Brannon was only exercising his rights

This is in response to R. Bruns' Oct. 17 letter to the editor. R. Bruns seems to be upset that the county clerk, Mr. Jim Brannon, attended an "anti same sex marriage rally" on Oct. 11 in Coeur d'Alene. R. Bruns states that the clerk of the county is obligated to the law and the 9th District Court nullified the ban (on same sex marriage) in Idaho and so County Clerk Brannon has to abide by the law whether he likes it or not; and further states that he (Mr. Brannon) doesn't seem to understand the separation between what he may believe morally and abiding by the actual law.

On Oct. 11 the actual Idaho State law (amendment) stated that legal marriage should consist of a man and a woman. This was voted on by the people of Idaho and passed with a majority of 63 percent. The nullification of that amendment did not happen until Oct. 14. So what "actual law" was Mr. Brannon not abiding by?

But more disturbing to me is that R. Bruns would try to take away Mr. Brannon's constitutional guarantee to freedom of assembly. The First Amendment to the Constitution states:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Just because Mr. Brannon works for the county does not take away his right of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, or freedom to assemble peaceably.

Mr. Brannon was not at the rally representing the county. He was there as a free citizen of the United States on his own time. Mr. Brannon broke no law. He was exercising his right under the First Amendment. I hope and pray that right is never taken away.

Also in regards to Dan Gressler's letter in Sunday's paper, there are verses in the New Testament that condemn homosexuality. Yes it is a sin, it does miss the mark of holiness that God has set for us.

In Romans it clearly states:

Rom 1:25 These people have exchanged God's truth for a lie. So they have become ungodly and serve what is created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen!

Rom 1:26 For this reason God allowed their shameful passions to control them. Their women have exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.

Rom 1:27 Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion.

I don't want to get into the rightness or wrongness of homosexuality. I just wanted to correct what Dan Gressler said. He's right. I am not the judge. But there is a Judge in Heaven who is coming back to the Earth and He will judge mankind on how he/she lived their lives. God does LOVE everyone, but He is Holy and He does have standards by which he will judge His creation. He didn't leave us to wonder what He expects of us. It is all in the Bible. You find rules in it; but you will also find an abundance of love, forgiveness, grace, and peace.

I do want to say something about tolerance. It has shifted from 1) accepting the existence of different views to 2) acceptance of different views. The first says I accept that you have a different view than mine and even though I disagree, I believe you have the right to your beliefs. The second says I accept your belief /position to be just a true as mine; thus asserting that all beliefs and positions are equally valid (taken from the Intolerance of Tolerance by DA Carson).

This should not be. It takes away a very fundamental part of individuality. It puts freedom of thought in danger.

We need to be tolerant of each other's views and beliefs and positions, but not by giving up what we believe. We should not be told what we can think or believe. Let us love each other while holding dear the right to disagree with each other.

Sandy Schmidt is a Post Falls resident.