Gay marriage is not a moral issue

Gay marriage is one of the silliest excuses for pushing a conservative agenda I've ever heard. Exactly what harm is done by this? If the reason is to preserve the sanctity of marriage, then we must outlaw all divorce as well or risk being labeled hypocritical.

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Shouldn't we welcome and encourage any couple who want to make a public commitment?

Once more we have the conundrum of religious conservatives. They want a less active and intrusive government, but they also want to interfere with our most intimate actions. They dream of a golden time when daddy worked and mommy stayed home and all the kiddies were dutiful, loving, and did their homework without being told.

Guess what; I lived then and can tell you the problems were just as bad, only different. Daddy was just as apt to have an affair at the office as mommy was to show up at a bar after dropping the kiddies off at school.

The infamous Sixties came about because the children of those ideal times grew up and realized the hypocrisy that ran rampant in our society. Equality and justice for all - except if your skin color or religion was different.

Kids who grew up in the leafy suburbs looked at the inner cities and decided something, lots of somethings, had to change.

Segregation is now routinely denounced, as well it should be, and the country is moving on in spite of those who equate going to church and having a moral check list with real religion. Mark Twain put it nicely, "Some don't smoke or drink; they have worse vices."

We are now in the season of Lent. We are supposed to be examining our consciences, helping the unfortunate, giving up luxuries, in general seeing if we can come closer to being the good person we want to be. How ironic that this year an important issue is being made of marriage. What on Earth does that have to do with real morality? I would suggest to those making such a fuss that they turn inward and consider the true meaning of Lent.

Dee Longenbaugh

Juneau