On Nov. 6, Maryland can make history by becoming the first state in the nation to vote to extend civil rights to all her citizens.
The arguments from the opponents of Question 6 seem to be focused on divisiveness and polarization. It is politically expedient and morally lazy to demonize, disrespect and disenfranchise a nameless, faceless group of people with hollow generalizations and callous disregard.
The bottom line is that the opponents of Question 6 would deny people who believe differently the same rights and privileges of citizenship enjoyed by the majority.
Frankly, I’m getting a little bit tired of hearing the opponents saying, “They want … they claim … they think..“
I think we need to remember who “they” are. “They” are honorable men and women in uniform who have served in harm’s way in Irag, Afghanistan and Vietnam, preserving our rights and liberties.
“They” are men and women in our police and fire departments who risk life and limb to protect our safety and property. “They” are doctors, nurses and health professionals who are committed to ensuring our health and well-being.
“They” are educators who prepare the next generation to meet the challenges of our ever changing world. “They” are civic-minded citizens whose donations of time, labor and money help to make our communities more livable.
“They” are friends, neighbors and family. “They” are colleagues and members of our congregations.
Above all, “they” are ordinary, hardworking, tax paying Americans who contribute to the marvel that is our nation. What distinguishes them is not who they love, but that they love America.
To deny these Americans the full benefits of citizenship is not just petty religious bigotry and small-minded meanness. It is unAmerican.
If you believe that the words of our founding fathers have meaning, that “all men are created equal” and guaranteed the “right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” then help to make those words ring true. Help to make history. Vote yes on Question 6.
Christian Blom
Cumberland
Letters
On Nov. 6, let’s remember who ‘They’ are and vote for them
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Which buck is it, and where is it supposed to stop?
Barack Obama has made Nixon look like a choir boy! “Obama worse than Nixon” the supermarket tabloid’s headlines read recently.
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Theft of car’s bike rack sour note during Scouts’ visit here
On the evening of June 6, while our Boy Scout troop camped at the Paw Paw Tunnel (Route 51, Mile 156.2 of the C&O Canal) someone stole our bike rack.
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All ‘gave some,’ but these from our local area truly ‘gave all’
Between June 14 (Flag Day) and July 4 (Independence Day), I’m responding to several recent editorials and letters to the editor.
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Freedom isn’t exactly what he thinks it is
In the June 2 Times-News, R. Steele Selby (“Just how free are we?) defines freedom as “the capacity to do whatever he or she wants to do” and asserts that this definition is “most likely nearly universal.”
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What Maryland calls the Fair Share Act isn’t fair at all
The Fair Share Act was passed in 2009. This law allowed for service fees to be part of the collective bargaining process.
The law does not mandate that service fees be negotiated, it simply provides that they can be. -
We have lots to show for our education dollars
I would like to take this opportunity to respond to Judith Weller’s latest anti-education diatribe, “The money they already have isn’t being spent wisely,” (June 3).
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Western Md. Veterans continues its mission
My name is Dan Brashear, I am the founder and director of Western Maryland Veterans.
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Maybe the cyclists and casino workers should be armed
Again, unfortunately I have to remind Don Carns Jr. of Beans Cove, Pa., on his latest repeatedly inaccurate letter published June 10 in the Cumberland Times-News (“Township is nothing like either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia”).
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Let’s all kick in $1 to help save Frostburg’s Palace Theatre
As a former resident, I have many fond memories of the Palace Theatre (“Theater wall crumbles: Palace exterior collapses, unfit for entry: officials,” June 6 Times-News, Page 1A).
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Develop the waterway
Since the debate over removing the dam started about four years ago, I have been concerned about the effect the dam removal would have on the area’s welfare.
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Which buck is it, and where is it supposed to stop?
