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Ah, there’s nothing like hearing from the wingnutroots here in town. Email has been dribbling in from my fellow Bull City residents to the City Council. I imagine most people are writing in to thanking our city’s leadership for taking an affirmative stand for equality, but the naysayer stuff is just golden… and now part of the public record. Here are a few batsh*ttery ramblings from them, the first from the head of the Triangle Young Republicans.
From: Theodore Hicks
Sent: Tue 8/18/2009 10:54 PM
To: Council Members
Subject: Same-Sex Union ResolutionDear Durham City Council Members,
A few moments ago, I learned that you have passed a resolution supporting same-sex unions. I am appalled! The state of North Carolina guides the discussion of marriage and as a result this resolution that you have passed is a meaningless gesture. And more importantly, a waste of time.
That being said, it does point out your priorities. By passing this resolution you are signaling that this is an important issue that you believe in. How about the crime rate in Durham? Do you think that is something you should focus on? Or what about the graduation rates? As of February 2007, the graduation rates of Durham High Schools were 82.6% for the Durham School of the Arts, 76.6% for Riverside High, 73.4% for Northern High, 66.4% for Hillside High, and an astounding 58.9% for Southern High. For all of the schools, there were a total of 1,537 graduates out of a total of 2,132 candidates – that works out to a graduation rate of 72.09%. That is the same as a failure rate of 27.91%. When I read that the Durham City Council is voting on a resolution to support same-sex marriage, I think about this pathetically low graduation rate and I wonder . . . shouldn’t the Durham City Council be spending more time on other issues . . . perhaps an issue on which they can have a stronger influence?
Furthermore, North Carolina is considered one of the states in the “Bible-Belt.” There are quite a few of us who believe in the inerrancy of the Word of God, and thus are very much opposed to the concept of same-sex unions. The Word of God is very clear. Same sex unions are despicable to God. If you doubt me, read your Bible.
To Ms. Cole-McFadden specifically,
On your Durham City Council webpage you list your membership in the West Durham Baptist Church. You even mention that you are the Sunday School Superintendent. My question to you is simple: How can you instruct Sunday School, or guide Sunday School instructors, if you, yourself have not read the Word of God? If you have read the Word of God, then I trust that you voted against this resolution? For surely, you would not argue with God? (“Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker” Isaiah 45:9) But I know that the council voted unanimously in favor of this resolution and as a result I question the sincerity of your faith.
To Mr. Woodard specifically,
You, too, list your membership in the St. Philips Episcopal Church. Surely, you voted against this measure? But no, the council voted unanimously. Are you not a Christian? Do you not stand up for what you believe in?
By way of this email, it is my intention that you be made aware that you are not serving your constituents with the passage of this resolution. You are merely attempting to serve yourselves by passing a meaningless resolution in an attempt to pander for votes based on what you believe to be popular opinion. I would urge you all to consult the Word of God and perhaps specifically, the book of Revelation, for example see Revelation 2:14-16. By way of passage of this resolution, you are condoning sexual immorality. This is not pleasing to God, whom you serve, whether you know it or not.
Respectfully,
C. Theodore Hicks II
Chairman, Triangle West Young Republicans
www.twyr.org
OK. This is BS questioning the faith of council members when this resolution has nothing to do with religious marriage. Doesn’t Mr. Young Republican know the difference between religious and civil law? If this is the leadership of the future, no wonder the GOP is dying a slow death in this state. Below the fold, a man who’s so incensed that he says he’s putting his home on the market and not spending any more money in Durham. 
Look at this laff riot…
From: Doug
Sent: Tue 8/18/2009 8:26 PM
To: Council Members
Subject: Same- Sex Marriage ResolutionDear Mayor Bell and Fellow City Council Members,
I moved to Durham in 1999 to attend graduate school at Duke University. After completing my degree I chose to remain here in Durham and make this area my home.
In the last few years I have become more disgruntled with how things are run in this city and have chosen to remain here and give you another chance.
