Vince Avedon – 6/13/06

This page was last updated on June 13, 2006.

Focus on real problems; Vince Avedon; Beaver County Times; June 13, 2006.

As you read this, remember Mr. Avedon once wrote that a high school student who showed interest in enlisting in the Marines as a “was probably brought up to be a two-faced traitor to his country.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“While we face great challenges in fighting terrorism, drowning in debt, still without an effective immigration bill, living with insecure borders (4½ years after Sept. 11, 2001), President Bush urged Congress to ban gay marriage.”

[RWC] Mr. Avedon chose not to mention he has a personal interest in this topic.

“What could he possibly be thinking?

“Polls are shouting to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart that we want real leadership and real solutions to real problems. They are failing. Americans are more concerned about declining wages and the lack of quality jobs than bigoted wedge issues.”

[RWC] In Mr. Avedon’s last letter, he bashed Rep. Hart and Sen. Santorum even though they voted on illegal immigration apparently the way Mr. Avedon wanted.

What “declining wages” and what “lack of quality jobs?” The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports wages have been growing slowly for the last few years and the unemployment rate as of May 2006 was only 4.6%.

What’s “bigoted” about not wanting the definition of marriage to change from what it has been since the beginning of civilization?

“They claim that an amendment is necessary to save the American family.

“I’ve yet to hear how anyone is directly threatened. Aren’t our troops fighting for freedom for all or are gays and lesbians excluded?”

[RWC] When will these guys get their language straight? (Pardon the pun. <g>) Are “gays” homosexuals of both sexes, or just homosexual men? The usage in this sentence appears to imply a “gay” is a homosexual man. If that’s true, why isn’t Mr. Avedon also expressing support for lesbian “marriage?”

Getting back on topic, no one is trying to deny rights based on sexual preference. If a homosexual man wants to marry a homosexual or heterosexual woman, or if a homosexual woman wants to marry a homosexual or heterosexual man, no one is trying to prevent that. Likewise, those who oppose same-sex marriage don’t care if the partners are heterosexual, homosexual, or a combination.

“Prohibition legislated morality, and it failed. Republicans want to fail at it again.”

[RWC] Don’t laws prohibiting killing, stealing, et cetera “legislate morality?”

“The Republicans are focusing on one of the few reasons that have not been proved to cause divorce. They should look to financial hardships while gasoline costs and higher interest rates are destroying the family.

“How can we tolerate officials who press wedge issues when 37 million people live in poverty and 46 million people live without health insurance?”

[RWC] Blah, blah, blah.

“Bush, Santorum, Hart and state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe would rather drive wedge issues than work toward real solutions.”

[RWC] In case you didn’t know, a “wedge issue” tends to be one where your position differs from the majority. If President Bush were pushing to allow homosexual “marriage” and Mr. Avedon believed it had a chance of passing, it would not be a “wedge issue” for Mr. Avedon.

“Isn’t there enough hate coming at us from abroad rather than create our own at home?”

[RWC] Who’s creating hate? What is hateful about believing marriage should remain defined as the union of one man and one woman?