Letters

Get answers before you sign

Dear Independent,

There were three tables with three different people asking for signatures for three different initiatives today at the York High School voting exit. One was asking for signatures to support the use of medical marijuana, one to expand racinos, one to rethink the taxpayers bill of rights (TABOR). Although these initiatives are meant to be a form of direct democracy whereby citizens can redress wrongs, they have been hijacked by wealthy individuals with political interests and industry.

The man collecting signatures made one dollar per signature and could only tell me the rudimentary idea of the petition. He was certainly not connected to it with any passion. The racinos initiative is supported by the gambling industry that stands to make much money from Maine gambling. I do not know enough about the medical marijuana sponsorship to speak about it.

When I was a member and chair of the York School Committee, we fought through two campaigns of citizen's initiatives: the Palesky proposal and TABOR. Although both were defeated by healthy margins, they took up much of the committee's time and the time of our Central Office, who are paid to attend to the education of our kids, not to thwart self-serving initiatives.

What I request is that before you sign one of these citizen's initiatives, please ask the person who he represents, who pays her to collect signatures and why they have chosen to subvert the regular legislative process? If these answers disturb you, are shallow and uninformed; please don't add your name because there is more you should know about the cause before you add your name.

Sincerely,

Patty Hymanson
York

Save Sunday for God

Dear Independent,

I was a little confused by the sports editorial in your last issue. You suggested that youth sports were under attack in this town. Heaven forbid! The concern of local clergy members and many of our parishioners is SUNDAY MORNING youth sports and road races that shut down York Street on Sunday mornings.

We clergy are as much a part of the sports scene as any other group I know. So are our children. Some of my most enjoyable moments come each spring coaching t-ball and now Nationals baseball. Clergy are not opposed to youth sports. Please don't use a "Straw Man" argument against us. You miss the point.

I've received countless positive comments on our recent letter to the editor challenging churchgoing parents to "Just Say No" when it comes to Sunday morning sports. My fellow clergy friends and I are grateful for the support. It seems that we clergy were waiting for our parishioners to step forward on this issue and they were waiting for us. Maybe we can do it together?

While I highly value the lessons my children can learn from sports, as a Christian I believe that these lessons pale in comparison to the ones taught in church. Will they learn the Lord's Prayer playing sports on Sunday morning? How about the Beatitudes? The Ten Commandments? The Parables of Christ? A theology of the Cross & Resurrection? Will such concepts as confession, repentance, reconciliation, grace, forgiveness, prayer, praise, meditation, stewardship, the sacraments and service to others be covered on a regular basis?

I believe in sports. But I believe in the church more. In my ministry with couples I marry, I used to end the last premarital session by having the couple hold hands and say the Lord's Prayer together with me. I discontinued this practice because I found that more and more couples today don't know it, and I don't wish to embarrass them in my office. One very sweet bride apologized to me, saying, "I'm sorry I don't know that prayer very well. I grew up skiing every weekend."

And that's my point.

Rev. Rich Knight, Sr. Pastor
First Parish Church
York

Editor's Note: The editorial in question, published Nov. 2,  was intended to address the fact that some lessons are learned on the playing field that are unique to competitive sports as opposed to other ways of learning.  It was specifically written in the context of the York Girl's soccer team having finally beaten Falmouth in the playoffs, as indicated in the accompanying photo to the editorial.  It was in no way intended as a rebuttal to Reverend Knight's Oct. 5  letter asking for respect for religious priorities in relation to sporting events, a matter in which we agree completely.  We regret that our editorial was not more specific in this regard.

Thanks from Diversity Forum

Dear Independent,

By all measurements, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning Educational Program by the York Diversity Forum was quite successful. Many people were involved in this and deserve recognition.

First of all, I want to thank the library, Robert Waldman, director, and the Board of Trustees, Kevin Sweeney, president, for providing the venue for this program and for their commitment to make it truly a public library. I want to thank the donors, too numerous to list, who responded to our plea for contributions to underwrite the expenses of the program when efforts to obtain grant money fell apart.

Thank you to the subcommittee of the Diversity Forum, whose time and effort made the program a reality: Marie Avoine, Beth Boynton, Milt Davis, Jori Margolis and Susan Mullens. My gratitude to my pals, who provided the home-baked refreshments that everyone enjoyed, and Food & Co., for the beautiful fruit platter. Thanks to the Readers' Theater, David Newman and Joe Dominguez, for their unstinting help and generosity of time to mount the production of the play reading. Thank you Henry Scipione and the School Department for backing us.

Last, but not least, a big thanks to the Civil Rights Team of the York High School, Jeff Barry and Sarah Staz, co-advisors, and the students for their enthusiasm and participation in "Take Me Out." The two outstanding performances were the highlight of the event.

With any money left in our treasury after the bills have been paid, we are purchasing books on GLBT subject matter to be donated to the York Public Library's collection.

The York Diversity Forum is grateful for all the expressions of support we have received.

