Sally Kern's remarks | Issue Letters

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Sally Kern's remarks

This is a letter I wrote that was published in two news papers in regard to the remarks made by Sally Kern: I am an American. I am proud of this country and have an American flag flying at my home. I pay taxes and obey the laws. I pray for our nation and for its leaders and exercise my right to vote. I believe in God and endeavor to live by Matthew 22:37-40. Yet I am being referred to as "the biggest threat to America," greater even than terrorism. Because I am gay. Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, speaking to a Republican group in January, equated both sexual orientation and the Islam religion with terrorism, claiming the gay/lesbian community has an agenda that is destroying our nation. I don't know of any "agenda" the gay/lesbian community holds. I don't understand why various leaders are so threatened by a group that makes up approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population. I cannot grasp being compared to "a cancer." Because I am gay. I am thankful for freedom of speech and believe it is our right. However, hateful, inflammatory speech must not be tolerated. We live in a free country, and you have the absolute right to disagree with me. I also have rights, and there are doctrines and convictions I disagree with. It's OK if we don't agree - but as human beings we owe each other tolerance. I deserve to be treated with respect and to have the same constitutional rights as any other person. Because I am an American. Carla Snellen

Carla J Snellen
Jefferson City, Mo.

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