Editor:

I’m puzzled by objections to state recognition of marriages between same-sex couples (“Popping the Question,” Oct. 9). Is it confusion between rites and rights?

The marriage rituals performed by churches are not limited or affected by California granting marital rights to any couple of legal age. If a church wishes to discriminate between same- and opposite-sex couples, that is the church’s legal right.

However, churches and their religious beliefs shouldn’t seek to deny the civil rights of any of our citizens. The granting of a marriage license is a civil right.

If you want to protect the rights of churches, vote No on Proposition 8; my denomination should not be prevented from providing marriage services for gay/lesbian couples.

In no way does anyone else’s marriage threaten or diminish my own.

— Chip Sharpe, Bayside

Editor:

In the Oct. 9 issue, I read, with great interest, your article on Proposition 8: the so-called “Protect Marriage,” “Decimate Marriage,” “Do Something or Other To Marriage Act.”

There is one group of people who have been left out of this discussion. What about the people who are not getting married, are nowhere near getting married and have not even had a decent date in, at least, several years? What about them, huh?

I don’t really care if two women get married (all right, that lowers my odds, but it is not statistically significant) and I don’t care if two men get married (O.K., that raises my odds, but it is not statistically significant). If a man and a woman get married, I guess, it’s a wash.

In any event, I’m tired of the smiley, happy pictures. Oh, goodie for you! Look, I don’t care if it’s two men or two women or a man and a woman. None of that matters too much to my personal life and I can’t see how it affects society in any way worthy of passing a law to forbid it.

Oh yeah, I’m voting No on Proposition 8. But I won’t be happy for any of them.

— Craig Klapman, Arcata

Sweet Spot: Craig Klapman wins a Bon Boniere sundae for sending our favorite letter of the week.