Letters to the Editor
Out in the Mountains welcomes your letters. Although we will withhold names from printing upon request, the letter must be accompanied by a verifiable name and address in order to be considered for publication. We try to print every letter we receive, but reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. Letters are also subject to the editorial policy stated in the masthead.
Many people think Anthony Pollina won the debates and would make a wonderful governor. They say, “I really like Pollina, but I’m afraid to vote for him.”
Our Vermont Constitution provides protection against an extremist like Ruth Dwyer, because if no candidate draws a majority of the votes, the election goes to the legislature, which will then select the governor by secret ballot. Therefore, there is no way Ruth Dwyer can win, since a majority of pro-choice legislators would vote against her.
Choosing between the lesser of two evils breeds cynicism and apathy, but having the chance to vote for a candidate who actually supports the freedom to marry is tremendously exciting.
Vermonters who like Anthony Pollina have a constitutional obligation to not vote out of fear, and choose the candidate they think will make the best governor. This year, that candidate is Anthony Pollina.
Justin
Francese
Waterbury Center
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Women’s reproductive rights do not rely on the reelection of Howard Dean. The overwhelming majority of Vermonters support a woman’s right to choose, and so do our legislators. All Progressive Party candidates are 100 percent pro-choice.
Anthony Pollina and the Progressive Party are the real champions of women’s rights. Pollina has been out front fighting for a livable wage for all Vermonters—and women’s wages are the lowest and most in need of an increase.
The only candidate committed to full health coverage for all Vermonters is Anthony Pollina. All Vermont women need full preventative and reproductive health care—regardless of whether they work full-time, part-time, or in their homes.
Finally, Anthony Pollina intends to make safe and affordable child care available to all Vermont families. He understands that child care workers must be paid properly and receive decent benefits, including health insurance, in order to continue working in a field which has always been underpaid. Working parents, especially single mothers, must have quality affordable child care in order to fully participate in the work force.
By instilling the fear that we might lose our reproductive rights, the Democrats are attempting to keep women “in our place”—that is, backing the Democratic Party. This is a scare tactic. We can best support women’s rights by voting for Anthony Pollina, who will fight to improve the material conditions of women’s lives.
Naomi Almeleh
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In January, I called Neil Randal, representative for Bradford VT.
I asked politely if we could talk about the Civil Union debate.
I explained how and why my husband and I have considered ourselves married. Our marriage is the joining of two souls to one. We believe this is a spiritual, constitutional union, not for debate by our government or neighbors, a private matter.
I called to share perspectives; instead he told me the procedures forthcoming for public comments for the committee, nothing more.
Feeling my voice fall deafly, I wrongly, did not attend the hearings.
Today, I returned home to find a foul, inflammatory brochure in my back door from Neil. Among other things, it said the acts of love I perform with my husband are not acts of love, just sexual urges that are controllable, and that because we can’t, there is just cause to not only discriminate against us, but for him to work diligently to make it so.
My reply to Neil’s violent words was in kind. The phone message I left was as vulgar, obscene, and raw as is every Take Back Vermont sign I am forced to see, and though I publicly apologize to Neil for the message I left on his machine, I can’t help but feeling, in my defense, while knowing it is no defense, the cowardly way in which this group applauds themselves for the perceived civility of their language.
Being from a family at which their rhetoric is directed, I see, hear, and perceive it as grossly uncivil. Rather, it is cruel, aggressive, mean spirited, and constitutionally devoid of merit. Not understanding this is the problem.
Neil claims he will listen to the people, but his literature has no way to contact him.
More importantly, when given a chance to dialogue with a constituent family directly affected by the law, one willing to dialogue openly, peacefully, empathetically, he chose to ignore those Vermonters’ voices, while choosing to ignore anything save but this debate is really about nothing more then the benefits.
Sadly, the fact ignored is equality between rights and responsibilities must be in harmony to be just, as is constitutionally guaranteed.
