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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 23, 2006
<br />noise they make when not properly muffled. One approach would be to make the
<br />operation of an unmuffled engine brake a traffic violation. Mr. Hagen urged the Council
<br />to refer this issue to a committee to take whatever action is appropriate to ensure our right
<br />to peace and quiet and to begin to create a quiet community.
<br />COMMENTS CONCERNING GLBT AND NOT AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL
<br />CODE TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
<br />Tom Ubbing, 1737 Brookmede, South Bend, Indiana, stated that there have been reports
<br />in the press despite the defeat of Bill No. 29-06 that Gay Rights Activists continue to
<br />appear before the Council promoting their cause. Although those of us who have
<br />opposed Bill No. 29-06 would like to consider the matter settled, circumstances do not
<br />permit us to do so. He asked the Council’s indulgence as his brings up the subject of Bill
<br />No. 29-06 again. You can argue all day long about a proposal, but if you put it into effect
<br />and it is lived out, it will either have good results or bad. Unfortunately for legislators,
<br />you don’t have the benefit of future time and results to evaluate an issue. You must
<br />decide in the here and now what serves the common good of the people. But there is a
<br />way to predict the future and to avoid bad decisions. That is to understand the nature and
<br />dynamics of principle. A principle is a basic truth or falsehood that underlies a position.
<br />Take for example traffic laws, the unspoken but underlying principal of our traffic laws is
<br />that of the supreme value of human life. But image a new advocacy group appears before
<br />the Council called Citizens for a Quick Commute, they urge you to change that principle
<br />to Get There as Fast as You Can. They say that they are not going to change any other
<br />laws, just the principle, sounds good, everybody wants to get there quicker, so you vote
<br />for it. Nevertheless, in time, all the other traffic laws would fall behind this new principle
<br />and change to reflect it. Instead of the pedestrian has the right-of-way, we would arrive
<br />at pedestrian get out of the way. While speed limits would rise, in traffic, deaths and
<br />injuries would go up, a bad result. With out going through the whole process of trying it
<br />out in real life, you could predict what would happen if you change the principle.
<br />Similarly, before the sexual revolution goes underway in the 60’s, the guiding principle
<br />behind sexual morality was grave and justice to any child conceived out of wedlock by
<br />adultery or between two uncommitted unmarried people. The new sexual morality
<br />proclaimed that anything goes between any two consenting adults.Yet, after 40 years,
<br />but no so long ago, the South Bend Tribune reported Dr. Roland Chamblee, as saying the
<br />42 percent out of wed lock birth in St. Joseph County is social catastrophe. Fatherless
<br />children have much higher academic failure rate, tend to live in poverty, and tend to get
<br />involved in violent crime. This is just being openly recognized, in other words the
<br />principle is false, and the results are bad. Same thing with the 30,000 children lose their
<br />lives through abortion in this area, it’s a bad principle and it gets bad results, especially if
<br />you trying to grow the City. In the case of 29-06 which should be put to rest, proponents
<br />for gay rights introduced under the rights of discrimination, the most radical new
<br />principle, in sexual morality, that sex has absolutely nothing to do with beginning and
<br />raising of children. In this process of passing this law of gay sex, would be elevated in
<br />the law, is morally legitimate. Following this principle would create a brave new world
<br />that would have no logically defense in principle against any consensual sexual acts. To
<br />enshrine into law this principle that sexual relations have nothing to do with procreation,
<br />would have a corrosive and disastrous effect on society. It will weaken heterosexual
<br />marriage by trivializing its value, would make economic benefits given to heterosexual
<br />married couples discriminatory, it would corrupt the moral of youth leading to more
<br />homosexuality involvement, it would legitimize on principle polygamy, and
<br />polyamonitiy and so call consensual intergenerational sex. (Councilmember Pfeifer
<br />interrupted, time limit imposed) Mr. Ubbeing thanked the Council for voting down Bill
<br />29-06, and apologized for going over the time limit.
<br />COMMENTS CONCERNING THE POTAWATOMI GREENHOUSE &
<br />CONSERVATORIES
<br />st
<br />Ms. Janet Maciulski, 1117 S. 31 Street, South Bend, Indiana, gave an update on the
<br />progress that is being made to save the Potawatomi Greenhouses & Conservatories. She
<br />wasn’t sure how informed the Council has been, so she came here tonight to help with
<br />that. At the September 2006 Council Meeting, Council Member Puzzello, said that the
<br />Park’s budget should go forward with the stipulation that a Council Member work with
<br />the Mayor on ways to keep greenhouses open. It is here understanding that because of
<br />this stipulation, a task force was created and held its first meeting on September 28, 2006.
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