Take another look
After reading "Rowan board plans to flout prayer ruling" (Feb. 22), I feel very thankful for our Forsyth County commissioners, who may have been stubborn but at least recognize the rule of law. I don't know what's going to happen next in Rowan County, but it won't be pretty.
The Journal quotes a Rowan resident, Terry Brown, who said, "If they tell county commissioners they can't pray, soon they're going to be in my church telling me I can't pray in the name of Jesus."
How is it that Jesus has led this man and others like him, probably, to be so paranoid and fearful? No one tries to stop Christians from praying in their homes, churches or in the streets. The same principle that keeps religion out of government — separation of church and state — keeps government out of religion.
I know that some conservative Christians don't like this important principle and even deny it exists. Perhaps they should take another look at it.
BILLY C. MEADOWS
Winston-Salem
Missing Whitney
I miss Whitney Houston so much; she was an icon. Everybody knows that she had a drug problem, but people will remember her not by that but by her beautiful, rich, seemingly effortless singing ability.
Some of the younger generation ask why we keep talking about Whitney, but I don't think like that. I love Whitney Houston, I love all of her music. Everybody in my family loves Whitney Houston, and ever since I was a little girl I've been listening to her music. Every time she had a new song, and when she came back out with a new album, I listened to her.
EBONY BREVARD
Winston-Salem
God's values
Thanks to the writer of the Feb. 20 letter "Apolitical God" for enlightening us on ideology. In reading his letter with an open, logical mind, I was diligently trying to get some wisdom until his statement: "[God] supports no candidate, no cause and no set of values."
To say that God supports no set of values is to say that God is no different from the devil and that there is no difference between good and evil. Note: When Jesus blessed and forgave one's sins, he said, "Go and sin no more." If there is no sin, how can one sin no more?
At the old age of nearly 78 with an unusual level of diversity in life's experiences, I have come to the conclusion that one of the greatest problems we have in today's society is that hardly anyone is willing to take personal responsibility for their own mistakes and problems. They just blame someone else and go right on hoping and expecting someone else to pull them out.
I love America, the greatest country on earth, too much to just sit by and watch what's happening and not speak up.
KENNETH HAYES
Mocksville
Burning Qurans
Why all the panic over a couple of Qurans being burned ("Obama apologizes but protests rage on," Feb. 24)? The Muslims have been burning Bibles for years. If I had a copy of the Quran or any other religious book that I don't believe in, why wouldn't I have the right to burn it?
In many Muslim countries, Christianity is banned, and if one converts to it, he could be killed. In America we allow mosques to be built. Try building a church in their countries.
If someone burned a Bible here, we would never kill him. I would just pray for him, that his eyes would be opened. These fanatics are crazy.
I'm not ashamed to be a Christian. I would never want to be associated with the Muslim faith. That is my choice. They have their choice. There is so much hate in their religion. Just look at what they are doing to their own people.
We don't have to apologize to anyone because we burn the Quran. They are killing innocent Americans who are there to protect their freedom. I wish we would pull out of all Muslim countries and let them continue to kill each other if they want.
God bless America. He sure has in the past.
DAVID GEORGE
Yadkinville
Posthumous conversions
I was reading the Feb. 24 story "Baptism claim outrages Jews," and I can understand why Jews would be upset over the idea of Mormons "posthumously baptizing" Jews — it's not very respectful. But I think they're overreacting to be so outraged.
I mean, does it really have any kind of effect? Nobody can be baptized on my behalf. It's kind of like posthumously converting Mormons to be gay, which one can do online now, and is, in my opinion, the proper response.
Let the Mormons waste their time. Less of it to spend knocking on doors.
