Re: Times publishes first same-sex civil union announcement, Jan. 4.
Our family read with much disappointment the decision of the St. Petersburg Times to publish an announcement about two homosexuals in a "civil union." While the Times has been our favorite newspaper, our family opposes the legal recognition of homosexual unions as immoral and contrary to the good of society.
We hope the Times reconsiders its position and instead establishes a policy of not announcing immoral unions. The Times' policy, purportedly based on homosexual civil unions being sanctioned by a government, which has no jurisdiction in Florida, runs counter to historical moral principles (e.g. clear/consistent teaching in the Old and New Testament of the Bible) that homosexual acts are gravely immoral, against natural law and thus under no circumstance should be recognized or promoted by our community.
We distinguish between the need to love and assist those who struggle with same-sex attraction to live chaste lives and those wrongful methods that attempt to offer moral justification to homosexual activity.
-- Victor and Lidia Pena, Brandon
A courageous move
Many congratulations to all at the St. Petersburg Times who were involved in the decision to print the announcement of Frank Christopher Mavro and John "Michael" Schuler's recent marriage in Canada. This was a courageous move, for which we're sure you're receiving much negative reaction from readers. However, we hope that such reaction is outweighed by many more positive comments. Our congratulations also to Mr. Mavro and Mr. Schuler, and our best wishes to them for a long and happy life together.
-- Julia and Bob Jablonski, Palm Harbor
An agenda on display
I must have missed something since in your Jan. 4 wedding section you show a picture of two men who were "married" (in Canada). Did homosexual marriage become legal in this state when I wasn't looking?
I didn't think so. Seeing as it's not legal, then the picture of the two men is either pure filler for your paper or a tidbit of your agenda.
Let me guess which one it is.
-- Richard Wall, St. Petersburg
Moving away from oppression
Re: Times publishes first same-sex civil union announcement.
Well done. This country was founded by people fleeing religious oppression. Now the religious right is imposing the same oppression that our forefathers fled. Your policy is a major step in the right direction.
-- R. Bruce McLaughlin, Indian Rocks Beach
An insult to real married couples
Re: Mavro-Schuler.
Have you guys completely gone off the deep end or what? I am disgusted that you would post this right in the middle of the page with other real wedding announcements. This is an insult to those couples listed on the page with them. I hope you get a lot of subscription cancellations because of this. I intend to spread the word about your decision to post this garbage.
-- David C. Osborne, Tallahassee
They deserve a place in the paper
I'm writing to express my support of the new Times policy of publishing announcements of same-sex unions. It seems to me that with all the genuine problems in the world today, the question of who "marries" or is joined with whom ought to be very low on the list of issues in which outsiders choose to become involved. If people of the same gender wish to link up, whether in marriage, a civil ceremony or any other fashion that affirms their commitment to each other, I think they deserve a spot in the newspaper, and I applaud your paper's willingness to acknowledge these unions publicly.
I am a straight 61-year-old divorced mother of two children who are both straight and married themselves, so I have no particular personal interest in this, other than a general sense of fair play. I hope that other readers who write to you will express the same sentiments. Bravo for the St. Petersburg Times!
-- Susan Ansara, Tampa
Cause for celebration
I am so pleased to see the St. Petersburg Times join the New York Times and others in announcing same-sex civil unions. Happy, stable relationships are always good news and should be celebrated!
-- Elaine Coffin, South Pasadena
Risking divine judgment
Re: Times publishes first same-sex civil union announcement.
It is not my place to judge the bride and groom, bride and bride, groom and groom or whatever they choose to call themselves. But if God doesn't judge America, he will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.
"You may now lift the veil and . . ."
John Mashburn, Largo
A step in the right direction
Re: Times publishes first same-sex civil union announcement.
Hooray to you and the St. Petersburg Times for publishing the announcement! I do not know the couple but think it is definitely a step in the right direction. I hope you get more couples like that in the future, including females.
-- Chris Miller, Indian Shores
Show tolerance and respect
Kudos to the two young men who had the courage to put their wedding announcement in the paper and to the St. Petersburg Times for running it. May our community, unlike the homosexual-bashing Alliance Church in Dunedin, show tolerance and give them the respect they deserve.
