To the editor,
Our letter is regarding the “Commissioners Favor Same-Sex Marriage Amendment” article. We, as citizens of Surry County against the amendment who know many others who are also against the amendment, do not agree with the article’s stance that Surry County as a whole is for this amendment. Furthermore, we found Johnson’s claim that he has seen “at least a thousand signs” in favor of the amendment to not only be misleading, but hyperbolic and inaccurate.
The article also features a photograph of a church with a political sign advocating the amendment. We do not know the tax status of this church; however, according to the IRS Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations, such signs are not allowed because they are an attempt to, “influence legislation if it contacts, or urges the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption or rejection of legislation.”
We also found Eddie Harris’ stance on the issue to be hypocritical and inconsistent. He says it is not his “concern to get involved with peoples’ private lives. What they do is their own business, in regards to the lifestyle they choose.” Yet, in the very next line, he makes a statement in support of the amendment, which would do exactly the thing he speaks out against: involvement in the personal lives of others.
We, as opponents of the amendment, feel that this issue comes down to separation of church and state. According to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Since those who are for this amendment are supporting its passing primarily for religious reasons, we feel this piece of legislation is unconstitutional.
Further, it is writing hatred and discrimination into North Carolina’s constitution — hatred and discrimination that will not change anything, as it is already impossible for same-sex couples to be married in the state of North Carolina. Once again, not everyone is for this amendment, and we find it unfair for a select few to speak on behalf of all citizens. We think it is important for everyone to become educated about this amendment and its implications, and decide how they feel about the amendment independently.
Hallie Fields and Tracy Martin
The Church can put whatever sign they want, on their property..as long as they don't give more than 5% to "political causes" and if their involvement is only a small portion of their time.
Eddie's remark was not contridicting.. This amendment has NOTHING to do with nor interferes with someones personal life and what they choose to do.I would like for you to give an example of how it is going to affect someone's life that you may know, if this amendment is passed. Just exactly what is it that it's gonna do?
You need to learn the Constitution better before you start reciting it.. First of all,"Separation of Church and State" has absolutely nothing to do with Constitution.. Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Church and used that term in his letter.. The 1st amendment protects US, our rights of freely practicing religion.. and assuring the people that state government's won't have an established religion.
And I'm sorry you find it unfair for a "select few" to speak on behalf of everyone but in case you wasn't aware of our surroundings and the way America works, we live in a REPRESENTIVE REPUBLIC.. Therefore, we are blessed with the opportunity of electing our governing bodies and they are elected to "REPRESENT" us... You have 2 chances a month to come and openly voice your opinion to our "elected" body in person,on anything you wish. You have the right to call, email or send a letter, everyday of your life if you have a concern. If you were so against the amendment, you should have been at the Commissioner's meeting because they welcomed all and heard both sides of the issues.
If this isn't going to effect anyone's personal lives, why are people so obsessed with its passing? I encourage you to read accounts like this, of people who live in NC who will be impacted: http://equallywed.com/headlines/1248-amendment-one-and-my-family-a-voice-from-north-carolina-on-marriage-equality.html. You can also go to http://www.protectallncfamilies.org/ to read about how this amendment will harm children, seniors, families, and unmaried women. Just one example, in case you're too lazy to read that, is the amendment will interfere with unmarried couples' abilities to visit each other in the hospital and make decisions about their healthcare when they are sick.
That quote in this letter is directly from the amendment to the US constitution. You can see those amendments here, although this isn't what Hallie and I used (we have them in a book, as everyone should before they make claims about the constitution): http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/read-the-bill-of-rights.html. Maybe the phrase "separation of church and state" isn't explicitly used, but that same idea is definitely there. It says congress shall pass no LAW respecting a religious establishment. Pretty hard to misinterpret that.
We weren't concerned with the fact that all commissioners are against it; simply that the article makes it sound as if everyone in Surry County is.