I was very upset when you made Durham a Sanctuary City a few years ago. However, I chose to provide you another chance.
Then when the it was revealed by the News and Observer of the problems which exist in the Probation System here in Durham I became a little more concerned for my safety. I thought that maybe this article might help improve this situation but it didn’t. I will provide you with a personal example. There is a house in my neighborhood in which a young man lives in who deals drugs. He has been shot at several times and has been arrested both for possession and for having a gun while on probation and our great judicial system keeps letting him out. There are quite a few families who live in my neighborhood with young children and there are young children living at this house as well. I guess that you all will not do anything about this house until some innocent young child gets caught in the crossfire and is either injured or dies. Every time I discuss this issue with a local law enforcement officer I am told they are working on getting him out of this house and put behind bars but I don’t see any progress in this area.
However, after your actions last night at the City Council meeting where you and your fellow City Council members passed a unanimous resolution showing your support for same-sex marriage I find that I can no longer live in this City. I will be putting my house up for sale and until it sells I will no longer being making any purchases in your town. I will take my business elsewhere. If my house is not sold by the next election you can be assured that I will not vote for any of you who are up for re-election. I can not accept this type of resolution. It goes against my Christian beliefs and moral convictions.
Sincerely,
Doug Cregan
Good luck unloading that house in this market, sucka. Buh-bye. And finally, this lovely missive!
From: John Wells
Sent: Tue 8/18/2009 8:42 PM
To: Council Members
Subject: Same-sex marriage resolutionDear Durham County Council Members,
I must say that I am appalled that the seven of you would have the unconscionable audacity to pass a resolution presuming to speak for the entire populace of Durham County on such a controversial matter. Everywhere one looks today, governments at all levels are forgetting that they are elected “for and by the people” and are pushing their own agendas and doing what the small governing body thinks is right, with no clue as to whether they are representing the voice of thier constituents. We elected you to fight crime, economize government, and take actions to improve the well-being of the citizens of Durham, not waste tax payer’s money passing worthless resolutions that very likely might even misstate the majority view of your constituents on the subject at hand.
Sometimes I wonder what our nation will stand for – exactly where the breaking point is where we finally force the right things to be done. The right choices. Do we still have what it takes to make that happen? Do we have any more Rosa Parks’ in America? Any Dr. Kings? We live in a nation where our government’s founding documents formally recognize the supremacy not of the government, but of the people. Where government exists only by the consent of the governed. Wake up and be the arm of your people and stop ramming un-voted-for resolutions down our throats. If you had proposed a referendum on this and the majority of the over 250,000 citizens of Durham County had passed it, then you would have the approved power of the people to pass such a resolution. As it is now, you have abused your elected powers and the whole lot of you should be run out of office.
Sincerely,
John Wells
Ummm…why are these homophobes always talking about ramming things down throats? Just asking. I see that Mr. Wells approves of mob rule rather than representative government. Nice. Mr. Wells, take a look at the mess California is with its proposition system and it’s all one needs to know what happens when “the (under-informed) people” take to the ballot box to determine civil rights.
And as far as citing Rosa Parks and Dr. King, that’s audacity.
38 Comments
Whenever someone name-drops/quotes the bibleI let them talk to my hand…
Dena
Correct me if I’m wrong…but didn’t the Durham City Council spend all of 90 seconds on this matter? You’ve got the YouTube of handling of the resolution at the Council meeting.
Where’s the taxpayer waste?
Putting something up for a referendum (as the bigot John Wells suggests) would cost the city real money, not simply 90 seconds in a Council meeting.
Where was all this outrage from the Young Republicans when other municipalities in NC were passing resolutions opposing marriage equality? It wasn’t a waste of time then, was it?
Hypocrisy, thy name is C. Theodore Hicks II.
oh yes, they brought it up and did the deedIn very short order. It was a 2.5 hour meeting and this took about 3 minutes to bring up, deal with the interruption from fundie Victoria Peterson (who wanted to speak without signing up; it wasn’t a public hearing on the resolution), vote and move on.
