I don't know how many of the Phoenix folk have read the following post on the national TER board:

Just your opinon...........Vote don't vote it's up to you... --- N.C.Tammy® (8/10/2003 9:21:31 AM)

This thread addresses the current Washington DC administration's efforts to outlaw gay marriage with federal legislation.  I posted this personal vignette and absolutely true story to the thread and I am sharing with the people here who may not read the national TER discussion board:
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One of my female cousins turned 62 yrs of age this past year. She is a Registered Nurse who retired a number of years ago from a career in the Marine Corp. She is a very caring and loving person. She moved 2 years ago to Henderson NV to take a job in the Nevada State Prison system. She met a lady her age through that job who had just gained custody of her three grandchildren (now ages 12, 10 & 9) who were crack babies, abused and neglected by their biologic parents (grandmother's daughter & son-in-law). These children were terrors, apparently, failing all grades and subjects, had severe emotional and behavioral problems and were about to be expelled from the Henderson NV public school system. My cousin began working with these kids on a daily basis, initially tutoring them to help with their school grades, but in fact, also worked on their behavior problems as well. Now two years later, the two older children are model students getting A's and B's in school and their behavior has been impeccable for the past 6 months. The youngest child still has behavior problems but has made "remarkable" improvement according to school psychologist and is getting B's & C's in school.

And Oh, BTW, my cousin and her friend (the grandmother turned foster mother) are going to celebrate the 1st anniversary of their "joining" this December. My cousin and her friend are gay. I have been honored with an invitation to this celebration and I plan to attend.

I have posted this same vignette to the Physician's on line forum with the exception of omitting the fact that my cousin and her friend are gay. So far all of the dozen or so responses have been extremely favorable (who could argue otherwise). I intend in a day or two to post the "rest of the story" to see how the responses will change, once sexual orientation becomes an issue.

When the "shrub" (aka Bush) whines about "Family Values" and pushes the agenda of the ignorant and prejudiced fanatics that seem to surround him in increasing numbers these days, I reflect on the acts of love, kindness, and humanity that my cousin and her significant other have made in the lives of 3 children who would have almost certainly been doomed without their efforts and intervention.

Certainly the "shrub" and his gestapo have offered nothing - and have nothing to offer -- these troubled children. Instead, the "shrub" is pushing for legislation that would outlaw the relationship that will be the salvation of these kids and sanctioning only the biologic and heterosexual relationship that damaged and corrupted these kids.

Anyone who cannot see where the true morality of human behavior ends and the hypocrisy begins in this scenario is worthy only of contempt.
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