I’ve heard the arguments against this bill and it baffles me when I hear my fellow Christians using religious reasons to justify discrimination against anyone.
Jesus didn’t discriminate. Period. Jesus ate with tax collectors, members of a despised social class who collaborated with the imperial oppressor. He intervened on behalf of prostitutes. He crossed boundaries of race, class, age, and gender in spreading the good news of God’s extravagant welcome. He taught us to love our neighbor and he made it clear that we are not placed on earth to harshly judge one another, while excusing our own failures.
“Love your neighbor” doesn’t mean, “agree with your neighbor.” It doesn’t even mean “approve of your neighbor.” It says “Love your neighbor.” It should be clear to us that hate and discrimination fall well short of Jesus’ call to love my neighbor.
I urge others to take a stand for full inclusion and non-discrimination. Let’s build an Ohio that works for all God’s children.
Gary Percesepe
Springfield
The Rev. Percesepe is pastor of Highlands United Church of Christ.
Mother, baby needed to be together
In her last hours of life, Madison Bell was denied the right to be held and comforted by her mother, Dawn Brewer.
Mothers of newborn infants are always encouraged to breast-feed, if at all possible, because this is better for the child. Madison’s survival should have been the No. 1 priority. Brewer believed if she could have been with her baby, she would have lived, and it is possible she could have survived. Brewer’s request to be with Madison four days after she was born should have been granted, so she could provide her baby with comfort and nourishment.
Whether Brewer is guilty or not of the things she is accused of is beside the point. Madison needed her mother, and anyone with any common sense would agree. Brewer needed time with her daughter emotionally, for closure.
The health care provider and Judge Denise Moody had a responsibility to see to it that the physical and emotional needs were met for both Madison and her mother. Judge Moody’s conduct is unconscionable.
Brenda Hoke
South Charleston
Thanks to all parade participants
Thank you to everyone who participated in the North Hampton Memorial Day Parade on May 23. It was a wonderful parade for which I received many compliments.
I hope to see all of you again next year.
Jean Harrod
North Hampton
As a society, we’re overprotective
I learned to skate with all my friends on a pond in a city park. It was a happier, friendlier community as a result — no one ever drowned there.
Today, skating is illegal on the pond to avoid potential lawsuits. As a society, we are being overprotective, and many wonderful activities, services and products are being eroded by licenses, fees and regulations. We should ween ourselves from the thought that government must make everything 100 percent safe and take more responsibility for our own health and well-being. If I fall through thin ice on a pond, it’s not the mayor’s fault. It’s mine.
Tom Hawley
Yellow Springs
Where’s coverage of ‘The Music Man’?
Springfield has a real treasure in its arts programs.
City officials bemoan the facts that young people are moving away from Springfield, and the city is often in the news only for its crimes. Yet, here is something exciting, something unique, something that can draw people to our community, something great about our town, and there is little in our paper other than the mention of a festival event in the “Things to Do” column.
As I write this, the Springfield Arts Festival is presenting “The Music Man.” The day after it opened, our paper ran a large picture of a hamburger, but had nothing in it about the show. This show involves a cast of 67, all local talent, as well as another 35 or more working backstage, directing, playing in the orchestra, building sets, providing costumes, etc.
That’s more than 100 local people who have families and friends that would love to see something in the paper about the show, with pictures. They would buy the papers, and tell their friends, and bring more people into Springfield who would find an exciting, thriving community of which they might want to be a part.
Carol Gesalman
Springfield