“When it’s any other way a nation is distorted,” Elliott said. “And God will judge America because of the fact that we’re rebelling and going against God’s word. That’s where I stand.”
Jerry Hardvall said the issue is not about religion but whether the state of North Carolina should take away the rights of a group of citizens through a constitutional amendment. He said he wasn’t there because he supports gay marriage.
“When we say the pledge of allegiance and say for liberty and justice for all, I like the ‘for all’ part,” Hardvall said. “In no way can I support an amendment in the N.C. Constitution that takes away the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
Hardvall also said he finds it alarming that after people have worked so hard for so many years to have equal rights, there are now some trying to take rights away from people.
Thomas Olson said this amendment has to do with what is good for society.
“You can’t do with two bolts what you can with a bolt and a nut,” Olson said.
He said that is a simple way to put it but it’s true and he is in favor of the amendment.
“This is such an important issue and our society depends on it,” said Olson.
Preston White said he’s seen many elections and votes cast on differing issues and it appears to him that the voters of Polk County are more than capable of making their own decisions as to how to vote.
“The voters of this county do not need an endorsement with pros or cons from our county commissioners, as a body, on how to vote on a particular amendment,” White said.
When she made the motion to take the item off the agenda, McDermott said it is not appropriate for elected officials to take an official position on matters such as Amendment 1, which is a matter of religious belief and individual conscience.
“What’s more, this is a political matter, in an election year, and it should not be placed for a vote by the county commissioners,” said McDermott. “The Polk County Board of Commissioners should not, sitting as the governing body of Polk County, tell citizens how to vote on matters that do not bear upon the operation of county government. People who believe that government should not intrude on their lives, people who believe that government should not intrude on their churches, should be displeased at this attempt to use Polk County government to intrude on those areas. The members of the Polk County Board of commissioners are elected to represent all of the citizens of Polk County, all of the citizens of our very diverse population.”