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LETTERS

ERA

EDITOR: In the June 1978 Illinois Issues appears a spirited letter by John M. Uhlich regarding the Equal Rights Amendment.

Let's put aside the name calling and the gnashing of teeth and coolly examine the ERA. But first, his letter continues the wearisome confusion of homosexuality. The amendment will do no more or less than what it says: apply all laws equally to men and women whether those laws deal with homosexuality or anything else. But a lot of laws is something we don't want and shouldn't have.

Friend Uhlich had best analyze the wording of the ERA before he defends it so passionately: "Equality of rights under law . . ."

Since when do rights come under law? How can rights be equalized?

With one bold broad stroke the promoters of the ERA would try to give officialdom the power to do something that the Creator in wisdom has not done — impose uniformity on the people.

Equal protection of rights is one thing. That's liberty. Equalizing rights under law is something entirely different. It is a bid for tyranny that results in uniformity. It is an attempt to give the lawmakers and the law enforcers power that belongs to the people in the-decision making of their own lives and destinies.

We are a country under law — but first of all, God's law. If there is a legal conflict, justice comes first. What else was Thomas Jefferson saying when he used those immortal words: "... men . . . are endowed by their Creator with . . . Rights ... — that to secure [make safe] these Rights, governments are instituted ..."?

Now it remains to extend this protection to women. The ERA is not designed to do that.

Evelyn K. Samras, Durham, N.C.
(a native Chicagoan and graduate of the University of Illinois)

EDITOR: Although I have met a number of ERA opponents, I have yet to meet any dogmatized right-wing reactionaries Mr. Uhlich suggests in his recent letter as being behind the Stop ERA movement. Even just partially blaming the fall of Richard Nixon on an American statesman and constitutional scholar of the stature of Senator Sam Ervin is unfortunate. As for calling our state government undemocratic, a reading of our new constitution might show otherwise.

30/August 1978/Illinois Issues