IndeedGood ol’ Ted is aptly named … he is indeed a hick.
Lemme understand this…Gun-toting drug dealers weren’t a deterrent to his residency- BUT HIS CITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY WAS???
Dude. Your priorities are totally whacked!
(of course, up here Heath et al would figure out a way to BLAME the drug dealers ON Teh Gayz…)
::eyeroll::
Mr. WellsUm, Rosa Parks was standing up to the majority, or rather, sitting down, in opposition to the majority. And Dr. King was definitely not in the majority. Officials are elected to represent all of the people, even the ones you hate.
There IS alot of “ramming” talk!You’re right; hadn’t really thought about that. Very rough play; fondling and caressing get better results…
The New VernacularThose on the Durham City Council need to “Barney Frank” those who try to impose religious tyranny.
HARD.
“For best results”“Don’t scream in your councilperson’s ear- try blowing gently!”
Waiting for the Strom Thurmond/Clarence Thomas hearing comments in 3…2….1…
“The Word of God is very clear. Same sex unions are despicable to God.”???
Where does the Bible say anything about same-sex unions?
LouiseGet your mind out of the gutter. Correction. Make room for the rest of us.
Dena
LOL!Okay, I’ll scootch over here in the mud; there’s room for everyone and it’s fun to throw!
I know!Doesn’t everyone have a copy of the version where it reads “Adam and St.Eve?”
If that’s not an endorsement, what the heck do ya need?
I think King James just erased the “St.” part…
These are not the driods you’re looking for, move along, move alongIf Mr. Hicks wants to live in a medieval theocracy, I hear that Tehran has some really nice suburbs.
Well, see…
But Mr. Young Republican doesn’t want a difference between religious and civil law. So he’s hoping that if he and others on his side continue to treat it as one in the same, it will become one in the same. As it is, religious beliefs have far too much influence on law as it is. There are simply some debates we should not have to have.
…..and feels sooooo good.
Pam,Please correct me if I’m wrong but you said,
Shouldn’t that be “……this resolution has nothing to do with religious marriage”?
Mr. Hicks (quite appropriate name – minus the “s”)…….……..apparently hasn’t heard that the Episcopal Church is a gay-friendly organization (well most of it.)
Know the lawIt just pisses me off when I hear these clowns quote things they obviously know nothing about. The United States Constitution is written to protect the MINORITY!!!
Evangelical Divorce RatesMethinks if the religious right is so adamant about supporting “traditional marriage” they should spend more effort keeping their own marriages together and less time trying to keep others from marrying.
http://www.religioustolerance….
Compare and contrast the Atheist/Agnostic divorce rates with the most conservative denominations.
Go ahead, question their faith!I had to smile reading the letter of wingbat C. Theodore Hicks II and his special focus on two councilmembers for their voting to support a measure that could possibly be contrary to their personal religious beliefs.
Earlier this year when the DC city council voted 12-1 to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other juristictions, at least one councilmember–and one who has not always been counted as a reliably pro-equality vote at that–was similarly smeared for betraying her faith.
But the attack backfired. The councilmember was rightfully incensed at having her bona fides challenged–and instead bowing to the pressure she has been alienated even further from the anti-equality crowd.
Not far removed from the “godless” bashing episode in the last month of the 2008 NC senate campaign that energized and propelled Kay Hagan to victory over Elizabeth Dole.
So let the rightwingers devise all the parochial and denominational purity tests they want. Many people of deep personal faith will be repulsed by the dogmatism and may find themselves more receptive to fairness-based reasoning than they–or we–ever might have thought possible.
The Bible says what THEY want it to say.It is not so much a book as a Rorschach blot for every bigot, moron and mental defective in sight.
Let’s go back to the videotape…
My video is only 5:29, and part of that is the standing ovation, so again, where’s the taxpayer waste, Theodore?
DC Council MemberWhich DC council member are you talking about? I’d like to research and read more about that.