When lamenting the phone message I left, Neil should remember he knocked uninvited on our door, with a message that said we are not worthy, in my reply, I apologize for my insensitivity; wanting him to hurt as badly as I do is equally vile.
However, I will no longer wait to have my home invaded, nor allow the continued decline of the quality of my family’s life, nor tolerate the indignity of neighbors publicly debating the righteousness of the love our family shares, while the raping of our freedoms continues unabated.
Don’t let them think for you. Education can stop them.
Read the Constitution. Come with us.
From this point forward, with a firm adherence to justice, moderation and temperance, and in accordance to the dictates of my conscience, I do so Declare A War of Love.
Lou Phinney
Bradford
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I was upset by OITM’s lack of acknowledgement of the most significant holiday in the Jewish tradition in last month’s newspaper. I didn’t write my column because I was busy celebrating, but asked to have some sort of Jewish New Year’s greeting to the readers from me. Nothing appeared, neither by me nor anyone else, and the paper came out smack dab in the middle of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There were, of course, solicitations for Christmas contributions announced in the October issue. Typical.
I’m sure Chanukah will be acknowledged in the paper in December—one of the minor holidays in Judaism—but that’s because non-Jews remember it since it comes so close to Christmas. That way they can think of it as “the Jewish Christmas” and give themselves “diversity” points. It’s not as if there are only a smattering of GLBT Jews in the movement. There are dozens of us in Vermont and thousands nationwide. We are everywhere! Anyway, Happy (belated) New Year and may you all be inscribed in the Book of Life in the coming year. B’Shalom.
Crow Cohen
Winooski
Editor’s note: We apologize for the misunderstanding that led to the non-publication of Crow’s Yom Kippur greeting. No slight was intended. Greater inclusivity is one of our goals; we hope Crow and all of our contributors and readers will continue to make their ideas and voices heard and help us fill coverage gaps.
Although the holiday feature planned for the December issue will coincide with the Christian holidays among others, it is not meant to focus on Christmas alone. We strongly encourage submissions of all varieties. Please share your stories with our community!
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A distasteful example of the religious elite is responsible for this year’s political upheaval. This deviant faction boasts directors of several supposed-Christian colleges and organizations, philosophers, and theologians who strive for social control by denouncing, under the guise of religious freedom, intellect and critical thinking as “Satan’s playground.” They are not disciples of Jesus Christ and have more in common with the creators of an Islamic jihad (Holy War) than Christianity. Selective reading of Scripture is pure corruption of religion.
Earlier, this faction-now battling non-heterosexual peoples, women who don’t stay at home, and equal rights-were reactionaries to the pace of scientific advances, the Industrial Revolution and the free-market economy consequentials. There are allegations that this religious elite invented the Cold War and “secular humanism” solely to create the sensational enemies as a means of keeping the “faith” alive. This faith, exposed in the current battle for governmental control, is merely a cult characterized by irrational fear. Followers are taught to despise insight and open-ended questions, not entirely different than the former Soviet control techniques.
We have witnessed the extremist views of Randall Terry and Nancy Sheltra, Waco’s David Koresh and Aryan Nation’s Richard Butler. Our rights and freedoms cannot be guaranteed if we can allow ourselves to be fooled by purveyors of neuroses. Satan lurks in the form of oppression under their fantasies, and this religious elite would prefer that you don’t know how to think for yourself.
Rev. J.
William Tucker
Rutland
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I will cast my vote for Anthony Pollina. He is the best candidate running. He is 100 percent supportive of gays and lesbians and is comfortable with the idea of marriage. We have had, and will have, the unparalleled support of Progressives. (This support began with Burlington Progressive Dean Corren years before the plaintiffs even brought the case. He stood on the House floor and voted for civil unions with the reservation that it didn’t go far enough.) It’s something to remember in November.
We complain that people’s opposition to homosexuals is born out of fear. It’s fear that keeps many of us from voting for whom we really want. If everyone who said they liked Anthony voted for Anthony, he would win in a landslide.
Vote your hopes and not your fears and the door to the Governor’s office will be open like never before.
Ross Laffan
Rochester