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/ Still a Variety of Fresh Florida \~ * Valencia Oranges * Grapefruit * Variety of Nuts Also Certified Organic Fruit Bill Câ€"23, The Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, is a pretty simple piece of legislation. It ends decades of discrimination against lesbians and gay men by amending federal legislation that unfairly recognizes only opposite sex partnerships. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the Canadian constitution prohibits governments from practising such discrimination, so it was only a matter of time before Ottawa decided to obey the law: Opponents of the bill have equated it with the downfall of civilizaâ€" tion, or at least the end of "the traditional family". The American right wing lobby group Focus on the Family complains that Câ€"23 "strikes at the very root of our cultural, social and moral traditions". Reform {or is that CCRAP?) MP Garry Breitkeuz has been equally hysterical, nicknaming the bill The Death of Marriage Act and warning that "if the people don‘t mobilize now, this insidious bill will take us to the bottoin of the slippery slope". Breitkeuz issued a media release stating that "in the 1950s, buggery was a criminal offense, now its a requireâ€" UWieédiiiciibdidteaitt _ These objcctions arc, to put it bluntly, a bunch of crap (or is that CCRAP?). Finally granting equal rights to gays doesn‘t harm heteroâ€" sexuals any more than granting equal rights to people of colour harms whites. Recognizing sameâ€"sex relationships will no more undermine traditional marriage than did striking down laws that prohibited interâ€" marriage between people of different races or religions. In fact, the only people who are really "harmed" by equality legislation are bigots, because they lose legal support for their deepâ€"seated hatred of others who are not like them. Perhaps that is the real reason that so many people are upset about Bill Câ€"23. Far from undermining traditional heterosexual marmage, recognizâ€" ing sameâ€"sex partnerships is the ultimate tribute to that institution. In asking that their relationships teceive legal recognition, lesbians and gay men aren‘t saying that opposite relationships are evil, wrong or unworthy of public support. They are saying that marmiage is a good thing; in effect, they are saying, "We want in." By taking on the rights and responsibilities previously reserved for heterosexuals, gays do more to strengthen marriage than a hundred speeches and media releases from the likes of Garry Breitkreuz Still, it is disconcerting to me that Justice Minister Anne McLellan would cave in to the carping of rightâ€"wingers in her own party and in the Reform Party. When McLellan agreed to amend her legislation to state that marriage is "the lawful union between one man and one woman". First of all, it makes little sense to set up a definition that is both contrary to the spinit of the legislation and likely to be struck down by any judge who has read the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. More importantly, heterosexual marriage simply does not need this protection. It is far stronger than the fearâ€"mongers would have us believe and will continue to thrive alongside newlyâ€"recogmized sameâ€" sex relationships Dinosaurs continue to fight equality Orange Barn + mitbank “@ > 519â€"595â€"4337 AnotuEr o o esc t l 2i leers ... 4 â€" "~~ o e P t * 2 e# 22e on tss s o y s yoe oo . o t ty + while supplies last! Open: Mon. â€" Sat. 9 am â€" 5 pm Evenings by appointment ment to receive benefits from the fedâ€" eral government". While the Reform Party has been most vocal in trying to further delay justice for gay men and lesbians, there are clearly dinosaurs on both sides of the House of Commons. While the other four parties all offiâ€" cially support Bill Câ€"23, at least twenty Liberal members have threatâ€" ened to withhold their support when it comes to the vote. Liberals such as Tom Wappel, Rosemarie Ur, Steve Mahoney and Dan McTeague can make the Reform Party extremists sound almost moderate when they start frothing at the mouth. Seniors For Seniors" offers the services of empathetic senior citizens and older adults to provide inâ€"home care to other seniors HOMEMAKERS Our pessonnel are available in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings For a free brochure outlining our rates and services call _ Re: Deborah Crandall‘s column (Waterloo Chroniâ€" cle, March 22): The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters as well as a tremendous number of silent individuals, have supâ€" ported and continue to supâ€" port safety and enjoyment of outdoor activities of a wide range, and yes, that includes fishing and hunting. It‘s incredible how people such as yourself exist in your own little worlds, under the impression that no one else has anything to offer other than lifestyles that you deem to be wrong because they conflict with your narrow minded sensibilities. Chronicle editor has grass for brains We know that just like in road safety education, sex education and street proofâ€" ing our children, it is imporâ€" tant to educate our children fl\c‘Wa.tedoo Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor. They should be signed with name, address and phone number and will be verified for accuracy. No unsigned letters will be published. Submissions may be edited for length, so please be bricf. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to the publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. Our mailing address is 75 King St. S., Suite 201, Waterloo, N2J1P2, our eâ€"mail address is wchronicle@sentex.net, and our fax number is 886â€"9383. poas L $ What was your favourite movie @m Sa fi from last year? s to provide inâ€"home « HOUSE CLEANING * Dusting and poishing * Vacuuming * Wash Roors * Windows a Â¥istaneAuthruame earlier rather than later in outdoor activities that they may or may not become involved. Proper education in these activities can only enhance enjoyment and safety. It is nor a means to promote violence or red neck mentality. So what if it appears to be recruitment, our children and those adults that might be interâ€" ested could do far worse than having the opportunity to enjoy what God‘s green earth has to offer. (Hopeâ€" fully the intelligent masses don‘t pollute the hell out of it before our future generaâ€" tions have that opportunity to enjoy it.) 1t may come as a surprise to you but we Canadians (newspaper workers to lawyers) that participate in hunting and fishing as well "I liked the Matrix. I like all the special effects and stufl." * "I liked the Matrix, because it got you thinkâ€" ing. We asked all my friends which pill they‘d take, the blue one or the red one." Letters policy Anna Martyniak Longâ€"term LIVEAN Jen Sauder |Aberle Farms| © as camping and hiking with our families, do have minds of our own and won‘t always comply with your views just because you say we have to. 1 wanted to express my sadness over the state of the Itron Horse Trail. It is extremely littered right now. On Sunday my family and 1 took what we thought would be a nice spring bike ride (the first of the season) from We are not vegetarians such as yoursell but enjoy salads and fruits as well as chicken, fish, beef, pork, and surprisingly enough game meat such as grouse, duck, deer, moose and bear. So, it would be nice if you use the grass you call brains and admit that this world Iron Horse Trail in sad state STEPHEN AND CHRISTINE ABERLE RR. #2 ELMIRA, ON. N3B 272 669â€"2097 Full or Half Shares available, for more information please call LOCALLY GROWN FRESHLY HARVESTED ORGANIC DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR ommunity Shared Agriculture has people from all regions and walks of life that enjoy everything from being couch potatoes to bungy jumpers, that there are vast differences in religions and cultures. These freedoms, including education of future outdoor enthusiasts and my desire to hunt, fish and use firearms in a legitimate way should not be censored by the likes of you. Just agree to disagree. Glen 0. Weber, Waterloo our home in uptown Waterâ€" loo to Victoria Park, and all along it was just a hortible, littered mess of garbage and debris. What can be done "My favourite film from last year was Being John Malkovich. It was quite different and humourous." "Sixth Sense. I like the kid, Haley Joel Osment. He was a really good acior and it was a really good story." Kristina Keyzer Meg Leslic, Waterloo Greg King