Letters

Letters to the Editor

SOUTHOLD

Not a private issue

I am for civil unions, so the gay community can have the same legal protections and benefits as others. I’m not in favor of redefining marriage, the definition of one man and one woman, which has served as the definition, up to now.

The gay community could have achieved the goal of equal protection under the law without redefining marriage and not initiating the controversy and the division among neighbors. This isn’t a private issue about what people do behind closed doors.

If it were, the controversy of same-sex marriage wouldn’t exist. When a private interest wants social acceptance it becomes public.

People are people and we all should be treated equally, but that rarely happens.

The quote “a government that singles out any group for discrimination is a dangerous government” is true depending on whose side you’re on. This government has discriminated against a whole state of people and an entire religion. Utah and the Mormons were required to denounce their belief in polygamy in order to become a recognized state in 1896. The government then enacted laws against such practices. No one on the East End is rushing to ensure this injustice is overturned. Perhaps the government is dangerous only when it’s against what you believe to be true and just.

Homosexuality is found in nature. So are polygamy, bisexuality and promiscuity. Shouldn’t we legalize them as well following your rationale? Shouldn’t we allow a bisexual to marry a man and a woman? To not do so may be discriminatory by a dangerous government against an evolving social norm.

How do we know God placed these behaviors within creatures of the world? Couldn’t there be another powerful entity corrupting the divine to lure us away from the chosen path? Religion has been hijacked as an ally in all kinds of power struggles including this.

Since the beginning of time the ignorant have always screamed the loudest, defending their worldly desires by citing scriptures they didn’t understand.

Too bad the people of New York didn’t get an opportunity to vote on the issue. The result would truly be the will of the people.

We have yet to realize the ramifications of this decision.

Vin Ricciardi

SECURITY, CO

It’s about children

Grant Parpan’s opinion piece of June 23 deserves a reply.

The matter of same-sex marriage, he declares, might lead to more phone calls from others turned off by such a mailing. For one, count this pastor in.

What matters in the scene around us and our eternal destiny is whether we choose to please our God or ignore his word. When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden they produced children.

Is it possible that Grant’s parents didn’t tell him?

The Rev. Fred Moore

MATTITUCK

Keep it sacred

On gay marriage, say what it is, an alternative lifestyle and not mainstream.

Marriage is for the sake of procreation to further society’s existence. What would be next, marrying your cousin or allowing incest? Some things should just be sacred.

And anyone quoting Whoopi Goldberg might need some intellectual CPR.

Brenda Casey

JAMESPORT

Don’t let up on puppy mills

As an owner of two dogs that were adopted from the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Wainscott, I can only hope that our legislators do something about the sale of “puppy mill” dogs here in Suffolk County. My dog Rosie was a breeder for a Tennessee puppy mill before she was rescued by ARF and adopted by myself. Even though she has some problems, she still is one of the best dogs that I have ever had the pleasure to own.

So I ask everyone who reads this letter to please call, write or email our county representative, Ed Romaine, and ask him to support the legislation being considered by the Suffolk County Legislature to ban the sale of out-of-state “puppy mill” dogs.

Without us, these dogs will continue to live a miserable life, and then be tossed out with the garbage when they die.

Thomas W. Smith

MATTITUCK

Worth fighting for

The July Fourth weekend holds special significance on many levels ­— school’s end, summer vacations, beach days and, of course, our country’s fight for independence. For me, this weekend meant something different.

I was pleased to see “No Vacancy” signs at hotels, lines at restaurants, packed beaches, bustling marinas and the likes. Yes, pleased, even though there are downsides to the summer crowds.

But just as July Fourth reminds us of how great our country is, these signs of summer reminded me that thousands of visitors greatly value and pay good money for what we have here on the North Fork and what many residents take for granted.

There’s our beautiful beaches, clean drinking water, swimming, fishing and other forms of recreation.

There’s also fresh farm produce, fresh seafood, fresh air, stunning water views, rural farmlands, open vistas and much, much more.

These are all things we should rejoice in, things that we should want to protect. We don’t protect these treasures by turning wetlands into more marinas, farms into more mini-malls, and clean water into water we can’t drink, can’t swim in and can’t fish in.

Two-hundred-thirty-three years ago, our Founding Fathers agreed that America was a special place worth fighting for. Today, can’t we all agree that the North Fork is also a special place worth fighting for?

We don’t have to agree on the best ways on how to protect it. Our forefathers had different beliefs and different approaches about our independence. But everyone — residents, business owners and politicians alike — needs to agree and work toward protecting what makes this a special place before no one wants to come here any more. Before there’s nothing left to save.

The North Fork Environmental Council asks everyone to do what you can. Store rainwater for your gardens, stop pouring toxic substances down your sink, prevent runoff from your property from going into our streams, ponds, creeks and bays.

You can also help with a beach cleanup. Demand our elected representatives not just speak but act in our best interest. Support our local farmers and baymen and donate what time and/or money you can afford to any of the organizations committed to preserving the North Fork.

We are an independent country thanks to those who have fought for that ideal throughout the years. For the North Fork to remain a place we want to live in and others want to visit, we are dependent on each other to do our part and fight to “save what’s left.”

Bill Toedter
president, NFEC

EAST MARION

Random thoughts

Compliments are long overdue for Pete Harris and his highway crew for the fantastic job they did by rapidly clearing the streets of snow this past winter.

Southold probably has the lowest crime statistics of all similarly populated towns in the U.S. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is the great job that the Southold Police Department does to keep those crime statistics low.

I think that the word “entitlement” should be removed from our vocabulary and the words ”hard work” and “charity” capitalized.

Those that voted for Obama in 2008 to prove that they’re not racist should vote for somebody else in 2012 to show that color doesn’t matter, but character does.

At one time the Social Security system was self-sustaining and then the Democrats who introduced it got their fingers into the fund.

A reminder that Obamacare will rob senior citizens of $500 billion in Medicare funding. That number is one that the Democrats and leftist media hide from the public.

Obama suggests that Israel revert to its pre-1967 borders. If this happens, this will allow Israel to be more vulnerable to attack and Jerusalem, the center of the Christian and Jewish religions, to be controlled and isolated from the non-Muslim world. Israel has been developed and cultivated into being the Garden of Eden among the million of miles of arid desert that surrounds it. The Israeli people are braver than brave.

Instead of inciting hatred among their people against the western world, why don’t the oil-rich governments of the Middle East help their impoverished to live better lives?

The policy of this newspaper is to have all letters to the editor contributors reveal their names, residence and phone numbers. But on the website the editors allow the contributors who comment on these letters to use a pseudonym. Some comments are pure dribble and some are just plain cowardly and libelous. Why not insist that those that comment on this newspaper’s website use their real names and email addresses so they can be held accountable for their comments?

God bless America and the First Amendment.

John Copertino

CUTCHOGUE

Slobs on the shore

I hope the Nassau Point vandals enjoyed their party on Sunday evening, July 3.

I heard the bottles crash as they deposited four large black garbage bags on the lawn beside my fence at about 11 p.m. after the fireworks. But I didn’t connect the dots until the following day, July 4, when I discovered the bags ravaged by animals.

I had to buy large yellow bags, pick up their detritus and stow it in the car until the dump reopened.

If they’re locals they should be ashamed. If not, please don’t come back.

Patricia Tennant

MATTITUCK

School says thanks

On behalf of the Board of Education of the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District, I would like to thank the many organizations that presented awards to the graduates at our commencement exercises on Saturday, June 25.

The support we receive from all of these groups is deeply appreciated.

Shawn Petretti
high school principal