Thank you, to all who made the phone calls, sent e-mail or letters, or simply prayed that Governor Lingle would veto HB 444. She was under considerable pressure. In her announcement press conference she said that she felt this was such a huge decision for our society that it should be made through a vote of the electorate. If the powers that be decide to put the question on the ballot, it would first appear in Nov., 2012. However, Rep. Blake Oshiro, who spearheaded the bill at the last moment of last session, indicated that it could again become an issue during the next legislative session if the proponents push hard enough. For Oshiro to be around next January, though, he needs to survive an election battle with now-Councilman Gary Okino who has announced he wants Oshiro's seat. Okino is a strong supporter of traditional marriage.
It's time that we start to take notice of those running for office.

Our own senator from Waipahu, Clarence Nishihara, voted for the civil union bill last session. It is up to us to let him know that we do not want to water down traditional marriage. If a case can be made that civil rights are being denied, the reciprocal agreement legislation should be amended. We should not simply believe the rhetoric. We should challenge their assertions about civil rights violations. This issue is far from over so we must remain vigilant.

What can you do now? First, call Gov. Lingle and thank her for taking a stand in defense of traditional marriage. Second, register to vote. Third, get informed on the issues; Fourth, vote in the coming Primary (9/18) and the General Election (11/2). And finally, PRAY ALWAYS for our government and church leaders, for married couples and their families, for supporters of this legislation that they stay strong, and for our state and entire country.
Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha, Mary B

In 1776, on July 2, the American colonies declared their legal separation from Great Britain. Two days later, July 4th, they formalized their new liberty by signing the Declaration of Independence. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Ok, so he was off by two days, but you can see what our forefathers were thinking when they finally earned what they had fought so hard for….honor God, then celebrate. Today our city leaders are considering banning the fireworks that Adams referred to. How could he possibly have foreseen the chaos that such fireworks cause in a crowded city? But, not to worry, as long as we have political campaigns, we will have fireworks! Maybe not the kind that lights up the sky, but certainly the kind that lights up debate!

Fireworks aside, we still have the representative government that was created in those days. This Tuesday, July 6, at noon, we will have a chance to participate in that process. There will be a rally at the State Capitol. Organizers are asking us to come down wearing white shirts and again ask Governor Lingle to veto HB 444. This will be our last effort to address the governor before she makes her decision. Proponents of civil unions (gay marriage) will be there too. In the meantime, contact the governor (586-0034) or e-mail her at governor.lingle@hawaii.gov. This is not about anybody's civil rights. This is about preserving the moral status of our society.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive. Aloha-- Mary B

The fight to protect marriage as being between a man and woman only is far from over both on a local and a national level. Governor Lingle has merely bought herself two more weeks of sleeplessness by delaying her decision on HB 444. Her staffers say that the majority of phone calls coming in to her office are asking her to veto the bill. That should make us feel as though our efforts are worthwhile, but please don't let it make you feel confident. Continue to call her office (586-0034) until the last minute. Several scenarios will follow her decision deadline of July 6:
1) If she vetoes the bill, the legislature can choose to hold a special session to consider an override. The Senate president feels she would have the votes to override. (Remember in November, this is the same person running for Congress who could make these things happen at a national level.) The House leader doubts that he would have the required votes. It would die FOR THIS YEAR.
2) If she signs the bill, it becomes law.
3) She can choose to ignore the bill altogether in which case it becomes law without her signature.
Those of us opposed to this bill have been accused of trying to deny basic civil rights to others. Don't be fooled into apologizing for your Catholic faith. Our faith supports marriage between a man and a woman for the good of, and perpetuation of, society. There are no human rights being denied. It's an emotional tactic. Going one step further, Hawaii's reciprocal beneficiary registration (1997) specifically covers many of the rights proponents of the bill say they are being denied: inheritance, worker's comp., right to sue for wrongful death, health insurance and pension benefits for state employees, hospital visitation and healthcare decision making. Protect traditional marriage.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive!

