business
S&P elevates Maine's credit rating from negative to stable
More in business

politics
Schneider says he'll resign AG post if he wins Maine GOP primary
More in politics

sports
Polky named new Spruce Mountain football coach
More in sports

lifestyle
Denny Breau, mom Betty Cody will come together for concert
More in lifestyle

Ads have been deceptive

Joanne Dunlap
Letters |
Thursday, October 22, 2009

I am concerned by the ads in favor of voting "yes" on Question 1. Those ads are a mix of deception and outright lies.

The deception is about lawsuits. There can be grounds for lawsuits against businesses that discriminate, but those lawsuits would not be based on the Marriage Equity Act; they would be based on non-discrimination laws.

What does that mean? Voting "yes" on Question 1 would have no effect of lawsuits. Interesting.

And outright lies — marriage is not a subject in public schools. In Maine, the learning results control the broad content of the curriculum, and "marriage" is not part of that. So those statements in the ads are a complete fabrication.

It might be beneficial to actually read the act and see what it does and doesn't "require." The marriage law has explicit provisions to "affirm religious freedom," and ensures that no religious faith and no person authorized to perform a marriage will be subject to any fine or penalty for refusing to do so. It also clarifies that matters of doctrine, teaching and belief belong with each religious faith.

Voting "yes" on Question 1 does have an effect. It will assure that two people in a long-term committed relationship will not be allowed 1,138 federal benefits and responsibilities, not including hundreds more offered by every state. These are denied to homosexual couples when they are denied the right to civil marriage.

Joanne Dunlap, Rangeley

More from Letters

R. Sabine: Judging the need and the truth 1
P. Mador: Remember their sacrifice
J. Grover: Religious state of Maine 1
R. Baskett: Council's decision promotes civic engagement 2
M. Jalbert: Taking earmarked money 2
more

Stay informed — Get the news delivered for free in your inbox.

I'm interested in ...

In order to make comments, you must verify your account.

In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.

Login or create an account here.

Our policy prohibits comments that are:

  • Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
  • Excessively foul and/or vulgar
  • Inappropriately sexual
  • Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
  • Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
  • Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.

Advertisement

Displaying comments, from newest to oldest

citrus's picture

OutnAbout #1 I'm not asking

By citrus, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:30

OutnAbout
#1 I'm not asking for special rights, you and your gay partners are.
#2 Kids will be taught the gay alternative lifestyle, if gay marriage prevails. Its already happening in Mass.

LewistonNative...'s picture
verified

Arse, is the perfect name

By Michael Hobbs, verified user — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:42

Arse, is the perfect name for you. No one is asking for special rights they are asking for equal rights, you know that little thing called the Constitution protects and gives equal rights to EVERYONE not just straight people. You know how much gays and lesbians being able to marry will invade your life, NONE. They will STILL be together, but this time in a legal sense. As, for being taught in school, evertime I see that commercial I can't help, but laugh at it. If you really think anything will be taught in school then you are just trying to find a reason to make yourself and others to vote against it. I can guarentee that nothing more will be brought up in school then that which is already there. Believe it or not parents, chances are your children go to school with gays and quite possibly could be friends with them.

hirbgetbck's picture

Arse69, Honestly, if you

By hirbgetbck, unverified — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:31

Arse69,

Honestly, if you really think about it. I bet kids are talking about Gay Marriage now more than ever. It is on the radio, on television, in the newspaper. Most kids I bet are sick and tired of talking about it and probably can't wait until the vote is over so they don't have to talk about it anymore.

Now more than ever, I am willing to bet highschool kids are talking about it as a current event and they should be. So, if you really don't want it talked about in school ever again, then VOTE NO ON 1. That way, overtime it will just fade away like most other events. But keep this in mind, the more you put off the inevitable, the more kids are going to talk about it. In two years, we will collect enough signatures to put it back on the ballot. And kids will hear it all over again on the radio, on television, in the newspapers. The conversations will make their way into current event discussions over and over and over again until it finally passes. So give up the pathetic fight and accept the inevitable. Same Sex Marriage is here to stay. If not on November 3rd, then in a few years. The conversations will never end. As long as we remain vocal, as long as you have gay brother and gay sisters, gay sons and gay daughters, gay mothers and gay fathers, gay uncles and gay aunts, gay doctors and gay nurses, gay judges and gay lawyers, gay teachers and gay prinicipals, gay social workers and gay case managers, gay politicians and gay journalists, the battle will continue. We are everywhere. WE ARE AMERICA AND WE ARE HERE TO STAY WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!

hirbgetbck's picture

Arse69, You fear mongering

By hirbgetbck, unverified — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:22

Arse69,

You fear mongering to the extreme. Do you really think people are going to buy that crap about gay sex being taught in schools? The problem with your argument is that you assume people who read it are stupid. Maybe if there are enough stupid people in Maine who believe your lies, then maybe, just maybe referendum 1 will pass.

