To the editor:

I’ve had a difficult time maintaining my irritation so it didn’t explode in a harsh letter that wouldn’t change a single mind or provide a substantiated argument.

This government was founded by people running from oppression.

That is why they set up the form of government they did, so that the kind of oppression they faced would not occur again.

They set up laws that persecuted minorities in their communities because they believed differently. A little hypocritical, but found throughout society.

The majority of this country practices Christianity, but freedom of religion provided the foundation for our Bill of Rights.

Even in Judeo-Christian faith, different interpretations make it difficult to state clearly what is right and wrong according to God. To maintain that homosexuals shouldn’t be allowed the same freedoms as other Americans is absurd.

Another great thing about this country is freedom of speech. I’ve enjoyed the letters written about this issue on both sides. I respect the authors’ right to express their opinions. I don’t see it as homophobic or negative.

I’d prefer honesty so I’m aware of what people are thinking instead of looking over my shoulder in concern.

People can believe whatever they want. If it doesn’t affect your life, then you will respect their right to do as they wish. Accordingly, they should not infringe on other people’s rights. Gay marriages are NOT and never will be an infringement upon the heterosexual community’s rights.

However, denying the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens to pursue happiness by keeping them out of “marriage” by your definition, creates a value and places that value upon people, making one more valuable than the other and making equal treatment an impossibility. This is not what our country was founded for.

As for the Daily covering the issues surrounding hate crimes and not the little boy in Arkansas, their reasons are unfortunately very simple.

Although what happened to that little boy discussed in one of the letters written earlier this week was a terrible crime, the reason the Daily didn’t cover it is the same reason they didn’t cover the hundreds if not thousands of other crimes just like it that were committed by heterosexual men. In order to understand the reasons why, you must understand what exactly a hate crime is. To give you a visual, let me give you a sample of what hate crimes are.

In Nazi Germany, millions of Jews, Gypsies, feminists, homosexuals, Catholics, Protestants, etc. were dragged off to concentration camps to die, not because of anything they did that was against the law, but because there was something about them that Hitler didn’t like. It’s that simple. Persecution of this form is still seen in America today, it’s just a little more subtle. No offense, but this is not acceptable.

I’m sorry for what that little boy endured. It shouldn’t have happened and we can pray that it never happens to another, but at the same time, this little boy just happened to fall victim to circumstance. Matthew Shepard was killed because he was gay, period.

Brandon Teena was killed because he was transgendered, period.

Regarding Erin Griebahn’s concern of LGBT issues infiltrating her society, I’ve got just one response. Um, OK.

Who made you queen of the universe? This isn’t your society. This is everyone’s society and you make up a tiny part of it. I respect your opinions, but you’ve got a lot to learn about the world around you. You’re only a sophomore though and there’s plenty of time.

As for everyone else, good job at creating such an enlightening discussion both pro and con. I’ve really enjoyed the chance to see what work still needs to be done and what progress the LGBT movement has made toward acceptance.

Angie Chipman

Senior

Psychology, history and secondary education