Continued: Readers Write

Same-sex marriage

How is it in society’s best interests?

The March 20 letter writer in support of state Sen. John Marty’s proposal to allow same-sex marriage makes a good point (civil marriage is a civil, not a religious, concern). What he doesn’t seem to understand is that civil marriage is a privilege, not a right. Society’s only interest in recognizing civil marriages is its own continuation. Churches have the right to call any relationship they want a “religious” marriage, but they cannot demand society recognize it as such. Since same-sex “marriages” can do nothing within themselves to promote society’s continuation, society has no obligation to give them any civil recognition.

Hap Corbett, Staples, Minn.

Ethanol usage

American Lung Association supports it

A couple of clarifications are needed to the Wall Street Journal editorial on ethanol that was reprinted in the March 19 Star Tribune.
• The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest is a nonpartisan health charity focused solely on preventing lung disease and fighting for cleaner air.

• It is not opposed to higher ethanol blends in gasoline, as the editorial suggests. It is one of many organizations that recently urged the Environmental Protection Agency to complete the review of science-based testing that has been done on higher than 10 percent blends for use in non-flexible-fuel vehicles.

The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest encourages the use of E85 in flex-fuel vehicles, recognizing that simply by using E85 instead of gasoline, a motorist can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other harmful pollutants from entering the air.

Robert Moffitt, St. Paul;communications director, American Lung Association of Minnesota

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