To the editor:

I was saddened to read the comments of David Hanson in the June 24 edition of the Call.

In my America, there is a balance of power — while majority rules, there are limits to what the majority can do to, or take away from, the minority.

It’s that unique balance that differentiates a democracy like America from a tyranny like the Taliban.

Mr. Hanson and others interpret the Bible in a particular way which they believe justifies their position. I note that slaveholders did the same thing with many believing that the Bible justified slavery.

Concepts of evil and good can be tricky, if you think about it. For example, I think it’s mean-spirited and hateful to deny the protections and benefits of marriage to gay people who love one another.

Cloaking mean behavior with religious self-righteousness doesn’t change its fundamental character.

I suspect that Mr. Hanson is a loving, kind person — just like me. Perhaps he has a family that he loves and who loves him, just like me. I suspect that we have more in common than not. It wouldn’t be fair for me to impose my beliefs on Mr. Hanson nor would it be fair for him to impose his on me.

So here’s what I suggest we consider: People who are opposed to gay marriage are free to attend churches that don’t perform those ceremonies. People who are not opposed to gay marriage are free to attend churches that do perform those ceremonies.

Neither the state nor the federal government should decide who is right or who is wrong in what is fundamentally a religious issue.

The government is not uniquely qualified to make this decision. Instead, the government should afford equal rights to all, and let the people decide which church they want to attend.

Nancy Inman

Concord