Carol Davis, chair
York Diversity Forum

Stop the special interests

Dear Independent,

I attended part of the GLBTQ Program on Nov. 3. Considering all the dissention surrounding this event and the fact that my wife and many others have been castigated for their non-support of any library collaboration, I felt compelled to be there. The guest lecturer discussed the many forms of sexual expression in a variety of different contexts. As the lecturer made continuous references to sodomy, anal sex, oral sex and lesbian rubbing, I watched families and children walk by in and out from the children's library. I felt uncomfortable having a sometimes explicit overview on the history of homosexuality, as the double doors were left wide open. I watched our library director, Robert Waldman, passing through a few times, oblivious to the fact that little kids were in the foyer as another reference to sodomy was cited in some "enlightened" period of Western civilization. I had to interject and request that the doors be closed.

Throughout the presentation I questioned why couldn't the York Diversity Group have had this meeting in a reserved room upstairs? Why hadn't the library collaborated on other two-day and night programs before this? Why was the library closed and this forum was still being conducted?  

The library director and various strong-armed board members fought for this event and the political agenda it would undeniably promote. But I know others who have also sought library support and "collaboration" for other educational series and were politely told that the library wouldn't be co-sponsoring their respective event or providing any free marketing or conference rooms.  

I think the library board and director have been catering and pandering to special interests for quite some time now. They have done a great disservice to the constituency of York in selectively supporting their personal agendas while denying other groups' participation just because it may not have met the ideals of what has emerged self-serving, narcissistic minorities on the board. I was very supportive of my wife for standing up for the long-range interests of the library and the community. She wanted the library to serve the common good with a particular focus on the children. She didn't want the collective effort of the volunteers and the staff to be marginalized in order to serve a few members of the board, which have assumed intellectual stewardship of what they believe is their own York flock.

Regards,

Brett Edminster
York

Celebrate differences in York

Dear Independent,

Do you remember how you felt when you discovered that Santa needed a little more human help than first imagined? It's not that you completely lost hope that you would one day find a different kind of magic; it's just that your idealism and hopefulness had been taken down a notch. 

This is how I have felt while I have followed the controversy surrounding the York Public Library. Since when does hosting a York Diversity Forum event translate into a "tactic" that is used to legalize gay marriage? Since when does stationing a LGBTQ forum near the children's section endanger their "sanctuary?" The last time I checked one cannot become gay through osmosis. 

It's moments like these that I question if York can really live up to the image I created in my head while growing up here. I've somehow attached acceptance and tolerance to a picturesque postcard of the Wiggly Bridge or Nubble Light. I've attached warmth and sincerity to the postmaster or the bank teller knowing my name. I was so lucky. I never had to be someone I wasn't, like many people in OUR community. I never had to live a double life so that people would accept me. I never had to publicly date a man so that the world would be comforted by my heterosexuality. I never once considered ending my life because I didn't fit the mold. I was never told I couldn't love someone because it wasn't what God or anyone else intended.

Come on everyone! Is this the hill we really want to die on? If there is an event that is being hosted by our PUBLIC library and you are adversely affected by its content, consider NOT attending. Don't get in the way of people who are comfortable sharing open dialogue and educating each other.

You may be surprised by the outcome. Events like these might just be the thing that makes one of our teens remember the external AND the internal beauty of this town. It might make them want to come back to this community after seeing the world. Even more realistically, it might just save a life. It's amazing what acceptance or tolerance (if you prefer) can do for self-esteem. Let's celebrate our differences and not be threatened by them. Let's show our children that York is much more than just a pretty postcard!

Sincerely,

Gina Kyricos Brodsky
York

Thank you, York Public Library

Dear Independent,

I, Rosalie Lent, have had it brought to my attention that I misunderstood which library committee is responsible for arranging library movies. I have since been informed that it is a library committee's choosing. It was noted in my previous letter to the editor that I was under the impression the decisions came from the Friends of the York Public Library and I would like to take this opportunity to correct any misunderstanding it has left with the readers and ask the apology of all friends and members of the FOYPL group, and your readers.

I would also like to clarify the explanation of the purpose of the special meeting to quietly discuss the issue of the York Diversity Forum program, and that all conversation be kept inside the room and not shared with the press if chosen. I feel it is important that all residents know that the FOYPL has an open-door policy and one and all are welcome to our monthly meetings, and to help with our object of raising funds for new books, including the sales from our popular Book Nook, signage for the Book Nook and the wonderful museum passes available to one and all. Just stop at the desk and inquire if one is available for a special day you care to enjoy an educational trip.

I would also like to add to this apology a thank-you to the York Public Library for allowing our public community room to be used as a neutral venue area to offer the Diversity Forum program. It was an option one had to either educate oneself through action and listening and participating, or refrain from accepting the reality that we and our minds and bodies were not created by ourselves but by God alone, and all he asks us is to love one another are we are created.

This to me was a controversial issue just like come ups at the selectmen's meeting. Knowledge is learned and opinions expressed.

Thank you for the opportunity to correct an innocent mistake.

Rosie Lent
York

Characterization was mean-spirited

Dear Independent,

I am prompted to put in my two cents on the whole GLBTQ Educational Program/York Public Library brouhaha by "The York Weekly" editorial of Oct. 31. It smacks of irresponsible journalism to make the ludicrous connection to book burning based on Mrs. Edminster's stand against the library's sponsorship of this program. It is also just plain mean-spirited.

