Letter: Majority, protect minority's rights

To the Editor:

When talking about whether or not the right to marry should be restricted to heterosexuals only, you often hear people say we should vote on it. I guess the implication is that if the majority of people are in favor of something it's the right thing to do.

Years ago several states passed laws saying that black people could not marry white people, black people could not eat in the same restaurants as white people and black people had to ride in the back of the bus. A majority of the people in those states were in favor of those laws, (but not the blacks of course.)

Now, pretty much all Americans realize how wrong that was. When the majority determines the rights for a minority, it often doesn't turn out well for the minority.

But there are still those who would like to bring back those days. There are always some who want the government to pass laws forcing others to live under their belief system.

Throughout most of human history homosexuality has been misunderstood. People have thought it to be a choice. More and more of us now understand it to be something like a regularly occurring exception to the rule that people are born with.

Minnesotans will soon be deciding the rights for another minority group. I hope Minnesota is more advanced than those states that have limited the right of marriage.

Vote “no” on the marriage amendment. Sometimes it's the job of government to protect minorities from the majority.

LaVoie House

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters