The Next Election
Dear Electors:
Jonetta Rose Barras wrote a good column this Monday on the political
prospects for the 2010 election, http://tinyurl.com/mpbbd5.
She identifies the definition of marriage as a major issue in next years’
campaigns, and writes, “If opponents lose in their effort to have a
public vote on an issue sure to change the culture of the nation’s
capital, and Catania’s bill passes the council, don’t expect them to
go into that proverbial dark night. They will look for someplace to
direct their anger and dissatisfaction: Mendelson and Catania. The
battle could be messy and complicated. Gay rights organizations and
advocates will dump a bunch of money into campaigns of so-called
marriage equality proponents. Opponents — national and local — won’t
be slouches. Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl pulled in his posse of
priests and traditional Catholics, which means an even larger contingent
of Hispanics and African-Americans pushing for the initiative against
same-sex marriage. Baptists and Evangelical clergy already were in the
yard ready to battle. Some in the media have tried to cast these
individuals as Neanderthals. The opposition is broader and deeper than
media reports convey.” (The Marriage Initiative of 2009 is at http://www.dcwatch.com/election/init21b.htm,
and the Archdiocese’s letter to the Board of Elections and Ethics is
at http://www.dcwatch.com/election/init21a.htm.)
Here’s the strategy for both sides over the next few months. Today
at its monthly meeting, the Board of Elections and Ethics said that it
won’t have a public hearing to consider the Marriage Initiative of
2009 until a special meeting late in October. That delay gives the city
council time to pass a same-sex marriage bill before the BOEE meets,
which could make the initiative moot. The supporters of the traditional
definition of marriage will essentially be checkmated. They will be
unable to press forward with the initiative; the Board of Elections and
Ethics has already decided that a referendum on the subject violates DC’s
Human Rights Act; and the city council is nearly united, with at least
twelve votes against traditional marriage. In fact, the city council
could let the initiative run its course if it wished; even if it passed,
the council could overturn it the next day. (The council has previously
overturned initiatives that set term limits on office holders and that
limited campaign contributions.)
The opponents of same-sex marriage, then, have a difficult course
before them. They can pursue their initiative, but the BOEE may not
allow it or the city council may preempt it. If they get their
initiative passed, the city council can easily overturn it. The cards
have been dealt and the game is fixed. The only alternative for
opponents of same-sex marriage is to play the electoral game and to try
to defeat all the sitting councilmembers. Defeating just Catania and
Mendelson would change nothing, since it would leave ten solid votes for
same-sex marriage on the council (eleven votes, if Mendelson were just
replaced by Clark Ray). There are no announced candidates now, and it
will be hard to find attractive candidates who will be able to brave the
name-calling in what will assuredly be mean-spirited and personal
campaigns. In their favor, opponents of same-sex marriage are not
limited to running candidates in any one party — they can have
candidates run in the Democratic and Republican primaries and as
independents. They can also run candidates who do not make traditional
marriage their main issue, but who support law enforcement, good
education, fiscal responsibility, and council independence from the
mayor. If they persist, they may have a majority of councilmembers who
support their cause by 2012, but it will take luck, talented candidates,
and better organization than they have shown to date.
Now I’m calling a temporary halt to postings on the definition of
marriage. The arguments have become repetitive, and themail is turning
into nothing but a debate over that one issue. We’ll resume when there’s
something new to say.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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I Miss Tony Williams
Ed T. Barron, edtb1@macdotcom
Not that Tony was the best mayor DC has ever had, but there was one
thing that Tony did that our current mayor has no clue about. That is
planning. Tony Williams believed in creating plans to make things
happen. Fenty is like a deer in the headlights. He is reactionary, not
proactive. Fenty is also an egomaniac who wants to take credit for
anything that is remotely good in the District. If he were a true
leader, he’d be awarding plaudits for every good thing that happens to
one or more folks who really were responsible for anything (however
rare) good that happens in DC.
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Call to Action on Right to Vote in 2010 on DC
Marriage Initiative
K. West, kap8082@aol.com
Make a great city greater. Respect the citizens’ right to vote.
