I was not surprised that a recent Washington Post article gleefully asserted that D.C.'s left leanings were confirmed in a poll.  I was surprised at the seeming air of objectivity that the writers attempted to project.  I was skeptical of the article and its conclusions for several reasons. First it was commissioned and paid for by the Post (not to impugn the work of the research company, SRBI, Inc of New York). Second a poll could yield very skewed results by focusing on selected wards. Third private polling obtained by Stand For Marriage D.C. shows very different results.

The writers asserted that their telephone survey of just over 1,135 participants showed that the majority of the city's citizens were pro same-sex marriage, for the legalization of medical marijuana and desired the creation of an elected attorney general's post. Surprisingly, in order to lend credence to their poll, Post writers acknowledged that 60 percent of D.C. residents would like to vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. 

Before I take a moment to explain my skepticism about the Washington Post's poll, I would like to make a brief statement about other marriage battles. In California, Florida and Maine opponents of traditional marriage boasted that they would achieve their first wins. Ironically, support for traditional marriage is historically under polled as the vote against same-sex marriage in these states has shown.

I wish the Post would stop writing sophisticated trash talk and encourage the D.C. City Council, the U.S. Congress and the courts to let the people vote. Since their own polls suggest that most Washingtonians would like to vote on this issue, we should let the people vote.

Let's return for a moment to the incredibly slanted article. The writers boast that the average voter is in synch with the city's "progressive, activist social agenda." Although it is no secret that the Post has generally supported this liberal political direction, I would at least like to see a semblance of objectivity. Objectivity simply means that news is reported without bias. Further, objectivity would call opinion or advocacy pieces exactly what they are. 

Yes, the paper is considered one of the most liberal or "Left leaning" papers in the nation. Nonetheless, that's no excuse for yellow journalism. Many of the residents of the District, like myself, would like to see the Post report the news instead of creating the news. This article, which appeared in the "style" section of the paper, seems to be much more editorial than objectively news-based on a reportedly impartial poll. The article was a "tissue paper thin'' attempt to defend the city council's actions on a number of issues and to promote its own "Left-leaning" worldview. 

From every conceivable vantage point, the Post seems to be committed to spending barrels of ink attempting to sell the citizens that a host of other issues are their ideas. The newspaper has been especially biased with regard to same-sex marriage. I could point to any number of instances in which this pro same-sex marriage bias has reared its manipulative head. Let me cite just one example.

D.C. metro residents noted the vitriol exchanged in the last Virginia election. Most of us will not fail to remember an unsigned editorial that called Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli a "bigot" because of his traditional views on marriage. The editorial, which appeared just days before last November's election, was a clear "swift boating" attempt by the paper. 

Why did the Post commission the poll and place the article in one of the most prominent locations in the paper?  First these and other Washington Post writers want to sell the average citizen of the District on the liberal agenda of the city council and other power brokers in the region.  Despite the council and Eleanor Holmes Norton's wheeling and dealing behind the scenes, the cry, "Let the People Vote!" has reached the ears of many on the Hill. 

The second reason for the article seems to be the Post's need to announce to representatives on the Hill (both the Congress and the Senate) that they should not exercise their oversight responsibility concerning D.C. laws. As much as most D.C. residents want home rule, Congress still has say in the city's affairs until statehood or another governing arrangement is reached. 

 

Every D.C. resident should be outraged by the paternalistic attitude of the Washington Post. They act like they know us better than we know ourselves. Their writers repeatedly allude to the race and wealth divides in the city without building racial bridges. For the Post, it would be more prudent if they would follow President Obama's recent example of reaching across the aisle. Instead the writers make this revealing statement,  "When the GOP was in control, Congress prevented the District from setting drug laws, blocked taxpayer-financed abortions for low income women, and would not allow the city's needle exchange program to proceed ... the Democratic-controlled Congress lifted those restrictions." 

Articles like these attempt to pit the people of the District against the GOP and encourage them to align with the Left. The result is unfair and unbalanced articles and reporting. Instead ideological battles, all citizens should be actively involved in creative problem solving. 

