I am reminded of the old adage: Put a pan of water on the stove, place a frog in it, gradually turn up the heat and, guess what? The frog will not jump out as its body temperature adjusts to the temperature of the water. Eventually, it will boil to death.

Is that what has happened to us? We have gradually accepted perhaps “not so good” changes and have gradually adapted to them so that the lines between right and wrong, and good and evil, have become blurred.

How many times have you shrugged your shoulders recently and said, “Oh, that’s what’s everybody is doing, thinking or feeling these days” – knowing in your heart that it is not a decent or good way to be, think or feel. I believe this attitude is a real concern for our nation, possibly even more than an “outside” threat of warfare.

It is interesting to note that throughout history, great empires have fallen (and in fact, are no more) – not because of outside “take-overs” but because of corruption within. For example, the great Roman Empire fell because of sexual immorality, dishonesty and an aversion for anything pure and good.

With the raging debate of same-sex marriage in the news almost every day, I have been reminded many times of the fact that just maybe we are not so free anymore.

Let me point out here that this debate has nothing to do with acceptance for people who are homosexual or lesbians. I have lovely homosexual and lesbian friends and family who clearly understand this. They know I love them – they know I respect their views and way of life, even though I do not agree with them.

Thus, it has taken some time to get the courage to write this letter – fearing what people will think, do and say about me.

Will I, too, be dragged before the anti-discrimination board for speaking out? For claiming that God’s word has the answer to what real marriage is? Others have.

What right do I have in voicing an opinion? Well, I have always believed that we live in a democratic country where all people have a right to their opinions.

What good can it do to write a letter challenging folk to speak up? How can just one person make a difference? Wouldn’t it be safer (as my darling mother reminded me recently) to keep quiet and be part of the “silent majority”? Are you so sick of all the media hammering away at the same-sex marriage issue that you have thrown up your arms and said, “I’m over it all. When, and if, I get a postal vote I think I will just throw it in the bin. I mean, what can I do?”

With these questions in mind, I would like to relate a true story to you. Many years ago in England, when slavery was an accepted way of life for everyone, a small hunchback man entered Parliament. He was certainly nothing to look at because of his stature. However, he was a Christian and he believed that God was telling him to speak up against the slavery of the time.

It was written of this man years later that when he stood to speak in Parliament, he looked exactly like he was – small and insignificant. However, when he sat down he looked like a giant of a man. This man’s name was Wilber Wilberforce. He was willing to stand up and speak out for what he believed was right. And in answer to your question, “Did he do any good?” – well, there is no slavery in England today.

This story reminds me of Margaret Court. She, too, spoke out not so long ago and was belittled disgracefully because she did so.

What about the ministers in Tasmania who are now facing charges because they to dared to speak out? 

So today, in the quiet of my little office on a bright spring afternoon, I urge you – if you have been part of the “silent majority”, stand up and speak up. You can make a difference. Don’t frizzle up and die like the frog in the pan of water. Be true to the right, honourable and important values as have been instilled in you and thus be true to yourself. 

Lesley Gordon, Nhill 

YOUR readers may be interested in what constitutes a conflict of interest as defined by the Public Sector Standards Commissioner. This is in relation to the article titled Horsham mayor responds to allegations (Wimmera Mail-Times, August 23).

The Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees (No 1) 2007 issued by the commissioner “prescribes the behaviour expected of public sector employees”. 

Under the heading “Demonstrating integrity” and the sub-heading “Conflict of Interest”, the code states:

A check on my computer thesaurus indicates that actual means real, definite; potential means possible, probable, likely; perceived means seeming, supposed, apparent, alleged.

Perhaps all Horsham Rural City councillors, past and present, and council management who believe bypass option D is a good idea should sit quietly and re-examine their motives.

Greg Huff, Riverside