Marriage

In 1959, the state of Virginia convicted Mildred and Richard Loving for committing a felony, sentencing them to one year in jail. The trial judge, however, suspended the sentence on the condition that they stay out of Virginia for 25 years. What was their crime?  They had the audacity to marry the year before in D.C. and then return to their home state, which outlawed marital unions such as theirs. Mildred was black, and Richard was white. The couple took their case to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Popular opinion was not on their side.  A 1958 Gallup Poll indicated that only 4% of Americans approved of marriage between blacks and whites. Indeed, black-white married couples endured insult and injury based on a common belief that such unions were unnatural and immoral. Nevertheless, the Court ruled unanimously (9-0) in 1967 (Loving v. Virginia) that state laws proscribing interracial marriage were unconstitutional. Found in this ruling is the following quote: The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men (and women- my addition).

New Hampshire, known for its tenacious commitment to personal liberty, embraced the spirit of this 1967 ruling when it became the sixth state of the union to legalize same-sex marriage. This decision reflects a country that has grown more accepting of civil rights for all. Currently, only a minority of Americans disapprove of interracial marriage. American approval of same-sex marriage is also on the rise.  According to Gallup, support for same-sex marriage increased from 27% in 1996 to 44% in 2010.  The Pew Research Center recently documents that a clear majority of young adults support same-sex marriage, portending greater acceptance in the future.

As the first colony to declare its independence well over 200 years ago, New Hampshire continues to be intolerant of oppressive laws and unnecessary government intrusion.  It is hard to imagine this state changing course and going down a path that curtails freedom.  Please contact your state representative and senator and let them know that everyone in New Hampshire deserves to live free and equal and that same-sex marriage should remain legal. Note that the views in this letter do not reflect the views of Keene State College.

M.  Therese Seibert, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology at KSC
Swanzey NH



Civil Rights

To the Editor:

New Hampshire   Legislators will soon be faced with a decision that will affect the civil rights of many of your neighbors and friends.  Perhaps for the first time in the state's history, the people we have elected to represent our values and beliefs will be voting to take away a human right from thousands of our citizens.

This will happen, not because they are felons, nor  because they are not legal citizens, but simply because of their desire to live among us free and equal.  The right to join in a civil marriage with the person with whom you share love, commitment, property, and dreams is a right that is available to all the residents of New Hampshire.  This right will be debated in the legislature again this year.  At risk are the legal marriages of thousands of gay and lesbian residents.

Imagine if your family's security and future could be challenged every time the political winds in Concord blow in a different direction.  Think about how you came to find love with another and married.  Imagine that the state government may now say that your marriage is not valid, not good enough and not equal.  That is exactly what will happen to thousands of New Hampshire families if the legislature votes to repeal the state's current marriage law.

What can you do?  Contact your state legislator and state senator and tell them about families you know who will be devasted by a vote to repeal equal marriage.  Tell them your own story and what it would be like to know you could not marry the person of your choice.  Talk to your friends and neighbors and ask them to do the same.  Everyone in New Hampshire deserves to live Free and Equal.

Carolyn Crane

Keene ,NH

New England bigotry

A black man and white woman with both mixed and caucasian children move into a beautiful home in Eidelweiss, in Madison, NH.  The Chief of Police, John Pickering becomes the champion for the mother.  Law Enforcement at one point asks the white woman "does he strike you" for no apparent reason, no domestic or anything of that nature.  Does anyone smell some BS?  The only agency that can help me is the FBI/DOJ so that is who I turned to.  As a professional boat builder and responsible father who stayed busy trying to support his family, something seems fishy.  How would I lose my job within days of the closing?  Did Pickering have friends in Boston who could have interveened since the real estate closing would provide Pickering with my info in Ossipee?  There is much to be considered and I will sue for complicity.  Bigotry is an ugly affliction.  A sickness, and I have a cure.  If I get you down, you will not get back up......

The NH Administration believes it can cover up, lie, conceal and destroy evidence freely

I print this in hopes that steps will be taken to bring these individuals to justice.  # children's lives were seriously harmed and quality of life affected by criminal acts.  Until I see a positive sign that we are regaining our rights, I will continue to post and shed light on a horrific turn of events in the COnway Family Court and Conway District court by Judge Albee.  I am willing to sacrifice whatever I must to regain our rights.  My story will be told and until I see them in a "fair" court of law will continue my efforts to showcase their deeds.

Support for SB 500 from a man on parole.

To the Editor:

There has been much said about the Republicans’ effort to repeal SB 500, the new law that gives every inmate a period on parole with supervision and help in rejoining society. Repeal is a bad idea. Here’s why:

I spent eight years in the New Hampshire State Prison.  I have been on parole for 2 ½ years now. Reentry into the community has been hard, but I had a wife and supportive friends and family on the outside to help in the process.  The prisoners who most need SB 500 are those who have lost everyone and everything while incarcerated.  Frequently these men and women burned their bridges by the crime they committed. Often they were running with the wrong crowd or dealing with addiction or mental illness prior to their incarceration. Their release back into the community is fraught with danger. Without the guidance of a watchful parole officer, their chances to succeed are slim. Repealing SB500 to appear “tough on crime” is short-sighted and contrary to the best interests of the State of New Hampshire.

Let me tell you a true story.  I met a man in prison.  I will not tell you his name because he could be easily located through the sex offender registry.  He was in his 50’s at the time. He had been convicted of incest.  One of the requirements for his parole was the successful completion of the prison’s sex offender program.  But, he has Asperger’s Syndrome.   He keeps to himself, will not make eye contact, and finds interpersonal communication difficult.  He flunked out of the sex offender program and was denied parole. 

The problem was; he didn’t know how long he had to serve.   One day, after more than 15 years in prison, he was called to the unit counselor’s office and told that he was maxing out in one week.   It was January.  He had no one on the outside.  He had no skills. He had no plans. He had no place to stay.  The local homeless shelter would not take him because he was a sex offender.  I heard through the grapevine that the unit counselor drove him to a boarding house and paid his first week’s rent. 

Is this really how the State of New Hampshire wants to handle such cases? Is this wise, or even safe? SB 500 assures that people like this will get released into the community gradually under supervision and will be helped to find appropriate housing and employment.  Everyone benefits. Please, whoever you vote for in November, tell them you want to keep SB 500.  

Philip Horner