Single-parent households hurt marriage

5/26/2006

A recent letter in support of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage makes an interesting concession.

The authors explicitly note that the argument that gay marriage somehow directly threatens anyone's heterosexual marriage is beside the point.

Instead, the authors claim that the real threat from gay marriage centers on the fact that children need to be raised in families with both a mother and a father.

However, by conceding this point, the authors show the lie behind politically motivated attempts to ban gay marriage.

If the problem is that children need both a mother and a father, then we could go ahead and allow gay marriage but simply prohibit gay couples from raising children.

By the same logic, shouldn't we also ban single-parent households?

After all, if children need both a Mommy and a Daddy, then households with a single parent (mother or father) are going to be just as inadequate at raising children as households with two same-sex parents.

And while we're at it, why don't we amend the Constitution to ban divorce, since it is one of the leading causes of single-parent households?

Stephen Christman

Cloister Court

It is ironic how The Blade uses Frank Lausche's career as an example of a candidate who successfully offered something different while the media ignore the candidates who have entered this year's statewide races to institute real change.

These include, but are not limited to, Green Party candidates Bob Fitrakis for governor; Toledoan Anita Rios for lieutenant governor, and Tim Kettler for secretary of state.

Ideologically, these candidates have little in common with Mr. Lausche, but they share his independence from special interests.

The Greens advocate an array of fundamental policy changes designed, among other things, to end special-interest control of politics, increase participation in democracy, revitalize the state's economy by developing a thriving alternative-energy industry, and guarantee all Ohioans access to such essentials as food, shelter, and health care.

Candidates who are neither Democrats nor Republicans have to climb over obstacles that the Democrats and the Republicans have put in the way of any candidate not belonging to either of those two parties.

What, we must ask, do our big parties fear?

Unfortunately, the media continue to treat candidates who are neither Democrats nor Republicans as if they don't count.

The media also substitute analysis of campaign style and strategy for analysis of the substance of policy proposals.

Fortunately, interested voters can learn about the Green Party through a brief Internet search - and if the Democratic Party does the same, they'll see how to really be the party of the people and really change everything.

Jessica Weinberg

Tottenham Road

The authors of a May 23 letter supporting the Marriage Protection Amendment have bought into the scare tactics represented by the amendment's title.

Marriage is not "under attack" in this country, either by progressive divorce laws or by same-sex couples seeking the protection of legal marriage.

Rather than leading couples to "discard" each other, no-fault divorce recognizes the fact that some marriages fail and that forcing couples to remain in destructive relationships can be harmful not only to them, but to their children.

It is absurd to suggest that allowing dysfunctional couples to part without a prolonged, damaging court battle is somehow an attack on marriage.

Similarly, it is absurd to suggest that by seeking the rights, responsibilities, and protections of marriage, same-sex couples will somehow cause the institution to "lose all meaning."

If anything, their pursuit of the right to marry would seem to be an affirmation of, not an attack on, marriage.

The idea that some Americans need to protect the institution of marriage from other Americans is misleading and ugly.

Marriage will take care of itself, as it always has, through the love, the commitment, and the hard work of each married couple.

John and Holly Greenfield

Ottawa Hill

I am a businessman striving to survive in this lagging economy. I had great hopes when Carty Finkbeiner took office.

He said the button he was wearing said it all: "Together we can." He had campaigned on the necessity of small business, keeping jobs in Toledo, and keeping our economy growing.

I run a demolition company and have been working in the Marina District for three years on a zero-sum contract.

I was under the impression that when future demolition jobs transpired within the district, I would be afforded the opportunity to bid.

Well, that was not the case.

A company from Chicago is working in the Marina District, demolishing several buildings for the sum of $89,000.

The city has "purchasing-bidding procedures" stating that all expenditures of $40,000 or more shall be offered for bid and awarded to the lowest bidder.

But no.

Several demolition contractors in the city are skilled and qualified to do this work, but the mayor and City Council saw fit to take it away from us and our employees.

Consequently, there are several taxpaying employees in the demolition business who aren't working today.

But rest assured that there are several Chicagoans who are, and they are putting food on their tables and pouring money into their economy.

The mayor is striving to get business into Toledo? My advice to all businesses out there: Move to Chicago. You will do a better business in Toledo.

To quote the mayor one final time: "That's just not right!"

Charles S. Burge IV

Burge Wrecking

Stickney Avenue

A recent article in The Blade pointed out that almost half of our children in the third grade are obese or overweight.

That should come as no surprise, given the examples we parents set for them.

I have a plan for reducing oil consumption, smog, and obesity all at the same time.

We should eliminate the drive-through windows at all fast-food restaurants except for the people who are truly handicapped or have small children with them.

As a side note, obesity does not qualify as a handicap.

So the next time you feel you really need those 1,440 calories, 77 grams of fat, and 1,360 milligrams of sodium that come with a burger, fries, and soda, do yourself and the world a big favor.

Find a parking place farthest from the door, park your SUV, and walk inside to purchase your meal.

John Clark

Perrysburg

I have to believe President Reagan is spinning in his grave over the news we might build a wall along the Mexican border.

And we are putting 6,000 troops there. And I heard that our border guards shot and killed someone trying to enter illegally.

Didn't President Reagan, in a speech in the 1980s say, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"? And now we are building our own?

I grew up in the 1960s and remember the terrible pictures of East German guards shooting to death people trying to get over the Berlin Wall.

And what I've heard or read in the news recently makes me remember those awful pictures of the 1960s.

What is going on with our country?

Milt Hubartt

Airport Highway