Just like charity, democracy begins at home. There is no “selective
democracy.” Councilmembers can call on President Obama, Congress, and
citizens of the nation to give the District of Columbia voting rights
while simultaneously denying their own citizens the opportunity to vote
on a ballot initiative. That seems like the height of hypocrisy. Looking
back, it was the mayor who set a precedent early in his term for
ignoring the will of the people. He bypassed the vote of the citizens
and ignored pleas for a referendum on the school takeover. He went
straight to Congress for their approval instead. The school takeover
changed the Home Rule Charter and apparently there was a loophole that
allowed the head of government to do so. The mayor must be included in
this voter-right sidestepping as well. How many of these initiative
road/vote blockers will seek reelection or higher office next year while
simultaneously blocking the people’s chance to voice their opinion on
the definition of marriage via a ballot measure next year? Who will be
the people’s champion of voting rights here at home? Maybe people are
not looking for a pure “values” candidate, but they certainly can
appreciate a strong, viable candidate who can stand tall positively on a
vote on marriage. That doesn’t mean that they have to articulate
whether they are for or against it and no one need know but the ballot
box, but it does mean that they have to get out front calling for the
initiative on behalf of a now voiceless citizenry.
All many citizens want is a chance to vote on the that measure in the
2010 election. To block that vote, government officials lean on civil
rights, human rights, and whatever arguments give citizens pause to lend
credence to their efforts to redefine marriage without going to the
people first. It’s almost as if the city leadership was practicing its
own version of reverse discrimination. Will the elected leadership next
try to push for a genderless society and make all restrooms unisex in
order not to discriminate? In a totalitarian society that could be
possible if they wanted — their will be done. “So shall it be
written, so shall it be done.” Under the Chairman’s leadership, the
council should not have any public hearings or introduce any legislation
to redefine marriage before the people have spoken at the ballot box!
Don’t declare a sense of urgency to push for a council vote to try to
preempt the initiative vote. The council should not vote on any marriage
legislation until all legal options have been exhausted on the
initiative process. After all, Judge Retchin, in her previous order on
the same-sex marriage referendum, did say that an initiative was a
possibility. So hold off until the initiative process is done. Education
the public on the different sides of the issue can begin when the
measure is approved and the petition stage begins.
Why is the District of Columbia trying to stop the voice of the
people instead of trying to find ways for the citizens to vote on a
ballot measure? The proposed citizens’ initiative would serve as a
barometer to measure the will of the people, similar to the way one
decides on candidates after doing some research. Why should
statehood-seeking DC be any different from Maine, which recently grant
the opportunity to put the issue on the ballot? California, Florida, and
many other states allowed their citizens to vote on the measure. The
citizens’ initiative, “Marriage Initiative 2009,” was filed with
the DC Board of Elections on September 1. With this proposed initiative,
voters are to decide what they should believe should be the definition
of marriage. The proposed language is simply this: “Only marriage
between a man and a woman valid or recognized in the District of
Columbia.” That’s as simple as it gets. Easy enough to understand
and vote on. Then the citizens would voice their opinion. It is the
right of citizens to make that decision via a ballot measure if they
want. Voting rights trumps all other arguments. The voice, the will of
the people matters, whether it’s the minority, majority, or undecided,
and should be respected.
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Civil Rights No Barrier to Voter Initiative
Robert “Bob” King, grassrootsdc@gmail.com
Instead of all the emotional hyperbole and name-calling, let’s deal
with the facts. As someone quite active in the civil rights movement and
as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, I am disappointed to hear
people speaking out against a citizens’ initiative in order for them
to define marriage. Let’s examine what we’re dealing with today by
looking at some of the facts..
Supporters of same-sex marriage claim that same-sex marriage is a
civil rights issue. Civil rights champions fought civil rights
violations using crafted legal language and legal validity presented in
court. They did not marginalize themselves or their cause with
hysterical, inflammatory statements. Civil rights champions did not
scapegoat other groups and trample America’s fundamental precept of
democracy, the right to vote, to advance their fight. Civil rights
champions did not attempt to oppress and deny the democratic rights of
others for their own personal gain. The civil rights mantra was and
remains inclusion, not exclusion. Civil rights champions (men and women)
were murdered, maimed, and brutalized as they fought for inclusion in
the democratic voting process. Now we are expected to ignore the blood
success of voting rights as a pretext for DC voter oppression.
