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Stuart Reid complains about how an "activist judge" ruled against "the will of the majority" in allowing gay marriage ("Massacre of marriage endangers republic," Tribune, Dec. 24). Do Mormons not remember Gov. Boggs of Missouri? And how "the majority" of the people in that state agreed with him? Did the fact that his extermination order aimed at Mormons was "the will of the people" make it right?
Conservatives repeatedly fail to understand that the rights of any group of people cannot be decided upon by the caprice of the others in the population. If majorities can determine the rights of any minority, where would African-Americans in the South be even today? Do Jews get to vote simply because the rest of us decided magnanimously to graciously grant them a few rights? Or do they inherently deserve equal rights?
Mormons in Utah moan about this ruling by Judge Robert Shelby. "What is the world coming to when there is justice and equality for everyone?"
Well, the world is coming to be a more just place. What kind of warped person thinks that is a bad thing?
Johnny Townsend
Seattle, Wash.