An Answer for TrumpetDCThe councilmember was Yvette Alexander (Ward 7). My source was the following coverage of Loose Lips in the City Paper (hope linking works!).
http://www.washingtoncitypaper…
UPDATE, 11:55 P.M.: Yvette Alexander has strong words for the ecclesiastical community: “They have questioned my Christianity. They have question my morality….Let me just say this is an issue of fairness….I do know one thing, that everyone is equal under God.” Alexander also alluded to some political pressure she’s been feeling: “For those of you threatening to run a ‘Christian candidate’ against me in the next election, you should know: I’m a Christian candidate, too.”
Strong words, and I would like for her to know that there are citizens and voters in her ward who in the next election will appreciate her “epiphany,” if you will.
I would welcome speaking with you offline if you are a DC resident and hope this will give you some start on your further research or advocacy. Although we have done a good job educating councilmembers about our rights, we still need to ensure that ANCs and ward political organizations are supportive and inclusive of our community.
I must have missed that page in my History Book with Rosa Park riding shotgun on the busYour looney tunes are amusing, the ones in Louisiana tie nooses on school property trees, and the sherrifs shoot over the heads of poor people walking miles in the hot sun across bridges, after Katrina.
Can we have some of your laughable whimps who threaten to sell their homes? I covet your silly haters, mine are scarey assholes.
Parks,,,,sorry polly, I can’t leave that error
YeeesBeing full of contradictions, the Bible does lend itself to both sides of any issue. You’d think the “inerrant word of God” would be a bit more clear and make some sense.
God is a postmodernist, apparently.
Thanks!My e-mail is (now) in my profile.
Sorry Mr. Hicks, but ECUSA likes teh gayI don’t know anything about Durham, but Mr. Woodard listing himself as a fellow Episcopalian, what with our gay bishops (and current gay bishop candidates) and with the national church convention ratifying the blessing of same sex unions the other week…you just should have seen that one coming, Mr. Hicks (too easy to make fun of the name, so I won’t go there).
Revelation 2:14-16I wondered how these verses might be relevant to the issue of same-sex unions, having become accustomed to the usual citations of (very selective bits of) Leviticus and Romans. Or how it might fit into Revelation’s primary subject: eschatology.
My familiar source (the Skeptic’s Annotated Bible) is based on the King James Version, so please excuse the outdated parlance. Outdated by hundreds of years that is, not a couple of thousand:
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
We can (I hope) presume he isn’t getting all worked up over the Nicolaitanes. (Though that reference does have the advantage of being relevant to a Biblical time-frame.)
So I’m assuming–leaving aside the reference to “fornication” (which is an act committed by heterosexuals, or so I’d thought)–our Young Rethuglican friend cited these verses primarily because he relishes the thought of Christ (in Rambo mode) cutting down sinners with his, uh, mouth-sword.
And they call us perverse!
mouth-sword?This girl I’m seeing tells me I have one.
Dena
SorryI just couldn’t resist that one…
Dena
if you can breathe through your earsyou’re a keeper….LOL
If you pointed out Jonathan & David – it’d really blow their mindsbut hey, once their minds are blown wide open, who knows what sort of ideas might seep in to replace all the brainwashed garbage.
plus…Not to mention the dude doesn’t even know the difference between the City Council and the County Commissioners. His letter is addressed to the wrong people anyways!
Dear Doug Cregan,Fine, spend no more money in Durham and leave. Whatever.
The number of LGBT folks in the region who spend money in Durham each year continually goes up. The NC Gay & Lesbian Film Festival brings thousands each August. And every September, NC LGBT Pride festival and parades brings thousands more. All of them buying tickets, eating at local restaurants and shopping in the stores. I know, I’m one of them. And after this resolution, I’ll be sure to make every effort to send more of my spending over to the Bull City, and be sure to encourage all my other LGBT and Allied friends to do the same.
I agree with thatI was brought to Durham for the 14th annual NC Gay & Lesbian film festival recently for the first time.
Saw:
(official trailer has embedding disabled, this one does not but it talks a little bit about the twilight movie the that one of the lead actors in this movie was also in)