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- Path: sparky!uunet!spool.mu.edu!agate!boulder!csn!ncar!vexcel!copper!mercury.cair.du.edu!diana.cair.du.edu!rschoenh
- From: rschoenh@diana.cair.du.edu (RICK SCHOENHALS )
- Newsgroups: co.politics
- Subject: Re: Colorado Amendment 2
- Message-ID: <1992Nov18.061846.8394@mercury.cair.du.edu>
- Date: 18 Nov 92 06:18:46 GMT
- References: <1992Nov16.160718.8015@ncar.ucar.edu> <1992Nov16.162746.24737@tc.cornell.edu> <1992Nov16.184807.19440@mercury.cair.du.edu>
- Sender: rschoenh@athena.cair.du.edu
- Distribution: co
- Organization: University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
- Lines: 44
-
-
- In article <1992Nov16.184807.19440@mercury.cair.du.edu>
- ptripp@diana.cair.du.edu (Phil Tripp) writes:
-
- lotsa stuff deleted...
-
- >Ok, my ulterior motive for this post: peaceful, non-violent,
- >negotiated, inclusive, intelligent resolution of this problem.
-
- >government parent figure telling me how to think. Just because
- >I can discriminate against a homosexual, doesn't mean I or
- >anyone else will. In fact, knowing myself, I would not
- >discriminate against someone based solely on their having a
- >certain sexual orientation.
-
- This is all well and fine, Phil. But previously, you said you
- voted *FOR* amendment 2--which, to me, means you already have
- discriminated based on sexual orientation. Your vote did not
- remove any existing "special rights". It did however, make it
- legal to fire someone based on homosexual orientation. You say
- you wouldn't discriminate this way, but you voted to make it
- legal. I have to ask how you will feel when your neighbor, your
- best friend, your mother or father, your brothers or sisters, or
- even your sons or daughters get fired from a job because he/she is
- gay? I don't mean this as a flame, I just don't understand how
- we can say we're against discrimination then pass an amendment that
- allows discrimination. How close must discrimination hit to home
- before we act against it? Saying we wouldn't discriminate isn't
- enough.
-
- I, too, want a peaceful, intelligent settlement to all of the
- incredible ill will out there on both sides of the issue. But,
- we need more than words, we need to act on and to demonstrate
- our ideals. Laws will not protect everyone they're meant to
- protect but that doesn't mean we should abandon them as a means
- of establishing our standards. This issue won't be settled until
- all people feel reasonably free from the fear of discrimination.
- A private vote isn't enough, nor is a personal feeling of treating
- people fairly. Our public acts are required to reduce fear and
- increase understanding. I hope you will join me in this.
-
- --
- Rick Schoenhals
- rschoenh@athena.cair.du.edu
-