In 1776, people from all over the American colonies cooperated to write the Declaration of Independence. All sorts of backgrounds and beliefs were put aside to work together.

In those days when seamen were in the rigging of ships, they had one hand for the ship and one for themselves. The vessel worked because everyone had a hand for the whole.

In this anniversary week of the signing, there is little cooperation in our nation’s capital. Members of Congress have two hands busy: one gathering money for their next campaign, and the other for their party.

More than a third of our tax money goes to defense as they bid against each other to have military manufacturing jobs in their states. We are ready for unending war.

Cooperation is at a minimum. Rivalry is rife. Concern for the country has taken a back seat.

Celebrations, parades and fireworks will be of no avail unless our senators and representatives rediscover cooperation. Country first, party second. Please! We can be great again.

Charles K. Brown

Brunswick

Same-sex marriage still in eye of beholder

A lot can happen in a marriage. Sometimes people rush into marriage when they aren’t mature enough or for the wrong reasons. Some people turn out to be abusive. Sometimes people addicted to alcohol or drugs get married and have kids, creating hard-to-solve social problems like family dysfunction and fetal alcohol syndrome.

The government doesn’t do anything to stop marriages that may lead to social problems, because the state has no right to say that an alcoholic man won’t turn out to be a great dad. People can change.

Which brings me to M.D. Harmon’s most recent column on same-sex marriage (“Is New York marriage vote a trend — or a wake-up call?,” July 1). His tireless defense of man-woman “natural marriage” as the only acceptable way of raising children seems shortsighted to me as a straight 18-year-old girl.

So many of my friends grew up with one parent, divorced parents or never-married parents, or were adopted, and in spite of “unnatural” family circumstances, they have all turned out OK. Presumably, Harmon wouldn’t forbid single women from having children, so what’s wrong with two women in a long-term relationship getting married and adopting or giving birth to one?

I don’t see any logical reason to oppose gay marriage, aside from a fear of change. But gay people aren’t scary! In fact, they’re just like us. So why not do something progressive in 2012? Make it about love, not about fear.

Charlotte McDonald

Portland

How many times must the state vote on same-sex marriage?

Maine voters are the smartest, wisest and most astute in New England. They already voted down gay marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman. It’s been that way from the beginning of time and will remain that way in Maine and the 43 remaining states.

It’s time clergy start telling the truth as stated in the Bible. God did not create a homosexual, nor is there a genetic cause. It’s a choice.

This is a sin. Christian clergy, read your Bible and tell the truth, please. This is not a matter of “the sign of the times.” The clergy may bless a homosexual marriage, but God won’t.

Charles E. Aaskov

Lyman

Let M.D. Harmon rail to his (aging) heart’s content against same-sex civil marriage rights.

The stark reality facing Harmon and other social conservatives is that it is inevitable that marriage equality eventually will be the law of Maine — and all of the states.

A glimpse at May’s national Gallup poll shows why. While it’s true that a majority of those 55 and older — like Harmon — are opposed to same-sex marriage, that’s it; they are the sole age group with that opinion.

In fact, 70 percent of people 18 to 34 overwhelmingly favor civil marriage equality for all.

It’s simply a matter of time. Here’s hoping that time is sooner rather than later.

Steve McKelvey

Scarborough

Response to election law: ‘Show me the bus’

Where is the evidence of “busloads of new voters being carried in to register on Election Day,” as claimed by Maine Republican Party Chairman Charles Webster (“Ending same-day registration preserves integrity of voting process,” June 27, Maine Voices)?

Webster implies they are fraudulent voters by describing them as “folks most of us have never met and frankly most of us may never see again.”

Has anyone seen these buses? I have voted in every election in the past 12 years since returning to Maine and have never seen a bus at my polling place. Nor has my town clerk.

Webster further states that “I feel very strongly that our system is flawed” and that “Many of us believe abuse does occur.”

These feelings and beliefs are completely unsupported by any facts or proof. The much-published fact is that there have been two cases of proven voter fraud in 30 years under the current system. I doubt each of these voters was carried to the polls in a bus. One voter in a bus would surely call attention to the plot to sway the election by a single vote.

Lest I be criticized for writing this issue off as a figment of Webster’s paranoia, I am willing to award him the benefit of the doubt if he can present statements from town clerks who have seen one or more buses descending on their polling places for an election. In fact, one clerk would do. Buses from senior citizen residences do not count.

Lacking this proof, I expect Webster to retract his claims and apologize to the voters of Maine.

Tom Foley

Cumberland Foreside

Finding home impossible with brother in wheelchair

My family is from away, but we are very interested in relocating to your city. Unfortunately, having a family member in a wheelchair seems to be unheard of there.

I have contacted several property managers, real estate agents, even individuals posting houses on Craigslist, and nobody knows of a reasonably priced year-round in-town rental that is wheelchair-accessible.

If I wanted to put my brother in a nursing home, or if he wanted to live by himself, there would be no problem, but keeping him included as a family member appears to be out of the question.

It is such a shame. Your city has so much to offer: history, art, education, everything except equality of housing for disabled individuals.

Donna Bell

Woodbridge, Va.

 

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