Dear Honorable Rick Santorum:
My name is Andrew Brooks. I am a nineteen year old college student living in Carson, California. While I am not one of
your constituents, I do believe that all Americans should hold all of their representatives accountable for their actions
and their statements. This is the purpose that I write you this letter.
You recently made a comment about the recent hearing involving the United States Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas.
The comment you made was the following, according to the Washington Post:
"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to
bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to
anything,"
While you are entitled to your opinion, I am greatly disturbed by your comment. The Republican party has repeatedly claimed
to be the party of Christian values. In the New Testament, it is stated that the greatest commandment of all is "love." This
commandment involves sensitivity to others and respect for others views and opinions. Most of all, that respect includes acknowledgement
that people are allowed to live their lives as they choose by their consciences, and not forcing ones beliefs on another.
There is also no logical comparison involving homosexuality to adultery or incest. Adultery is defined as one person in
a spousal relationship having an affair with another outside of the marriage. Incest involves two members in one family having
physically intimate relations. Homosexuality is one person being emotionally and physically attracted to ones own gender.
These are three different definitions having absolutely nothing to do with each other.
In order for a person to reach such a prominent political position as United States Senator, that person must know the
needs of their constituents. That person must be personable and knowledgeable of the issues and difficulties that society
faces. That person should also be sensitive to another persons needs, and while he or she may not agree with the way that
a person lives his or her life, that person should have the audacity and the humanity to respect it.
I have three friends that are gay. I asked them detailed questions on how they realized they are gay. Just about each story
involved emotional torment, denial, and in some cases, being reject by their own families just because they are gay. The latter
is the greatest crime any family member could inflict on their own kin.
These people have enough problems in their lives without their representatives making insensitive and cruel comments such
as the one quoted in the third paragraph. If people would have the courtesy and maturity to mind their own business without
interfering in the lives of others, possibly about half of the worlds wars and problems would be immediately solved.
Lastly, up to this point I have been a registered Republican. After nearly a year of consideration, the recent war, and
your comment, I have decided to bolt the Republican party and register as a Democrat. I am saddened to say this, but the comment
stated above by you makes me embarrased and ashamed to be a Republican. I know that President Bush complimented you as being
an inclusive man. I have to disagree. Inclusiveness is defined by Websters New World Dictionary as "taking everything into
account." I do not believe that simple human courtesy was taken into account.
I do not know if you will take my comments into account or, for that matter, care. But it is my duty as an American to
state my opinion. And I have done so.
