Letter: Ballot Question 2 is not what's killing marriage

I am completely appalled by your No. 2 on the voting ballot this November. Why am I appalled? Because so many of you out there seem to think that by allowing same-sex marriages, it will take something away from the sacredness of marriage. Are you all forgetting that the sacredness of marriage no longer exists? Do you relize how many marriages end in divorce? It's up around 80 percent by now. Being married no longer guarantees any promises or security. When you are no longer happy with your mate or you find someone else, you can just get a divorce. Easy as that. There are no requirements for those wishing to marry nor for those wishing to divorce. Easy come, easy go. We have allowed marriage to mean nothing. Most do not even bother to get married. They just live together, have children and go about their lives. So why, if two people want to get married (whether two women or men) do most of you get all "high and mighty" about it?

Let's start with the constitution. We are all created equal. We all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It does not say, "except for...."

Do you remember when we tried to deny these rights to other people? When people of a different skin color were not even considered the same as everyone else? Rights were taken away, and then to change things, we ended up killing each other. A war that took more American lives than any other war. Oh, and how about Hitler? He said Jewish people were not equal, because they were Jewish. Sounds stupid now, doesn't it? But thousands of Jewish people were killed in that holocaust. Oh, but you are nothing like Hitler, or are you? You believe that gay and lesbian persons are a "perversion." That they "spread disease." In a letter printed recently, those remarks were made as well as "Thirty-three states have already voted to protect themselves from this plague." This plague? Which plague? Hitler's plague of Jewish persons, the plague of those of a different skin color? No, it's the latest plague - homosexuality. Can't you just hear Hitler laughing?

Who are we to judge? Oh sure, go ahead and quote from the Bible. Tell me how God feels about it. God loves unconditionally - remember? We are all God's children. Oh, but this is where you tell me they are sinners. I tell you, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," and I can assure you none of us is without sin. I tell you God wants us to love our fellow man, to live and let live, to be as good a person as we can. God doesn't promote hate; it is not He who causes you to throw insults and slurs. Hate, ignorance and lack of empathy are encouraged by a different source. This is not even something we shoule be voting on. All of a sudden, we decide who gets to get married and who does not? What is next, Interracial marriages? Interfaith marriages? Marriage with too much of an age difference? Talking foolish, am I? Why is that foolish? When you think same sex marriages should not happen? It is not any different no matter how much you try to argue. Love is love and if two people want to try and "make it legal," I wish them all the luck in the world regardless of who they are.

I urge you to look beyond the fear, ignorance and hate by voting NO on No. 2

HEATHER L. HOWE

Carson City