All over the nation there is a growing sentiment that people want to be given proper attention by lawmakers. Whether in Massachusetts or with the Tea Party Movement in Nashville this past weekend, citizens are demanding their voices be heard. Washington, D.C. is no different than any other region.  Last Tuesday Senator Robert Bennett took a bold step towards Senatorial intervention on the matter of same-sex marriage. He and eight co-sponsors introduced a bill that would stop same-sex marriages from becoming legal in the city unless approved by a referendum or vote by citizens of the District. Bennett's stand for marriage mirrors the work of GOP Congressmen Jason Chaffetz of Utah, and Jim Jordan of Ohio. These congressmen are boldly declaring the same message as their counterparts in the Senate ...Let the people vote!

No matter where you live in America, you can ensure the right of District citizens to voice their opinions through the vote.  Contact your Senator and say, "I am with Senator Bennett! Let the people of D.C. vote on marriage."

Also, let biased media sources know that they are not representing the issues fairly. Letters to the editor, blogs, and opinion postings are all easy ways to promote democracy within the District and around the country. 

Make your voice heard today! 

Your alignments will get you into your assignment. During times of shifting and change it is important to keep your alignment with key relationships secure. These relationships will help you remain steady and on course through these turbulent times.

Flying through turbulent weather in a plane can be an uncomfortable situation. Passengers on the plane must listen and take the counsel of the pilot and flight attendants. They cannot merely decide that they will get up and move about the cabin. Independent thinking and independent actions like that can cause a catastrophe. The passengers must stay in alignment with the instructions from the airplane crew.

We are living in times of turbulence. Keep your key relationships secure. Listen to wise advice from those trusted people in your life. They will help you do the same thing that the airline crew does -- get you safely to your destination. After all, your alignments will get you into your assignment!

Last week I had the privilege of participating in a referendum request hearing at the board of elections in Washington, D.C. Our team petitioned to have the people of the District of Columbia vote on the recently passed same-sex marriage law before it goes into effect. We feel very strongly that the people’s voice needs to be heard.

As I sat in the chambers, I felt a growing sense of outrage at the audacity of my city’s elected officials and the hubris of our appointed civil servants. There seems to be an amazing assault on the basic freedoms of all Americans, regardless of race. Courts and legislators seem compelled to ignore polls and the heartfelt values of the people. Further, in D.C. the board of elections and the city council have ignored the District of Columbia’s charter, which should act like the “national constitution,” but on city affairs.

There is a difference between great people who fall, and people who are considered failures. Great people who fall always get back up. They do not stay down. Many millionaires have been bankrupt at some point in their lives. Bankruptcy did not cause them to end their careers as failures. These great people got up from their loss and started over again.

A great football player recently made a crucial mistake in a game. Will that mistake end his career? Does that mistake make him a failure? Will he allow his mind to bombard him with thoughts about what he did wrong? Will he berate himself about what he should have done? Only time will tell if this athlete stays down. Will he allow his mistake to condemn him as a failure or will he choose to get up. Will he forgive himself? Will he forgive others who criticize him for the mistake?

Is there a person anywhere who has not made a mistake? That person does not exist. What is the mistake you are grappling with in your mind? Forgive yourself. Forgive others who are critical of you. Now be the great person that you are. Get up and start over again!

Serving others is a key to finding fulfillment in your life. People today are experiencing great difficulties. Many are hurting, confused and struggling to find answers to their problems.

Go find these people. They may be in your neighborhood. They may be where you work. Some of these people may be your relatives, your hairdresser or your children's teachers. You have what they need. You may not be able to solve their problems but you can listen to them.

People today need someone who cares about them. They need someone who will reach out to them with concern and compassion. Albert Schweitzer was a man who committed his life to helping others. He has been called one of the greatest Christians of his time. Public acknowledgment of his selfless commitment to humanity was given to him in 1952 when he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Schweitzer once said, "The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others."

Who can you reach out to today? Who can you serve today? You will only know deep fulfillment in life when you choose to serve others!