These are the facts. And the people say, initiative please. Where’s
the initiative on the definition of marriage? If marriage is to be
redefined, allow the citizens to vote on an initiative in next year’s
election. An initiative would only honor the civil rights movement by
allowing the participation of all people of all persuasions,
ethnicities, cultures, race, creed, and so forth. Dr. Martin Luther King
would no doubt praise efforts to hear the will of the people. Bring on
the initiative and let’s vote. The voice of the people will be heard
in 2010.
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The question is not whether gay marriage is a civil right, it is
whether denying marriage rights to gays is an act of malice against
them. If there is not rational justification for doing so, then the
answer is assumed to be yes — especially if the defenders of the
status quo’s rhetoric rises to the level of demonization, like it did
when the voters in the State of Colorado enacted an amendment revoking
protections based on sexual preference, which the federal courts struck
down. Proposition 8 is under challenge in California on the same
grounds, and success there for gays and lesbians will have ramifications
nationwide, and will likely make a DC action unnecessary should the case
be decided quickly. I have been an ardent supporter of DC democracy,
including allowing the amendment of the Charter by initiative. However,
I draw the line at allowing voters an opinion on the civil rights of
others.
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Malcolm Wiseman said “Marriage” is the domain of the church; no
government should be about the business of defining or redefining it”
(themail, September 6). Actually, if you did your research, I believe
you would find that marriage is the domain of the state and it is the
churches that have usurped it. In ancient times your union was
recognized by the State; churches were not involved. We need to follow
the European model. If you want to get married you get your license and
have a civil ceremony. If you want to have your marriage blessed you go
to a church. I just did that here in DC over the weekend with a couple
who got married last year in California and had their marriage blessed
in front of family, friends, and their faith community at St. Thomas’
Episcopal Church.
As for voting on civil rights and equality of rights issues, I dare
say we have a long and sad history of the majority oppressing the
minority. Even today I have no doubt that if we put civil rights for
blacks and some other minority groups before voters in some communities
in this country, their rights would disappear as soon as the votes were
counted. So, if DC wants to lead the country in allowing the majority to
decide on the rights of the minority, then let’s get started — there
is a lot of hate and oppression just waiting to be released and I just
know we are all anxious to live with that.
##########
You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. Your
statement [themail, September 6] that “Massachusetts . . . will have
such a [marriage] vote in November” is false. Perhaps you were
thinking of Maine.
As for your opinions: does your desire for a vote on same-sex
marriage stem from an opinion that marriage is not a civil right, or
that sexual orientation is not a protected class given access to civil
rights? If the former, then when will you begin advocating for a
plebiscite on the ability of different races to marry to ensure that our
current law is legitimate? After all, the repeal of miscegenation laws
altered the definition of civil marriage and was not put to a vote
before the people. If the latter, then when will you begin to advocate
for a vote to repeal DC’s sexual orientation employment
nondiscrimination laws, which were similarly not voted upon by the
people?
If, however, you view marriage as a civil right (as established by Loving
v. Virginia) and believe that sexual orientation should not be a
reason to deny civil rights (as established by the DC Human Rights Law),
how could you argue that the right of a same-sex couple to marry should
be put to referendum? Shouldn’t all civil rights, then, be placed on
the ballot? I wonder what would happen to the First Amendment. There are
many important issues facing District leaders and residents. Why does
this one require a referendum that circumvents existing legislative and
judicial processes, while the others do not?
[Stephen Miler is right about the states. I reported in themail on
September 2 that Maine would have a vote on a same-sex marriage
referendum in November; when I wrote themail on September 6 I had a
brain hiccup and wrote Massachusetts instead. However, Michael Bindner,
Greg DuRoss, and Stephen Miller are stating their underlying argument
too broadly, and proving too much. Marriage, they claim, is a civil
right, and a society that defines marriage so that anyone is denied the
right to marry anyone he or she wants to marry is denying a basic human
right. If so, then what is the principle by which they or anyone who
believes this can oppose polygamy or incestuous marriages? This question
is usually just dismissed with a response of, “That’s ridiculous,”
or “That’s a slippery slope argument,” but it follows logically
from their premise. If marriage is a basic human right, a civil right
that must be available to everyone, then how can the state limit its
definition to forbid anyone from entering into whatever form of marriage
he or she prefers? Or are advocates simply saying that they want
marriage rights for themselves, or for a group whom they prefer, and not
for others whose preferred form of marriage would remain illegal? —
Gary Imhoff]
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
Doggie Swim Day, September 12
John A. Stokes, john.astokes@dc.gov
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will host its first
DPR Doggie Day Swim on Saturday, September 12, from 12:00 p.m.-4:00
p.m., at the Upshur Pool, 4300 Arkansas Avenue, NW, and at Francis Pool,
25th and N Streets, NW. With the end of the outdoor swimming season,
this annual event provides dogs with a one-day opportunity to enjoy a
swim and play games.
