Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.

Mahatma Gandhi Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

A beloved and honored relative wrote to me a week or so ago:

 Sorry, Barbara, but I don't agree with the position that your church has taken on Proposition 8.  If I could (it's not on the ballot in Oregon), I would vote NO on it.  I believe that there are all kinds of people in this world, with different beliefs and ways of living their lives and we all need to be tolerant and accepting and understanding of people.  Teaching of diversity of life should be experienced in the school system so children can learn to be accepting.......especially if they won't see the tolerance in their own home.  We all have to live in the same world.  Gay couples or straight couples should be treated with the same respect.  I find it sad that there is still many people that believe that children should be taught that diversity is a bad thing, it just perpetuates problems in the world.

The first time you mentioned Prop. 8, I decided not to say anything but after receiving the email on Sunday, I felt my position should be stated. 

 I finally replied today.

Friday, October 17, 2008

I hope you realize that my long silence is because of my time management problems and not because of any ill feelings.  I love and respect you very much.  I don't think a disagreement here and there will ever change that.

Thank you for telling me how you feel.  I suspect that we are going to have to agree to disagree on this. 

When the subject first came up, I followed my church based on my personal testimony but without any real feeling of urgency.  I almost wondered what all the fuss was about.  To each his own.  The more I learned, and certainly not just or even mainly from church sources, the stronger my feelings became.  It upsets me a little that 4 judges can overturn the vote of the people. (Maybe more than a little.) It upsets me tremendously that schools will be (and in some places, including California, already are)  actively teaching morals many parents believe are wrong.

Believing in certain moral values does not mean disrespecting or hurting other people. I know it happens on both sides, but it is wrong.

 We affirm the right of people to believe as they deem best and to act on those beliefs.  We do not want our rights to teach our own children trampled on.  One can teach respect for other people and their right to choose while teaching ones own moral values.  (We do it all the time on the subjects of drinking and smoking, for instance.)  We do not want other people teaching our children values we disagree with and teaching intolerance for our morals and religion.  That is what is happening already and what we are trying to stop.

I would share some friendly personal news now, except there isn't much and I already spent more than my allotted break time in study group. (again) The good news is that the group got all the answers right on the quiz due today.  Sigh of relief and on to the next one which has already been released.  Another area of disagreement between us – I just might hate accounting.

Love you!  Have a great weekend!

Barbara