Gay Marriage
By adopting a constitutional ban on gay unions, Tennessee has forever preempted the power of activist judges to override the moral will and wisdom of the people.
Tennesseans may now also want to consider legal remedies for two other grave threats to the sacred institution of marriage: the alarming rate of divorce and the increasingly common practice among heterosexuals of cohabiting out of wedlock.
Two proposals might thus present themselves: One would absolutely prohibit divorce; the other would invoke the Old Testament sanction against adultery. In the latter case, however, shooting those found guilty of adultery would be more humane than stoning them to death.
M.L. Wilson
Memphis
Bianca Phillips’ article on Amendment One (November 2nd issue) was concise and informative. Both sides of the argument were presented, but the comments made by state senator David Fowler were close-minded and offensive. He said that legalization of gay marriage would create problems for employers, landlords, insurance companies, and others with a moral or religious opposition to it.
I believe a ban on same-sex marriage is a violation of the separation of church and state. We cherish our freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly. No true American would vote to deny or oppress any of those freedoms. Hopefully, someday, voters will realize that denying someone the rights and benefits associated with marriage because of a religious viewpoint is a gross injustice.
I hope this senseless discrimination is stopped and the nation begins to respect the lifestyles of others, even if they don’t agree with them.
Mitch Campbell
Cordova
St. Louis Spirit
Frank Murtaugh’s story about his dad and the St. Louis Cardinals (“St. Louis Spirit,” November 9th issue) brought tears to my eyes.
It took me back to 1968, when I was 9 years old. My dad took me to my first professional baseball game in St. Louis. Little did I know that the team I saw that day would go on to win the World Series. That summer vacation was a young boy’s dream come true.
Since then, my dad and I have enjoyed watching many more World Series games. This year, my dad took ill, and we watched the series in his hospital room at the VA hospital. It was the last time my dad and I would watch together. He passed away on October 6th.
Thanks again to Murtaugh for sharing his story and for bringing back great memories for me.
Theodore R. Brown
Memphis
Fox News
Fox News, the preferred news of most Republicans, has finally come out of the closet. Some of us are aware that Fox is the only news outlet that hires former GOP hacks. In fact, Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News, was a dirty trickster during the Nixon years. When President Bush needed a new voice, he hired “Tony Snow-Job” from Fox. Tony was a GOP speech writer before Fox hired him.
Now that the election is over, Fox will continue to be the propaganda arm of the Republican Party. Of course, profits are still needed to keep the propaganda flowing. So Rupert Murdoch, the power behind the smiling Fox News faces, has decided to pay O.J. Simpson millions for a television show about his new book, If I Did It.
There are two reasons for this. First, it will create huge profits for Fox, and second, it will help to divert attention from the corruption that has permeated our government. With the Democrats in power, the Republicans will no longer be able to cover up their own corruption, so it’s Fox’s job to create a diversion.
Jack Bishop
Cordova
Completely Different
“And now for something completely different!” I don’t remember where that phrase came from (Monty Python?), but it certainly applies to the article by “Angelina Rolie” on Memphis’ roller derby girls (“Derby Days,” November 16th issue).
It was great to read about something “completely different.” It restored my faith in Memphis that something so off-the-wall yet so obviously vibrant can be created here. Thanks. It made my day.
Amy Moore
Memphis