Admission is $7 per dog and tickets must be purchased in advance,
tickets will not be available for sale the day of the event. Tickets for
Doggie Day Swim at Francis Pool and Doggie Day Swim at Upshur Pool can
be purchased at DPR Headquarters at 3149 16th Street, NW, Monday -
Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., or online at http://dpr.dc.gov
through DPR’s online registration system.
Dog handlers must be sixteen years of age or older, and cannot swim
or enter the pool with their dogs. Dogs must be sociable and remain
leashed while on the pool deck. All dogs must wear current DC dog
license; vaccination tags or have a current rabies certificate or letter
from their veterinarian stating that they have received necessary shots
in order to gain entry to the event. During the Doggie Day Swim, there
will be limits to the number of dogs in the pool area at one time: 75
dogs at Upshur Pool, and 150 dogs at Francis Pool.
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Groundwork Anacostia, September 12
Sylvia Brown, sylviabrown1@verizon.net
Groundwork Anacostia River DC, would be delighted to have you
participate in the seventeenth Annual DC Building Industry Association’s
Community Project on Saturday, September 12, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The
project will be at Ward 7’s Ft. Mahan Park at 42nd and Grant Streets,
NE, only two blocks from the Minnesota Avenue Metro. The project will
include hiker/biker trail restoration, refurbishing basketball courts,
and planting noninvasive vegetation. To let us know that you can join
us, please contact Dennis Chestnut, Executive Director, Groundwork
Anacostia River DC, at 286-4970 or Danielle Melus, DCBIA Project
contact, at 966-8665.
Groundwork Anacostia River DC is an exciting organization connecting
the environment with community empowerment! Visit us at http://www.groundworkusa.net
to learn more.
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Faith Ringgold Lecture, Story Quilt, September
13
Marquis Perkins, marquis@dc.ccsend.com
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in partnership with The
Textile Museum invite you to attend Story Quilt: An American History, a
lecture given by master quilter and world renowned artist Faith Ringgold
as part of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ American
Masterpieces Program, The American Quilt 2009: Weaving the District’s
Future.
The program will be held at The Philips Collection, 1600 21st Street,
NW, on Sunday, September 13, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information or
to RSVP call 724-5613. Seating is first come, first served, and is
subject to availability.
Check out http://www.theamericanquilt2009.com to enter our virtual
quilting competition. Submit your idea for a quilt block; write, draw,
or illustrate your unique story and win fantastic awards from the
Textile Museum. This is very easy; you click on the entries browser and
upload your idea, and then ask your friends and family to vote for you.
The five entries with the highest votes will win great prizes.
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Marita Golden on the Middle East, September 15
George Williams, george.williams2@dc.gov
The DC Public Library presents a lecture by award-winning author
Marita Golden, “A Black Woman Writer in Israel: My Own Piece of the
Middle East,” on Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m., at Martin Luther
King, Jr., Public Library, 901 G Street, NW, Great Hall.
Are the images we see of the Middle East true, embellished, or false?
Hear from acclaimed author Marita Golden, who spent her spring at
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Creative
Writing. Listen as she gives an intimate account of the discussions she
held about her own work and the work of iconic Black writers. Hear how
this complex society defies what we think we know from media images and
reports, and how many in this region turn to literature and writing to
make their voices heard.
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Capitol Hill Energy Cooperative Meeting,
September 15
Cecily Kohler, cecilyk@juno.com
The Capitol Hill Energy Coop will have its monthly meeting in
September on several sustainability issues including: the installation
of residential solar panels, joining a local food cooperative, and how
to implement your energy audit. All are welcome. Capitol Hill United
Methodist Church, 421 Seward Square, SE, Eastern Market, Tuesday,
September 15, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.capitolhillenergycoop.org.
