Letters to the Editor

Mixed legacy for Gerry

My stepfather, Elbridge Free Gerry, was related to Elbridge Gerry, for whom gerrymandering is named ("'Gerrymander' too quaint for this," Sunday). As a youngster, I thought it was pretty neat to have a well-known relative. The original Gerry was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a governor of Massachusetts, and President James Madison's vice president. As an adult, I realized how sleazy he was in creating political districts to favor one party over another.

The gerrymandering of the Seventh Congressional District is referred to as slime mold, an accurate description, and the district's designers should be ashamed. The boundaries ooze into parts of five counties and almost 100 municipalities, and touch three states. Some of the areas are barely contiguous. How much do these different communities have in common?

One of my granddaughters was given Gerry as a middle name, not in honor of a notorious governor but to pay homage to my stepfather, who was both proud of his relative's positive accomplishments and embarrassed at the distinction earned later in his life.

Sandy Gerry Schwartz, Berlin, schwartz148@verizon.net

Christie should lead on gay marriage

New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney is right ("N.J. lawmakers ready push for gay marriage," Jan. 22). It is wrong to let the majority vote on civil rights for a minority. If civil rights for African Americans had been left to a referendum in the South, civil rights would have been delayed for decades. Furthermore, the religious argument in regard to gay marriage is moot now that New York and Maryland - and New Jersey in its proposed legislation - is protecting religious groups that do not want marriage ceremonies. On this issue, it is time for Gov. Christie to be more reflective and consider the possibility of leading the Republican Party rather than playing to its base.

William J. Pelle Jr., former director of civil rights, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Philadelphia, wjpelle@comcast.net

N.J. Democrats' skewed priorities

The Democrat-controlled New Jersey legislature has announced its No. 1 priority for 2012: passing a "gay marriage" bill.

The Democrats wisely waited until after last November's election to make this announcement. Not one of the newly elected or reelected representatives publicly stated their position on this issue in their election mailings. What a bunch of cowards.