Everyone deserves right to marry

For LGBT people, denial of this basic civil right can have serious implications. For example, a Hawaiian gay couple had been in a committed relationship for 20 years. One night, one of the men had a stroke and was taken to the hospital.

When his partner arrived, the hospital refused to allow him to see his partner -- even though the couple had a legal document stating their wish to make medical decisions for each other. The hospital's lawyers finally contacted the man days later and said "You can pick his body up at the city morgue." His partner had died three days earlier.

This Thursday is National Freedom to Marry Day for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. The focus of this event is to raise awareness of the legal and personal issues surrounding nonheterosexual marriage and to provide an avenue for showing support.

One national activity for this event is "tying the knot." Participants tie knots in ribbons or strings around telephone poles, parking meters and other public fixtures. Unfortunately, after checking the relevant statutes, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance determined that it would be a violation of University policy to participate in this activity.

As an alternative, we will distribute knotted ribbon pins that can be worn by anyone who wishes to show support for Freedom To Marry. The pins will be available at a table today and Thursday in the ground floor of the HUB and in our office in 310 HUB throughout the week.

We also will have information packets and a petition that will be sent to Gov. Tom Ridge. Other plans include an informational session at the regular Monday LGBSA meeting, including a presentation by a long-term gay couple and a candlelight vigil at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow on the steps of Old Main.

Please show your support for the right of all people to marry by stopping by the table or the LGBSA office to pick up a pin and sign the petition. Wearing a pin takes almost no effort and makes a powerful statement.

Political Team, LGBSA

Vengeance not valid reason for penalty

I take a strong moral stance against the death penalty. I feel that two wrongs do not make a right. In response to this, I have had religious friends quote the passage of the Bible, "an eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:24). However, this clearly misinterprets the purpose of this passage, which was meant to limit the violence of Israelites who would seek violence as retribution for petty crimes.

Pax Christi looks to Jesus as a model for its moral stance on the death penalty. He is recorded as encouraging people to turn the other cheek when struck (Matthew 6:39). He also is referenced as saying, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her" (John 8:7).

Also, when Jesus taught His apostles to pray the Our Father, he said, "Forgive us our sins for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us" (Luke 11:4). I see these quotes as challenges to find loving answers to violence. I am not implying that murderers should be free in society. The act of murder shows that a person is unable to function in society.

However, I believe that prison is a sufficient remedy to this problem. I have been told time and time again that Jesus has died for humanity's sins to save us from accountability and to teach forgiveness. If one believes this then does it not follow that Jesus died for all sins, including murder?

I find the idea that people should be able to seek vengeance through the death penalty morally appalling. I have been told that the victims' families need this vengeance. However, on at 7 p.m. Thursday in the HUB Fishbowl, a group called Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation is speaking. This group is comprised of people who have lost family members to murder and who are opposed to the death penalty.

I do not support the death penalty because I believe that killing, all killing, is wrong. I believe that if you vote to support the death penalty, then when someone receives lethal injection in our state, you are implicated in their death. This is a crime I cannot be a part of.

Jennifer Petullo
senior- geography