Why is it that those who would preach tolerance are often the least tolerant of other people's opinions that clash with their own because they are perceived as not politically correct? Although in this case it seems that too many people are anxious to find bias when that is not the case at all. Let's focus on the heart of the issue which is not the "fear and anxiety" (quoting The Reverend Paige Blair) relative to a diversity forum but rather Mrs. Edminster's matter of fact approach to whether the library should sponsor any program that they do not initiate. Her view doesn't appear to be based upon any homophobic reaction but is instead a reasoned concern for opening the door to any lightening rod group to use the library's budget and resources. Use your imagination to extend that logic and ask the library trustees what other groups have since asked for equal access. The fact that the library trustees have since decided not to sponsor any programs they do not initiate tells me that logic has prevailed. 

It is a shame that any diversity forum should be a lightening rod for dissension and finger pointing. Why can't we all just get along? Taking Mrs. Edminster's position and construing it as some kind of anti-gay position is unfair. Calling the program educational and not political isn't enough to make it so. I admire Mrs. Edminster for being brave enough to express her opinion, which apparently has since been adopted by the trustees.

Now, before The York Weekly makes any connection between me and book burning or the like I will fill in some blanks. I do not care if someone is gay, all I care about is whether someone is a good person. All the rest (gay or straight, white or non-white, Christian or non-Christian, Republican or Democrat, Red Sox or Yankee fan) should not define us. Let's hold a forum on how to be better people and maybe we'll be less inclined to find fault where there is none.

Thank you for your time.

Mark Harrison
York

Time for new leash law?

Dear Independent,

Even though I told myself that I wasn't going to publicly speak about the dog issues in town anymore, I have to say that this one was worth mentioning and I feel that it clearly exemplifies why there's concern around this issue.

I was walking along Long Sands Beach last week, during a very sunny, warm delightful afternoon, and as I walked there were others enjoying the day, some with and without dogs. I was not bothered personally by anyone's dog, nor did I witness anyone's dog doing their business and not having it picked up, but I was bothered by what I witnessed happen to a man who was jogging with his dog that was on a leash.

I could see two loose dogs further down the beach running, jumping, playing and romping around in and out of the water, as well as two women who I assumed were the dogs' humans. Then I noticed this man jogging along with his dog on a leash. As the man approached the loose dogs (he went as far as he could away from them but the tide was coming in and there wasn't a huge amount of beach left) the loose dogs started to run, jump and romp all around him and his leashed dog. He slowed down, stopped a few times and encouraged his dog to continue on. He did this several times before he was a decent distance away from the loose dogs. I can only assume that the loose dogs' humans were calling to their precious pooches to try to get them away from the poor man. The man picked up his pace and continued along with his jog when all of the sudden the two loose dogs ran up (from behind the man) and his dog lurched to the side and the man fell down, splat, in the dirt! I watched the two woman gasp, cover their mouths with their hands and yell what I think was an apology as I watched this man get back on his feet, regain his composure and continue along with his jog. He jogged by me soon after, wet with beach sand stuck to him, but he smiled politely at me and we exchanged "hellos" as he passed.

Is there anything about this story that makes any sense to anyone? If so, I'd like to know! These were not tourists, (we all know that the tourists do enough crazy things every summer to last an entire year), and this isn't something that we can blame on the tourists. For some reason there are many people who feel that their dog has the "right" to be wherever they are, that they have the "right" to urinate and defecate wherever they choose, that they have the "right" to jump on people, run after people, trip and knock people down, invade others privacy and personal spaces - and somehow, a quick "I'm sorry" is going to make it all OK? I just don't understand. Could someone please explain this to me?

I have just two last words to say about this issue LEASH LAW!

Sincerely,

Janalee Moquin
York

Ron Paul for president

Dear Independent,

Today was a historic day in American political history. The one true Constitutional candidate for President of the United States, Congressman Ron Paul, R-Texas, has proven with a phenomenal single-day fundraising event - the most ever given for a single candidate for a single office in the history of the United States - that the people are indeed starved for the message of freedom and prosperity and a return to Constitutional values. They are pledging their lives and their sacred treasure to the effort to return America to its roots of liberty and freedom.

This day also proves that the mainstream media is in need of critical oversight by the people's representatives, as they have been woefully inadequate reflectors of the political reality that is the Ron Paul Revolution. They have thus far been against the people, and have mischaracterized and inaccurately reported this movement for freedom as a solely internet-based "spamming" phenomenon. Today's fundraising tidal wave has shown the entire world the truth. It is now time for the mainstream media of America to do their part in reporting the news rather than distorting it to the benefit of America's domestic enemies of freedom.

America is not the hateful, warmongering big brother that her current leadership has portrayed to the world for the past seven years. We love peace, and Ron Paul and the movement he has engendered is the best hope for bringing peace to the globe and for the American people to show the world what they are really all about.

Please do your part to report accurately and fairly about the breathtaking event that has occurred today, take your journalistic oath seriously, and be fair in your coverage of what is really going on with regard to the race for the Republican nomination.

Sincerely Yours,

Corey Cain
York Beach