Keith Bartholomew's criticism of Lee Benson (Readers' Forum, Dec. 2) demonstrates a clear misunderstanding of the issue of gay marriage as seen by straight people. A society has the right to decide which human behaviors are appropriate and will be allowed — or not. For example, we forbid children to drive cars or to marry young. Mr. Bartholomew implies that gays have a right to marry simply because they say they do. Not so. Rights and privileges are determined by what the majority of us lawfully conclude is best for the preservation of our civilized existence. Afterward, we fully expect those decisions to be respected by obedience to the laws they create.

Gays seem only to accept our system when it favors their biased agenda. Otherwise it's constant whining, as Benson wrote.

Richard Ewing Davis

Salt Lake City