Pericles said in 430 B.C., "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." Like it or not, everything that happens in Washington D.C. or here at our own Capitol affects us-It may be directly in our pocketbook; it may be our social mores. Right now we are fighting for the very basic foundation of our society. Can we keep the traditional family intact? Governor Lingle will be gone for two weeks. Her office will continue to take phone calls and other commentary from us. Please do not let up with your messages expressing concern over HB 444. Again, the governor's phone number is: 586-0034; her e-mail address is: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov.

Election time will soon be here. We will be bombarded with fancy brochures that will look nice but say little. It will be up to us to find out how our chosen leaders will vote on various issues. These are not legendary mythic creatures. These are flesh and blood men and women, our neighbors, who have stepped forward to lead us. We have not only a right, but an obligation, to follow their performance.

Let's resolve to know not only who our congressmen, senators and representatives are but how they have voted in the past. As journalist Charlie Reese says, "Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them."

Gotta go boot up my hard drive!

Tomorrow we will remember those men and women who have given their lives so we can live free. However, as the bumper sticker goes: "Freedom is NOT free." Do we do our part? Do we participate in our society by being involved in our governance? What do we do with the freedom they have earned for us?

One way we can do our share is to help create a society that will honor their service. And, not to sound like a broken record, but one bill sitting on Governor Lingle's desk waiting for veto or approval is such an example. This week I received another notice from the Hawaii Family Forum reminding us that HB 444 is still alive. They provided specific ways to stop the bill: 1) Pray; 2) Call the governor's office (586-0034); 3) Save that number in your cell phone. When you run into like-minded people, dial the number for them & and hand them your phone so they, too, can leave their name/address & veto message; 4) Write a personal letter to the governor in opposition to HB 444 and include a picture of your family; Fax that letter to 586-0006; E-mail that letter and attached picture to: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov. ; or send a hard copy to: Office of the Governor, Hawaii State Capitol, Executive Chambers, Honolulu, HI 96813; 5) Encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Several points to include in your letters or discussions with friends and family are: 1) The Hawaii Legislature is disenfranchising thousands of Hawaii's voters who have consistently lobbied the Legislature in large numbers against HB 444 for the past two years; 2) HB 444 is not the result of sincere legislative debate and honest constituent representation. Rather, it is the product of political maneuvering; 3) Children's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs are best met with both a mother and a father are in the home.

Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha-- Mary B

One of the things that our newly confirmed were asked to do was to ascertain their "talents." It's oftentimes easier to say that we have no talent to share and leave it at that. This week I came across this story that helps us to see that what may look like adversity is really opportunity in disguise.

A parish was having a particularly difficult time, so the pastor decided he needed to raise some extra money. In the storage room, he found several boxes of new bibles that had never been opened. On Sunday he asked if anyone would be willing to try to sell them door to door at $10 each. Three parishioners raised their hands. Two were professional salesmen, and the third was a local farmer who had always kept to himself because he was shy about a speech impediment he had. But, nonetheless, he had offered to try to sell the bibles, and the pastor agreed. The next week, the three men returned to church. The first man proudly presented an envelope with $200, representing the 20 bibles he was able to sell. The next man, smiling and sticking out his chest, said, "I am a professional salesman, and I sold 28 bibles. Here is the $280 I collected. Apprehensively, the pastor turned to the farmer who handed him a large over-stuffed envelope. Inside, he found $3,200. "That's impossible," the other men said. "We're professional salesmen and yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many bibles as we did." The pastor asked the farmer to explain his huge success. The farmer shrugged. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-for sh-sh-sure. Frustrated one of the other men said, "For crying out loud, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!" The farmer replied, "A-a-a-all I-I-I said w-w-was w-would y-y-you l-l-like to b-buy th-th-this b-b-bible for t-t-ten b-b-bucks---o-o-r w-w-would yo-yo-you l-l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-read it to t-t-to y-y-you?'

Gotta go boot up my hard drive! Aloha--- Mary B