Its time to evolve!

gdls1's picture

Ase69, Kids already know

By gdls1, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:40

Ase69, Kids already know that there are gay people. They also know that these people are discriminated against by being unable to marry their partners. This law will have no effect on what kids know and don't know.

kant.linkbuilder's picture

Have you ever noticed that

By kant.linkbuilder, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:47

Have you ever noticed that people like ARSE and JOJOLOU portray themselves as victims? Everything that they right is about how they are being victimized.

Personally, I think the whole victimization is a load of .... well, it stinks! For some reason, they think that they are entitled (ENTITLED!) to various rights and priviledges. It would seem that part of those rights is the authority to refuse to grant those same rights and priviledges to someone else.

People have to be taught to hate.

kant.linkbuilder's picture

ARSE, from what I can tell

By kant.linkbuilder, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:40

ARSE, from what I can tell there is NOTHING taught about sex, period!!!!!
Kids are not taught about sex. They don't even get basic information because they are afraid that conservatives will scream their heads off. They aren't taught enough to know that sexually transmitted diseases happen and pregnancy happens whether they know about them or not.

citrus's picture

How about protecting

By citrus, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 13:40

How about protecting children in school from being taught that gay lifesyle is just a alternative
lifesytle. That's a great reason to vote yes to protect Maines children.

news4u's picture

Elementary schools in Maine

By news4u, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 19:14

Elementary schools in Maine are too busy teaching reading, writing and math to squeeze in Homosexuality 101 . Or, maybe the schools can alternate and teach Homosexuality 101 one day and Heterosexuality 101 the next?!?

Vote No on Question 1

gdls1's picture

Protect them from what?

By gdls1, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 13:48

Protect them from what? Reality?

citrus's picture

reality as you see it

By citrus, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 13:58

reality as you see it

Lil's picture
verified

Maybe we should all pretend

By Mark Wrenn, verified user — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 17:52

Maybe we should all pretend algebra doesn't exist either, you know, "for the kids."
______________________

"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

jalbrecht1's picture
verified

When you have no facts, no

By Jonathan Albrecht, verified user — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:28

When you have no facts, no logic argument, no reason to believe harm will come to society,and your true feelings are unacceptable to that society, how do you oppose a perfectly constitutional law. You LIE!
All you need to do to understand this is to read some of these comments.
The supporters of 1 have provided no reason to vote yes and many good reasons to vote NO.
Vote NO on 1 Protect Maine's Families and Children
Jon Albrecht Dixfield

kant.linkbuilder's picture

NEVER argue with

By kant.linkbuilder, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:24

NEVER argue with idiots...... it's like trying to nail jello to a wall!

I find that I do have to speak my mind these days, however. Otherwise no one hears anything but these hysterics!

citrus's picture

Its hard to argue with idiots

By citrus, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:02

Its hard to argue with idiots

kant.linkbuilder's picture

Another thing..... why is it

By kant.linkbuilder, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:54

Another thing..... why is it that a majority who actively discrimminates against a minority feels that it has the right to determine the rights of that minority by popular vote? That is not what the Consitution states. The Legislature and the Judiciary are in place to ensure the equal treatmen of all people, majority AND minoriity. Had slavery been put to a popular vote, it would still exist. Had suffrage for women be put to a popular vote, it would still exist. If a popular vote had been necessary for biracial couples to marry, they would not be able to do so. To assume that you have the right to vote on the ability of another citizen to enter into a legal contract based on a characteristic that is different from yours, is ludicrous.

kant.linkbuilder's picture

It's a typical day in the

By kant.linkbuilder, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:53

It's a typical day in the neighborhood!

ARSE earns his screeen name.

jojolou proves that this discussion is NOT about marriage. This whole conversation is about DISCRIMMINATION against HOMOSEXUALS.

Yes, that's the word opponents to marriage equality use. Probably because it is a chance to refer to SEX. Why is everyone so fixated about what happens in the bedroom? Is it because they want to watch? Or, is ALL sex bad? "Sex is dirty... share it only with the one you love!" Such a lot of fuss about something that is none of their business.

LIES, DECEPTION, FEAR TACTICS Why? Are their marriages so unstable, and is their faith so tenuous that disagreeing with them threaten those relationship with their spouses and their religion? Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

citrus's picture

Its inevtitable that Gays

By citrus, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:33

Its inevtitable that Gays will eventually prevail with this. A whole generation has been brainwashed with this way of thinking. The only way to save your children minds is to get them out of the public school system, either by home schooling or christian school. These same people will go after home schoolers at some point.

jojolou's picture

I will vote YES on #1. It

By jojolou, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:16

I will vote YES on #1. It is redefining marriage. If gays don't get a job hey want, they file suits on discrimination. Did you ever think, that there are smarter people in the world than you.
My friend worked at a place where a gay man worked, he knew how she felt and always had remarks about his sex life (details). She kept her distance from him but the remarks were horrid. She finally quit and never filed charges which I would have. Homosexuals seem to want to flaunt their sex life, I don't flaunt mine and am not interested in theirs. It's none of may business.

