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Written by: Howard Holtz

Published: 15 June 2008

Created: 14 June 2008

Last Updated: 15 June 2008

The subject of same-sex marriage is very misleading, because the principle of it really is not about religion, but rather about equal rights. Many churches have consistently used “good words” over the years to speak out for and against rights for homosexuals. Some fight every bill that comes up, on the basis that they somehow infringe upon religious rights. Other churches think that ANY two people should be allowed to join in a biblical marriage relationship.

I will leave my personal religious beliefs out of this, and simply state that religions that try to affect the “same-sex marriage” movement in either direction are violating their own desire for religious freedom by undertaking political ordeals, thus mixing state and religion.

Now, what "same-sex marriage" is really mostly about? The gay community got behind the "domestic partnership" union, in hopes of obtaining civil rights equal to those given heterosexuals in regards to taxes, insurance, job benefits, death benefits, etc. California is one state who got behind it quite well, however, many religious groups consistently fought total equality.

The efforts of these groups successfully stagnated the efforts of the domestic partnership movement for equality – it became a farce. Also, they claim to be fighting any mixing of state and religion, and then they spend millions in lobbying federal and state politicians. These efforts are naturally doomed because the various religious groups cannot even agree upon what is right or wrong! (An interesting fact usually ignored is that a "domestic partnership" was not only for homosexuals, but for any combination of two people for whatever reason they chose to live together and share expenses as a heterosexually married couple does.)

The stumbling block in obtaining equal rights for gays is that we have two types of "marriage." One is the religious type, with every religion making its own rules regarding it. The other has unfortunately been the civil union, in which the government adopted the word "marriage" to describe it. This led to the state defining the term marriage based upon religious beliefs, and allowing various benefits and rights accordingly! Therefore, instead of a domestic partnership movement, they are now attempting to define the "civil marriage," not the "religious marriage," as a union of straights or gays, in order to receive equal rights. This eliminates having to pass special bills over the next umpteenth years to accomplish the goal of equality required by our constitution. So now the churches even tried to change the Constitution!

We have gay couples sharing expenses, and raising children properly.

We have gay single parents who are raising their children properly.

We have unmarried heterosexual couples sharing expenses, and raising their children properly.

Our constitution requires that the above should all receive equal tax benefits, insurance options, job benefits, death benefits, etc., and religious beliefs should not determine them. It is the religions that pushed the movement to the extreme limit of having to use “marriage” to obtain these benefits and rights.

This is not about religion!

Howard “Duke” Holtz lives in Lakeport.

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Written by: Thaxter C. Bodley

Published: 14 June 2008

Created: 14 June 2008

Last Updated: 14 June 2008

I was driving the big rig through L.A. when my cell phone rang. Ginny Craven of Operation Tango Mike said she needed a ride for the soldiers in the Memorial Day parade and asked if I could help. The two-week notice she gave me should have been plenty of time, but unfortunately my job keeps me away from home all week so I actually only had a few days that I could work on the project. Having done the parade before, I knew how much work was involved and that I would need help getting everything together in time. I told her we’d get it done even though I didn’t know exactly how.

Getting permission to use the truck from my bosses, Brad and Cathy Anderson, at C&A Trucking was no problem. They have always been generous this way, but Cathy did say that she couldn’t allow anyone to ride on the trailer for liability reasons. So just like that, my plan was out the window. Now I had to think long and hard about how I could help Operation Tango Mike in the parade without the troops. Then it hit me.

As of May 20, 2008, 4,081 young men and women died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and I decided to represent the brave soldiers who gave the ultimate of their lives in these, our most recent wars. With this theme as our beginning, I enlisted my son-in-law Wayne Lyon at Wooden Creations to carve the center piece that would pay respect to our heroes.

While on the road during the week before the parade I picked up 21 big flags. Meanwhile, Wayne was hard at work on the wood carving. The day before the parade there was a work party at my house with Operation Tango Mike volunteers, veterans, mothers of veterans and my wife, Dawn. Having so much help was wonderful and we actually got the truck ready to go with time to spare, unlike previous years. Saturday morning saw the final touches put on the truck named Freedom. My son, Chris, mounted the M1 and set the boots and helmet on the memorial carving.

From my seat in the truck I could see many people were moved by what we had brought. It’s a special view from up there, seeing the little children with their flags held high, all the smiles and applause. I felt we had truly done something remarkable for our fallen soldiers, something they would be proud of too. I’ll never forget seeing the judges stand and applaud as I stopped in front of their booth. They liked the truck so much, in fact, that they awarded it the “Grand Prize” for the parade and sent me a check for $125.

While $125 is a generous prize and I am grateful, I will not be keeping that money. Helping Operation Tango Mike with the parade was a great experience, but they need more than just moral support. That’s why I’m donating the “Grand Prize” money to Operation Tango Mike, along with my own matched contribution. It is my hope to plant the seed of the prize money and watch it grow with the help of our community. With your help we can do some thing very special for Operation Tango Mike, so they can continue to do the wonderful job they do of supporting our service men and women. This is a chance to show that we care and honor those who give so much in our name.

I offer a challenge to all of Lake County to see how much money we can raise for the troops by July 15. If you can match the $125, that would be wonderful, but you don’t have to. Please just give what you can. Even a letter with encouragement and good wishes will help brighten a soldier’s day and remind them that their sacrifice is being remembered here at home. Make checks payable to Operation Tango Mike with the notation GPG (Grand Prize Giveaway). Drop checks and/or letters of encouragement to Umpqua Bank 805 11th Street Lakeport, CA 95453.

In closing many thanks to Operation Tango Mike – Donna Christopher, Don McCown, Peg McCown, Jackie Morgan, Vic Morgan, Suzie Defrancisci, Natalie Baker, Ron Quick, Ginny Craven, and congratulations to all participants of the 2008 memorial parade.

Thaxter C. Bodley lives in Lakeport.

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Written by: Lake County News Reports

Published: 07 June 2008

Created: 07 June 2008

Last Updated: 14 June 2008

This is a report on the May 27, 2008 meeting of the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association where president Alan Siegel and first vice-president Sid Donell resigned.

Truthfully, they didn’t resign. They stopped claiming offices they didn’t hold. They were in violation of term limits, one of the most fundamental rules of the association they claimed to represent. Both, CC&R's and by-laws, say no board member may hold office more than two consecutive years. Special elections must be held to fill vacancies when no one is eligible.

In other words, they were imposters. They deceived many into thinking they had a right to hold office. Because of a guest commentary in the Lake County News (and arduous efforts of a group called “We the People”) revealed the truth, there was a persistent groundswell of dissent, forcing them out.

By pretending to be bona-fide representatives, Alan and Sid have placed homeowners in great danger. They’ve signed contracts for liability insurance that can be overturned in litigation. Like the real estate agent whose license expired, their eligibility had run out. Violating the CC&R’s, they were no longer members in good standing. Applications for insurance must be truthful or insurance companies can refuse to pay. Everyone knows they have good attorneys.

It gets worse. Every ineligible vote Sid and Alan made while they pretended to be directors may be disqualified. Lake County Supervisors should pay attention because (before they “resigned”) Alan and Sid voted to recommend an increase in property taxes for everyone in the Riviera. They forwarded their recommendation to the county. Supervisors would be wise to send this recommendation back to the association until it has eligible agents.

Darrell Watkins lives in Kelseyville.

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