Best friend's husband wrote bigoted letter to editor...WTF?!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

Got to get something off my chest (hope you don't mind):

I've known "Sue" (name has been changed...well you get the idea) for over 30 years (when I was 5). She was the maid of honor in my wedding, and I was the matron of honor in hers. We were best friends throughout elementary, middle, high school, etc. I'm Jewish, and she's Southern Baptist. We've always enjoyed discussing the differences in our background, and she claims she's learned alot about my traditions, etc. from our friendship that she wouldn't have known otherwise. I've expressed the same sentiment to her.

"Sue," who has always been religious, married "Dick" (name appropriately changed...), a guy who's about 7 years older than she and who was divorced and ex-military. This was about 5 years ago. I didn't think he was particularly religious at the time, but they started going to church on a regular basis (he is/was Catholic (don't recall him being that into his religion at the time.).

"Dick" wrote a disgustingly "freeperish," bigoted (same difference to me) letter to the editor of our hometown paper (they still live there, while we've moved to a different city). I found out about it because I was talking to my mother who said, "XXX wrote a letter to the editor and I couldn't even finish it, I was so shocked." I read the editorial online and was really pissed off. The last time I got into any political discussions with her, my friend said she "doesn't like politics" (either that's her way of saying "I don't agree with yours" or "I listen to whatever my husband says..." which, to me, is saying "I am incapable of thinking for myself.").

The letter said, in so many words, to vote yes on the amendment and that if we allowed gay marriage, then what would be next? Polygamy? Brothers marrying sisters? I mean, it was ridiculous!

It is worth noting that, like me and my husband, Dick and Sue were living together before they got married. I mention this for a reason. It's not to sound judgmental. It's to show hypocrisy on their parts. What if she and her-then boyfriend had gotten pregnant and had decided to not get married? Forget about benefits!

My moral dilemna is this: do I start a potential war with my friend (who, while she didn't write the letter, probably "stands by her man") or just continue to not discuss politics as usual? The last time I brought up politics (during the 2004 election), it got very ugly.

I will note that today, several letters have shown up in the newspaper, arguing just the opposite (i.e., to vote no on the amendment, and that people should read the whole thing).