Posted at Show Me Progress.
I first wrote about the commitment announcement of two males and the reactions in letters to the editor in the Warrensburg [Missouri] Daily Star-Journal here and here.
Lo and behold, my disappointment in my fellow citizens was assuaged by four letters to the editor in today's paper in answer to the seven coordinated letters of last Friday.
Unfortunately (or fortunately - that depends on your opinion of the quality of the Warrensburg paper) the Daily Star-Journal does not publish an on-line edition so one can't provide links to the letters.
The first letter:
"It has been a long, long time since I have seen so much hatred expressed in the name of Jesus in all those letters to the editor...that condemned an engagement announcement.
I really feel sorry for those who have such fragile family values that they feel threatened by the very personal (and private) actions of other people..."
Another, more extensive letter:
"...It seems that these readers (who claim to be "the majority") feel that a newspaper should only advertise or reflect values they consider right and moral. Their viewpoint doesn't allow much room for the publishing of perspectives divergent from their own. Freedom of the press is endangered when individuals or groups seek to control the media to force their values on others. When I see this happening, I am disappointed..."
A mother shared a personal story about her lesbian daughter in another substantial letter:
"...I applaud The Daily Star-Journal for printing the announcement of the commitment of two men to each other. I enjoy reading about the joyous events in the lives of the people in this and surrounding communities. I would like to think that if/when my daughter meets someone she loves and wants to share the rest of her life with I would be allowed to announce her good news to the community. Twenty years ago I might have written one of those letters we read on Friday but I have an advantage over those other writers, I know my daughter."
And the final letter:
"The recent response to the now famous engagement announcement has been very disconcerting. My own initial reaction when I read the announcement was one of joy for two people who care for each other. Shouldn't that be celebrated? However, the blatant hate mail that the Daily Star-Journal printed as Letters to the Editor....is what surprised me the most....In this day and age gay bashing letters don't deserve anything but to be thrown in the trash, and the writers should be ashamed. Please do not insult this community by printing such hate speech. Apparently we need more love in this world and more tolerance."
Yep, those previous letter writers published on Friday, October 26th made the mistake of picking a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.