Let's Save Marriage

Many proponents of Amendment One on Tuesday’s ballot see it as a way to support traditional marriage.  I’m wondering why all their efforts are focusing on how to prevent certain marriages (same sex, which are already against the law, btw), how to invalidate other stable, long-term relationships (non-married heterosexual couples), and how to undermine the structure and support of children of any of the couples listed above.

Prevent, invalidate, undermine.  These are all words designed to exclude or weaken.  Why not find ways to support marriage in a positive way?  Why not make divorce illegal?  If that seems a bit extreme, how about the legislature using some of the money taken from schools this year (and that being used to pay to put this amendment on the ballot) to pay for marriage counseling sessions?  Or pay for more job counseling and transitional housing for domestic violence victims?  

Let’s be a state that builds instead of destroys.  Let’s vote Tuesday to not write discrimination and narrow definitions into our constitution.  Let’s not concern ourselves with the private lives of our fellow citizens; instead let’s look to all North Carolinians to contribute to a healthy economy where children get a great education, where a history of discrimination is one we’ve learned from. 

As Americans, we all know what it’s like to be hated by some for who we are.  Why would we turn that inward on our fellow countrymen?  The savviest way to spend your vote this Tuesday is to vote no on Amendment One.  

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National Nursing Assistant’s Week

This week I am reminded of those often 4.5 million unsung frontline caregivers that provide hands-on care to our country’s frail, elderly, or chronically challenged in hospitals, private homes and other long term care settings.  These heroes go by various titles such as nursing assistants, nurse aides, care assistants or in-home aides.  However, they all […]

Obama, In Speech, To Focus On Income Disparities

President Barack Obama is renewing his focus on the income gap between rich and poor.

Surgery for Back Pain? Think Twice

Back pain can be an enormous obstacle to your daily life. Our spines are so central to every movement we make that any discomfort or pain can make ordinary activities unbearable. There are numerous causes of back pain, from muscle spasm to disc problems to bone deformities. And there are almost as many kinds of […]

Disfranchisement--then and now

They “disfranchised us, and now we intend to disfranchise them.” It sounds like what North Carolina Republicans might have said behind closed doors while they were gerrymandering legislative and congressional districts to assure their party’s continuing dominance. However, the words came from a white Democratic state senator more than 100 years ago. Legendary historian C. […]

UNC Researchers Tackle Autism--And Stereotypes

CHAPEL HILL – UNC is doing its part in a global study on a potential new treatment for autism. UNC ASPIRE Program clinical research manager Cheryl Alderman says the study will look at how an experimental drug known as memantine affects the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders—and researchers have already begun enrolling patients. “The first part of […]

OFA Stay Engaged

I want to talk to everyone who put their hard work into President Obama’s re-election campaign and is now feeling a little worn out and a little disappointed that we lost in North Carolina. You need to stay involved. The Obama administration has wisely chosen to keep their base involved with governing challenges after the […]

Fiscal Cliff

I was very fortunate to receive an invitation to visit the White House last Thursday. I was among a delegation of 40 community leaders from across the state of North Carolina who were asked to join in a conversation with the White House Office of Community Engagement about the impending fiscal cliff. Now the fiscal […]

Jay Robinson's Advice For President Obama

Why doesn’t U.S House Speaker John Boehner go ahead and recognize the hard facts? The president won the election. A majority of the country wants rich people to pay more taxes while everybody else’s rates stay the same. In the end Boehner will have to give up on this issue. Some say it would be […]

Building Grassroots Support Against The Death Penalty

This is Steve Dear. And this is a call to action. North Carolina has just begun its seventh year without an execution. During these years, the overall murder rate has declined significantly. With your involvement it is possible that North Carolina will never go back to the Old South justice that brutalizes our communities. This […]

Let's Save Marriage

Many proponents of Amendment One on Tuesday’s ballot see it as a way to support traditional marriage.  I’m wondering why all their efforts are focusing on how to prevent certain marriages (same sex, which are already against the law, btw), how to invalidate other stable, long-term relationships (non-married heterosexual couples), and how to undermine the […]

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