Sad irony seen in minority group

Editor, The Times:

It was disheartening to read The Seattle Times article of the several hundred demonstrators who descended on Lynnwood to protest Referendum 71 [“Hundreds rally to reject R-71,” NWSunday, Oct. 11].

Granted, the mostly Russian demonstrators were peaceful and well-behaved, even going as far as to march in single file so as not to block traffic. But the sad irony comes in the eagerness of these emigrants to exercise their newly found freedoms of speech, assembly and religion with the intent to deny freedoms to another minority group.

Human nature has yet to rid itself of pecking orders. One group feels the need to adopt moral authority over another, and then dictate right and wrong. But it seems a wasted lesson to flee the persecutions of your homeland only to carry with you the seeds of prejudice and intolerance.

Limiting a group’s freedoms, especially under the cloak of religion, is a topic I would hope these new citizens would treat with more sensitivity.

Is there any difference between a dictator and a religious group telling people how they should live their lives?

— Louise Nadeau, Lake Forest Park

Just think

As Slavic evangelicals take to the streets with their signs to reject R-71, I have one request: Think.

Think about the oppression your parents or grandparents fled when they came to America. Think about the suffering they experienced because they could not practice their religion. Think about the brutality and wars they endured because one group believed they had the right to diminish the other group’s rights to peace, joy and security.

Also think about the many Americans, which include gays and lesbians, who worked to secure your rights as newcomers to this country.

And finally, think before you carry your signs that read “Protect Children.”

I think if the protesters were to meet some same-sex couples, and get to know the families they choose to deprive of rights, they would discover these families are like most families. They love their children, they look out for their neighbors, they are active in their churches, they make commitments based on love and respect, they are good people who do good things for their communities.

Now is the time for anyone who cares about families to think and approve R-71.

— Teresa Dix, Mount Vernon

Slavic evangelicals should show more mercy

Human nature never ceases to fascinate and befuddle, regarding the Oct. 11 article “Hundreds rally to reject R-71.”

Some of the same folks who likely emigrated from Russia to escape state-sanctioned oppression and curtailment of basic human rights, and to enjoy the American promise of tolerance and freedom, are working hard to ensure those benefits are withheld from a substantial portion of Americans.

My Russian immigrant ancestors are rolling in their graves.

— Faren Bachelis, Shoreline

My marriage doesn’t need protecting, thank you

It seems a little ironic that people who left their own country because of religious persecution feel free to persecute others in this country because of their sexual orientation.

You left your country to be allowed to believe in and practice what you wish, how about letting other people have their beliefs and freedom too?

And for the folks at Protect Marriage Washington — you guys scare me the most. My husband of 23 years and I don’t need you to protect our marriage; we do that by loving each other.

We are willing to accept that other couples, whether they are heterosexual or same-sex couples, should also have the legal rights and protections as provided by the domestic-partnership law.

— Maggie Hart, Lake Forest Park