Tofffloab's picture

Lots of words have been

By Tofffloab, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:46

Lots of words have been redefined over the years... I remember when "gay" meant "happy", when "queer" meant "strange" and when a "fag" is something you smoked or used to light a fire. The argument that this law "redefines marriage" simply holds no water at all.

The base definition of marriage is "an intimate union", and doesn't apply only to people. Railroad cars are "married", and in songs there is a marriage between the lyrics and music.

If what you said about your friend and her former gay co-worker is true, that is unfortunate; however there are straight people who act that way as well. So if you are basing your opinion of all gay people because of the actions of one, that is good old fashioned discrimination.

Personally, I had hoped that in a society as "advanced" as ours that there would be more widespread understanding and tolerance. Sadly, I think we're only half a step away from rounding up all the homosexuals and burning them at the stake.

Robert61's picture

BOTH sides do nothing more

By Robert61, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 08:00

BOTH sides do nothing more than point to the other csides commercials and cry...give it up people, soon the citizens of Maine will decide this issue. Given that local elections tend to bring out the hard core, older voters, I suspect this will go down as a yes majority to repeal 55/45% and they will try again next year when a younger voter base seems more motivated to vote.

nikita80's picture

I don't know how the vote

By nikita80, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:22

I don't know how the vote will turn out. The polls are close. But your post seems pretty logical to me.

FC_Observer's picture

Yes on 1 is grasping for

By FC_Observer, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 06:54

Yes on 1 is grasping for straws by fabricating that "Gay Sex" will be taught in schools. As a person that works in education, the only issues I see in the school on this issue, is the bullying and hatefulness expressed toward high school students who are openly gay/lesbian and children of gays and lesbians.

Gary C's picture

I am simply amazed that

By Gary C, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:40

I am simply amazed that there are people intelligent enough to write complete sentences, able to get to a computer and figure how to log into this webste, AND believe that homosexual marriage will be taught in schools! What an astounding disconnect from reality and common sense.
Do these people think there is a "how to be gay" workshop being worked in to the curriculum?
Oh, wait, I understand. They will tell children that some people have two Mommies at home, and no Daddy. Or two Daddies and no Mommy. (I am certain that kids would never learn about these things if they didn't have Gay education in schools.) That means that they are teaching that homosexuality and homosexual marriage are "OK." In which course will this stuff be taught? How can I find out online how my kids are doing in Gay Ed?
My kids learned about the assassination of several presidents, about wars, about religious persecution and murder on a massive scale within the classroom. They read. They see news programs onTV. They have not instigated or participated in a Holy War. I'll bet your kids have not done this yet either. Children in the religous schools of the Middle East, raised on ignorance and intolerance, may not be as innocent, thanks to their schooling.
Please please please, people---THINK! Don't be mindless sheep. Your Bible is too confusing to be of much help, and your religious leaders are flawed human beings like yourself. They have no special power over the truth. They are telling you what they want you to hear, not giving you any help in deciding for yourself. You need to experience reality.
If you are not homosexual, nobody is trying to force you over to the other side. There is no Gay agenda in the public classroom, just as there is no Satanist agenda, Democrat agenda or Republican agenda, or Christian agenda or Islamic agenda, etc. Teachers do not have the time away from state mandated curriculum to teach ANYthing else than Reading Writing and Math. They can't even teach music or art at many schools.

Traylblaze's picture

Thank you for this well

By Traylblaze, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 06:15

Thank you for this well informed letter.

triumph's picture

Mr. Spooner, I bow my head

By triumph, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:20

Mr. Spooner, I bow my head in respect to your service to our country. Thank you.

triumph's picture

If Maine votes down marriege

By triumph, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 03:43

If Maine votes down marriege equality, the bullies in school will have "gay kid season" every school day of the year. You can teach prejudice, and Yes on 1 would be the state sanction to beat up kids, taunt them and make their lives miserable. Teachers cannot be everywhere in school. Having taught all my life, I have seen it.

tron's picture

MS. Dunlap, you must realize

By tron, unverified — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 01:07

MS. Dunlap, you must realize that the Marriage Equality foes have absolutely no standing on the facts. Their entire campaign is based entirely on emotion, so their strategy is to deflect and obscure with irrelevant or misleading statements. It's a good strategy and it appears to be effective.

Advertisement

nation
Food stamp fraud raising concern in government offices
More in nation

local
Auburn Council gives L/A Arts allocation to Community Little Theatre
More in local

maine
Damage could knock nuclear submarine out of action
More in maine

opinion
Politicians should stick to their duties
More in opinion