LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Don't you hate losing an hour of sleep when the time changes every spring? While worrying about the sleep I was going to miss this year, the thought occurred to me that instead of changing the time at 2 a.m. on Saturday night, we should do it at noon on Friday. That way everyone would have a shorter workday and still get every single precious hour of sleep. (Of course, in the fall, Saturday night would still work just fine!) Oh well, how about a nap instead?
Rest is definitely not one of the items on the CAMP calendar in the months ahead. As we get geared up for the busy season of summer 2004, life in CAMP (and all of Rehoboth, for that matter) becomes even more energized as we work to accommodate the enormous increase in both activities and people. This month starts it all off with the Fourth Annual CAMP Rehoboth Women's Conference weekend. From great concerts to the many informative workshops being offered, it's a weekend not to be missed. In CAMPmatters on page 6, Murray writes, among other things, about being an "honorary lesbian," and how much we have enjoyed getting to know the growing women's community in our areaand being a part of the Women's Conference weekend. Also on the CAMP Rehoboth horizon, is the 2004 black and white Beach Ball on June 5, and its accompanying HeART of the Community art project and auction. The Black and White Ball honors all those who have given to the Founders' Circle for the new CAMP Rehoboth Community Center building. The HeART of the Community features the work of a number of artists who have produced a piece of art especially for this year's project. All the paintings will be previewed on Memorial Day weekend at a reception at CAMP Rehoboth. The paintings will be auctioned at the Black and White Beach Ball. For a full schedule of the major CAMP Rehoboth events planned for 2004, call or come by the CAMP Rehoboth office. On the first Saturday in April, a large group of community members gathered at the Atlantic Sands for a breakfast meeting and discussion on the future of CAMP Rehoboth. It was the community session that is a part of our 2004 Strategic Planning. Representatives from many different parts of our communityboth straight and gaycame together to share ideas and observations. The amazing turnout reminded me of the enormous talent available in our area. Our thanks to all who participated. The final report for our strategic plan should be available in late May. I referred to the last issue of Letters as "the marriage issue," because so many of our writers addressed the subject in their articles, but I think that a more likely phrase for 2004 will be "the year of the gay marriage debate." Certainly the subject will be with us throughout the already overheated presidential election process. Though President Bush has, I'm sure, delighted the ultra-conservative religious right, his decision to endorse the plan for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is not embraced by all Republicans. In the first of a series of at least five House Judiciary subcommittee hearings on the constitutional amendment, former Congressman Bob Barr rejected tampering with the Constitution. "If we begin to tamper with the Constitution as our personal sandbox, in which to build and destroy castles as we please," he said, " we risk diluting the grandeur of having a Constitution in the first place." Barr, of course is also the man who penned the Defense of Marriage Act, and is not someone I find myself agreeing with very often. Obviously, gay issues will be receiving more attention in the press this summer than usual. If ever there was a time to get involved in politics, this is it. Write letters. Register to vote if you aren't already. Change will come, I do believe, but a constitutional amendment could certainly slow it down. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 14, No. 3 April 9, 2004 |