Monday, November 7, 2005

ONE DAY TO GO

I know you've heard about Joshua
He was the son of Nun
He never stopped his work
Until the work was done

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your men of Saul
There's none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho

Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried
'Cause the battle is in my hands

Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down…

DOES HE OR DOESN’T HE?

Viewers of WCSH 6 in Portland were surprised to hear Governor Baldacci add his comments off-air to a televised debate between Michael Heath and Ted O’Meara. The Governor wanted to make it absolutely clear that “he does not support same-sex marriage.”

The message coming from the Governor’s office is a confusing one. Earlier in the year, the Governor said the following in an article on the Maine state website entitled “My Vision for Maine:”

“I support equal rights for all Maine citizens. I believe that all people should be treated equally…discrimination is wrong…I continue to support the right of same-sex couples to have the benefits of health insurance, intestate succession, adoption and hospital visitation as do married couples. There is currently no law or bill passed by the Legislature to permit same-sex marriage in Maine. I will consider that legislation very carefully at that time. However, that time is not now.”

http://www.state.me.us/governor/baldacci/vision/

So what is the Governor’s real position? Does he currently approve of same-sex marriage, or not?  His recent remarks contradict his earlier “My Vision for Maine” statement, that he will consider same-sex marriage when the proper time comes.  Does he disapprove of same-sex marriage, but approve of civil unions, which is merely same-sex-marriage by a different name?  No wonder the voters of Maine are confused!

 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

 To the Editor:

I would like to urge your readers to seriously consider the things that are at stake in the upcoming election. Please vote “YES” to preserve marriage and the family.

We are being pushed to leave in place a law that has many unforeseen repercussions. Please read on to find out what is happening in Massachusetts. In that state, according to Professor Scott FitzGibbon of the Boston College Law School, the courts have created a situation where the common sense understanding of marriage - based on the fact that kids do best with a mom and a dad - is now considered a form of bigotry under law.

As a result, the Massachusetts public schools are now required to teach children that their parents are on a par with racists if they tell them that marriage is the union of male and female. Students who openly disagree now face "hate speech" sanctions from school authorities.

Is this what we want for Maine - all in the name of "tolerance" -   which is a very convenient cop-out for just about anything?  There are times when a stand is called for, and this is one of them.

The homosexual agenda also calls for the eventual legalizing of prostitution and unlimited sexual contact with children. These people have the same rights as the rest of us, and it would be great folly to grant them special rights. We would be opening a Pandora's box of unprecedented proportions.

In spite of the lofty claims of "tolerance for all" put forth by some, there is a right and wrong. Adultery is wrong, thievery is wrong, lying is wrong, and homosexuality is wrong. We do not condemn these people anymore than anyone else but change is needed in the right direction.  Sweeping it under the rug by calling it “tolerance versus bigotry” is deceitful, and does not do anything to address the problems of the individuals who promote this lifestyle. Rather, they need help, not “tolerance” to continue in the same direction.

Please do the right thing and vote “YES.” Thank you.

Jan and Ron Pinkham, Oxford, Maine.

SWEDISH PASTOR APPEALS SENTENCE FOR “ANTI-GAY HATE SPEECH”

Ake Green, the Swedish pastor convicted of “anti-gay hate speech,” will appear in court November 9th to be retried for preaching the Biblical truth about homosexuality.

Green, a Pentecostal minister, was arrested after a homosexual visited his church in Borgholm, Sweden and tape-recorded a sermon in which Green said homosexual acts are sinful, and that homosexuals need to accept Christ in order to be saved. A Swedish court denounced Green’s remarks as being “grossly disrespectful to homosexuals,” and sentenced him to one month in prison.  His sentence was overturned on appeal, but he is now facing a second indictment.

ELITIST GAY RIGHTS SUPPORTER WRITES BOOKS BASED ON GRAPHIC MEDICAL DETAILS

The gay rights fund raiser and cocktail party held at the Camden home of best-selling authoress Tess Gerritsen was elitism in its purest form.  Maine Won’t Discriminate was  even criticized by gay rights activists for the event which featured, among other things, champagne and sushi.

But what sort of books does Tess Gerritsen write?  Gerritsen writes what are called “medical thrillers.” One book, “The Sinner,” contains descriptions that one fan called “too graphic.”  A visit to her official website shows that Gerritsen is aspiring to be the female Stephen King. Gerritsen writes that she “explores the dark side of human nature, which is sometimes so “disturbing” that it “gives her nightmares.” Titles of her books have included “The Surgeon” “Life Support”  “Bloodstream” and “Harvest” the last of which deals with the black market in body organs.  The heroine of the book “The Sinner” is named “Dr. M. E. Isles,” which is perhaps a play on words based on the author’s home in Maine.

 GET OUT THE VOTE

Here are some simple but effective suggestions for getting out the vote.

1.  Call your family members and friends and ask them to VOTE YES on One.

2.  E-mail your family and friends and acquaintances and ask them to VOTE YES on One.

3.  Talk to your friends at church and tell them why you think it’s important to VOTE YES on One.

4.  Offer to provide rides on Election Day to those who might not otherwise get out and encourage them to VOTE YES on One.

5.  Vote early in the day and wear a sticker saying “I Voted”; then encourage other workers to vote before the polls close at 8:00 p.m.—telling them that you VOTED YES on One.

6.  After work on Election Day, do your best to get as many as possible to go to the polls and VOTE YES on One.

7.  Take the day off or encourage a retired person to stand at the local polling place and greet people.  You can encourage people to VOTE YES on One.

Tuesday, November 8, is democracy at its best.  The People’s Veto is the people’s voice.  It is not time for good men and women to remain silent. 

Let’s work to GET OUT THE VOTE—and VOTE YES on One.

MAINE WOMEN SPEAK OUT ON QUESTION ONE

A “Women and Wives” press conference will be held Monday, November 7th at the State House Hall of Flags from 1 – 2   PM. Women will address the importance of a “Yes” Vote on Question 1 to the families of Maine.  The wives of the directors of the Christian Civic League of Maine, the Coalition for Marriage, and the Maine Grassroots Coalition will be speaking. Also attending will be the county coordinators and grassroots activists in support of a vote “Yes on 1” position.  Please contact the office of the Maine Grassroots Coalition at 784-0846, for more information.