Letter: We should, as a community, be kind

To the editor,

Last week there were two letters to the editor in the Star Gazette stating that “Vote Yes” signs were taken from folks’ yards. It was implied that people opposed to the marriage amendment were responsible for taking them.

Over the past week our “Vote No” to the marriage amendment sign was stolen from our yard. A number of our neighbors also experienced the same treatment; many “Vote No” signs around Hastings were stolen. Unfortunately, this conversation has brought into question the faith of the folks who oppose this amendment.

I would argue: “God did not send his son into the world to judge the world but that through him everlasting life might be had” (John: 3:17). It must not be understated that Jesus is an example not of judgment, but of understanding, love, and healing. Jesus didn’t come to tell everyone how bad they are, but to extend a hand— be encouraging and welcoming — to all sorts of people. As a community, this is what I hope we will strive for, Hastings.

Let’s be open to each other, welcome newcomers, and treat each other well. Regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, let’s be good to each other. We are all in our own unique ways outliers—different from our neighbors. We should and can take pride in this. And we can be in this together, this collective agreement to live together, pay taxes together, work alongside and want good things for our own selves and each other. Let’s be real about the “Vote No” initiative – voting “No” on the marriage amendment is not going to make gay marriage legal. Voting “No” is simply going to keep the conversation about marriage equality going and make it possible for our community to keep talking about equal rights for out gay and lesbian neighbors. Whether or not we vote “No” in this election, let’s try, as a community, to be open to each other – to be kind regardless of whatever biases we might have. At the very least we can try to do no harm against each other.

Ellen Saunders

Hastings

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, hastings, minnesota, spiral, local