-- Cecilia B. Colbert, Dunedin
Candidate offers vision of hope
Re: Kucinich takes antiwar message to Islamic center.
I was pleased to see coverage of congressman Dennis Kucinich in the Dec. 31 City&State Section by Adam Smith. However, I think it is a mistake to give much weight to these "national polls" because I have seen Kucinich ahead in many online polls, which can be found at his Web site: http://www.kucinich.us/
Naturally, if the mainstream media continue to dismiss him as simply a "liberal" and "vegan," we will unfortunately have an uninformed public that relies on this very media for understanding just exactly what distinguishes these candidates from each other and most particularly, from President Bush.
In reality, Kucinich may have the most universal appeal and be the least partisan considering the fact that he is not beholden to any big corporations and because he has such a personal interest in the establishment of a Department of Peace which directly affects the health and well-being of the American people and our planet as a whole.
Imagine, if we could have the courage of our convictions that Dennis Kucinich has. I wonder if people who worry that Kucinich can't beat George W. Bush have actually listened to him. I found him to be intelligent, extremely articulate (no notes necessary), very focused, consistent in his positions and very personable as well.
I hope that "we the people" continue to have the opportunity to hear from a candidate who stands up for our rights and speaks to the best that we can be and presents a vision of hope for our future.
-- Marcella Respini, St. Petersburg
Wrong message, wrong audience
Re: Kucinich takes antiwar message to Islamic center.
In a desperate effort to obtain voter recognition in his run for president of the United States, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich has delivered the wrong message to the wrong audience. His attempt to make civil rights an issue in the debate over the war in Iraq is dangerous and misleading. An Associated Press article on the same day, Al-Arian case likely to to test Patriot Act, supports this conclusion.
The article also reveals the frustrations of highly regarded law enforcement officers in their pre-9/11 efforts to bring terrorists to trial. But agents are now better able to protect us with with the reasonable support of the Patriot Act. In that regard, please recall that President Lincoln suspended habeas corpus in order to preserve our Union.
As for Kucinich's choice of an audience, it is unfortunate that some Islamic centers have been utilized for questionable activities. Kucinich and others would do well to read the 121-page indictment of Sami al-Arian and others.
Finally, as I was able to tell President Bush at a White House reception on Dec. 22, "Mr. President, we have "evil doers' in the Tampa Bay area."
-- Norman N. Gross, president, PRIMER; chairperson, B'nai B'rith Anti-hate Committee Greater Florida B'nai B'rith, Palm Harbor
Focus on fuel trucks, too
With the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to focus on the airlines, cargo planes and other modes of transportation to stop terrorism, I have to wonder if anyone is watching the domestic gasoline transport industry. When a plane crashes into a building it causes damage, but in the case of an airliner it is the fuel that causes the ultimate destruction and loss of life. Gasoline tanker trucks in the wrong hands could accomplish the same damage and loss of life if used as a weapon against buildings, stadiums, etc. Efforts should be made to ensure that the operators of these vehicles pass stringent background checks to make sure that we don't have another Oklahoma or New York type disaster.
-- Jim Cocca, Homosassa
Don't overlook this deadly weed
Re: Farewell to ephedra, editorial, Jan. 2.
Yes, that is a wonderful thing. However, how about replacing the word "ephedra" with "tobacco"? Your editorial was rife with indignation. Why, there were more than 100 deaths!
Boy, our government really knows how to protect us. I guess that leaving a product on the market that kills more than 3-million people worldwide, decreases the life expectancy by 20 to 25 percent, costs our health care system more than $16-billion in direct costs and $26-billion in indirect costs and adds to the morbidity of many medical problems is... what? Okay?
Let's not forget that studies have shown that the single largest source of litter is cigarette butts.
My indignation as a health care provider and a human in this world - who has to breathe the foul air and look at the garbage that is left behind - is beyond words. When discussion about health care costs in this country and the 43-million people without health insurance doesn't include getting rid of a product that serves no purpose (at least ephedra users were trying to lose weight) other than to cause disease, suffering and pollution and to make tobacco executives rich, then don't even bother discussing it at all. What will spur Congress to outlaw boxed disease and death?
-- Amy Friedman, ARNP, Largo
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