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National Building Museum Events, September
15-16
Jazmine Zick, jzick@nbm.org
September 15, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Inter-school Student Design
Competition. See the results of the design charrette held at the Museum
on September 13, when local architecture students present their designs
at a public awards ceremony. Free; no registration required.
September 15, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Spotlight on Design: Bing Thom.
Architect Bing Thom, FRAIC, whose design for the renovation of Arena
Stage in Washington, DC, is currently under construction, and Arena
Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith discuss the unique challenges in
building performing arts centers. Martin Moeller, the Museum’s senior
vice president and curator, moderates. Museum, Arena Stage, and AIA
Members, $12; students; nonmembers $20. Prepaid registration required.
Walk-in registration based on availability.
September 16, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., DC Builds: DC Architecture: Three
Views. Leading DC architects Colden Florance, FAIA; Amy Weinstein, FAIA;
and David Jameson, FAIA; three architects with distinct approaches to
their practice, share their views on the architecture of Washington, DC.
Moderated by Mary Fitch, AICP, Hon. AIA and presented as part of AIA|DC’s
tenth anniversary celebration of Architecture Week. Free,
registration required. Walk-in registration based on availability.
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CLASSIFIEDS — VOLUNTEERS
First Lego League Qualifying Events, November
7, 14
Denise Lewis, dlewis@usfirst.org
On Saturday, November 7, and Saturday, November 14, Virginia/DC First
Lego League will host our inaugural qualifying events in the District of
Columbia. Visit http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll/default.aspx?id=970
for more information about FLL. A short video is available at “Watch
the ‘Get in the Game’ video” link.
A variety of volunteer positions, both technical and non technical,
are available. Positions are available for those with no prior
experience with a robotics competition and training for judges and
referees is available on the morning of the events. Many volunteers are
needed to enable the District of Columbia FLL teams (ages nine to
fourteen) to compete at tournaments! High school youth are accepted for
many positions. Head Referee: the head referee will receive training
from FLL on the game, missions and rules. He or she helps to recruit and
train the referees and prepares them for the competition day. Referees:
referees are the ultimate decision makers when it comes to the robot
performance competition rounds. They also keep the competition going by
moving teams through the rounds with ease, smiles and an understanding
that this is a tough competition for the children. Consistency is
critical. Judges: judges will be assigned to evaluate and score teams
one of the other team events: research, teamwork, or robot
design/programming. Judges will receive the following from FLL: training
and criteria of how to judge the various awards, schedules for the day,
and a training packet prior to training. Judge positions are often
staffed by local corporate, educational, civic, or scientific
organizations. Scorekeeper: the referee or score runners bring the
scores to the scorekeeper who records them in a computerized score
spreadsheet and then posts them for the audience. Timekeeper: this
volunteer is indispensable in making sure teams know when to start and
end. Teams also need to know how much time is left, which is usually
part of the Emcee’s play-by-play announcing. To help keep everyone on
schedule, consider using loud horns to start and end each round. Teams
have to know how much time is left in a round so they can determine
which of their programs to use. Queue Manager: the queue managers help
teams line up, or queue, prior to entering the robot competition area.
Team queuing is key to keeping the event on schedule. Pit
manager/runners: manage the pit and announcements made in the pit area.
Ensure that teams move from the pit area to the queue area prior to
their competition rounds. Practice field supervisor: ensures teams
rotate through the practice table in a graciously professional way.
Emcee: the Emcee is the voice the teams and spectators hear throughout
the competition and the person who builds excitement during the day.
Photographer: captures the tournament’s excitement and team moments.
It is recommended that he/she include spectators in the shots because
they often lend a special touch while rooting for or reacting to the
events of the day. The photographer also has the honor of taking
pictures of dignitaries, winning teams, volunteers, judges, and
referees. Competition Field Resetters: these volunteers reset the tables
after each round has been scored. They may also double as runners to
take the completed score sheets to the scorekeeper. General support: if
additional volunteers are available, guides, traffic controllers,
judging assistance are optional positions that add a lot to the
tournament.
Please contact me to volunteer and for additional information.
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