win Another sure sign that the Bush campaign will do and say anything to get re-elected is here. In his new campaign ads, images of September 11th are used, despite the fact that Bush has stated that he would not use 9/11 for political purposes. He told the Associated Press on 1/23/04 that "I have no ambition whatsoever to use this as a political issue." To use a national tragedy for political purposes is in poor taste, but this is coming from a President who refuses to testify in front of the 9/11 commission. What does this man have to hide? Two weeks ago, in Newsday, the Bush/Cheney campaign attacked the notion of "playing politics with national security." The strategy of touting Bush's utter lack of integrity as a positive is part of the party line of lies. This is an administration which still has not justified why we invaded Iraq. If we are safer, why did the "terror alert" go so high around Christmas? This is a desperate president relying on fear to get re-elected. He's only just begun his shameful campaign. Mark Mezadourian Ashland County decision disheartening I was very disheartened to read that Jackson County Clerk, Kathy Beckett, received hundreds of calls support of her decision to not allow same-sex marriage and only a couple calls in opposition to her decision. This told me that Jackson County residents who believe in justice and equality are not doing our job. We need to let Kathy Beckett know that Jackson County does not tolerate bigotry and that we are ready to set an example for the rest of the country. Below is the e-mail I sent Ms. Beckett this morning. Please call, write, fax or e-mail her ASAP. It is not too late for her to change her mind, and she needs to know that the people of Jackson County will support her when she does. Her contact info is: Kathy Beckett County Clerk Jackson County Courthouse Room 216 10 S. Oakdale Medford, OR 97501 Phone: 541-774-6147 Fax: 541-774-6714 [email protected] Nicole Isaacson-Hill Medford DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams