Comments on: Ruby-Sachs: Louisiana Teaches Us Why Enforcement Matters

By: Robert Katz

Robert Katz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:12:59 +0000

It shocks me to no end that this fellow still has his job. As far as I’m aware, there is no provision for a justice of the peace to decide not to issue a marriage license to a couple that is legally permitted to marry. So…why isn’t he looking for new employment? I’d recommend something that doesn’t require too much public contact and that also doesn’t require interpreting rules and regulations.

I do agree, incidentally that this incident may give us some assistance in our own struggle, though I’m not entirely convinced how many people will “get it.” I’ve little doubt that there are plenty of people out there who think that what this man did was perfectly legitimate.

By: Jessica K

Jessica K — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:54:57 +0000

Bill Maher said it best on his Friday night show on HBO.

After watching a clip of an interview with the justice of the peace in which he says: “I’m not a racist but… protect children bla bla bla” Bill said, and everyone agreed, that anytime someone prefaces an argument with “I’m not a xxxx but” it unequivocally means that they are what their trying to say their not. Replace the x’s with your choice of bigot. God knows that there are all too many to choose from.

By: bobweekend

bobweekend — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:05:28 +0000

I feel for the couple, but personally I think this news item will be good for our community. It opens the debate in a less threatening direction. The majority of folks accept interracial marriage. This JP is using the same arguments {protect the children, etc} to block this marriage that the religious right are using against our marriages. Maybe, just maybe the folks in Main, Washington, and Kalamazoo will see this as ridiculous and vote appropriately.

By: Jessica Martin

Jessica Martin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:42:07 +0000

I absolutely agree with what you’re saying about winning over the hearts and minds is just as important in winning over lawmakers. It’s easy to lose track of reality sometimes and think that getting these laws in place will solve everything for us. It’s true, these laws will help immensely but not everyone is going to enforce those laws.
Everyone knows of corruption and disregard for laws from people in high, law-abiding postiions and that has been going on for years. So the core to gaining equality is, you are right, connecting with people and winning them over to see that everyone deserves equal rights without discrimination.

By: Michael Mann

Michael Mann — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:59:32 +0000

Just goes to show ya, bigotry is a lifestyle choice