RICKY S. PHILLIPS
Winston-Salem
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLTE #3...Perhaps the author should take his own advice. On Nov 2, 2010 he said: " I am an old geezer who’s lived and experienced it all in my 76 years" I guess that is an unusual diversity in life's experiences. Your conclusion: "it has become abundantly clear that for the most part, we as Americans are blessed far more than perhaps we deserve."? It's abundantly clear that perhaps for the most part? Logical? None of the above. Now that you are 77, which is logically near 78, you have concluded that: "The greatest problems we have in today's society is that hardly anyone is willing to take personal responsibility for their own mistakes and problems. " Are you claiming to be one of the few? Here is your advice from Nov, 2010: "We should stop looking at the negative and observe all the wonderful things around us; especially the fabulous things of nature. " Good advice, if you can live it, but that takes some personal responsibility to accomplish. With an open mind, one can accomplish a lot. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLTE #4 meet LTE #3... " one of the greatest problems we have in today's society is that hardly anyone is willing to take personal responsibility for their own mistakes and problems." Burning the Quran was a mistake and it sure has created a problem. Are you suggesting that taking personal responsibility or national responsibility for mistakes is not necessary? "We don't have to apologize to anyone because we burn the Quran. " We didn't go to Afghanistan to fight for their freedom. We went to Afghanistan to eliminate Al Qaeda. But I agree, it's way past time we got out. It's always the other guy that causes the problem. But if you look at the 3 main religions that all worship the god of Abraham (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), they've been fighting over a rock in the middle of Jerusalem now for nearly 2000 years. It's insane.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest difference between the Republican candidates and the Marx brothers? The Marx brothers were brilliant actors. The Republican candidates are not acting; they're just nuts.
ReplyDelete:), so many views, so few posts. Don't be bashful out there.
ReplyDeleteLTE #1: This letter writer is being s-o-o-o melodramatic. Does he not know that the use of the legal maxim "rule of law" is just another way of saying "THIS is the way the law IS MEANT to be interpreted"? As long as there is room left for interpretation, there will be challenges to the "rule of law".
ReplyDeleteLTE #4: Being dismissive of one behavior by rationalizing another behavior is a wonderful way to solve problems! Maybe LTE #3 is on to something in saying that " . . . hardly anyone is willing to take personal responsibility for their own mistakes and problems."
Good AM, Bob!
ReplyDeleteThe Quran LTE writer has a point. Compared to the desecrations perpetrated by Muslims, the reaction to burning incident is out proportion. The writer is correct about Islamic intolerance. I'd say now is a good time to pull out of that part of the world and let the savages oppress each other.
I agree the reaction is out of proportion, especially by most civilized standards, but Afghanistan is not a modern country and has been occupied by foreigners for a long time. It's just difficult to walk in their bare feet unless we are willing to take off our own shoes.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I'd say that there are differences in the Islamic world...it's not monolithic at all.
DeleteIranians are generally very cultured, and the Turks have a lively civil society. Afghanistan's always been (for lack of a better term) a backward pit.
The letter writer unwittingly made a valid point. I think he was rationalizing actions that so far has only generated reactions. I know a little about this.
ReplyDeleteOne of major problem I see in religions is they tend to deal with eternity and the consequences of being wrong are cosmic, so when religions differ on basic tenets, it sets up an underlying eternal and cosmic conflict. I believe Christianity has evolved into a more tolerant religion as it has westernized but its history of tolerance is certainly not stellar.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's an intensely profound statement! I also believe that Christianity is a more tolerant religion but it's followers are so flawed. Then insert guilt into the practice, (Baptists, Catholics) and there is indeed an "underlying eternal and cosmic conflict."
DeleteAdditionally, there will be those non-conformists who will disprove all or parts of a doctrine essentially creating a new doctrine, or religion, which is just a diluted version of their old beliefs.
What's the saying? Jews invented guilt, Catholics perfected it, and the Baptists hammer it home.
Delete;D)
DeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Well, the Forsyth CC's should have recognized after losing the lawsuit and the appeal that they had a lost cause instead of pursuing additional appeals. The Rowan CC's who wish to defy the Constitution are stupid and should be removed from office. The quoted Mr. Brown is obviously ignorant of how our Constitution and govt work.
LTE 2: Ms. Houston will be remembered as a superb talent who threw it all away on drugs and alcohol.
LTE 3: I do agree with Mr. Hayes' point concerning the lack of personal responsibility displayed in this country. The rest is a theological argument.
LTE 4: "Why the panic?" It's obvious that Mr. George is ignorant of the dangers still faced by the remaining troops and other personnel still in Afghanistan as well as the difficulties that still remain in trying to help create a solvent and sustainable govt that is at least somehwat friendly to the US. It's because of people like Mr. George who can't understand how insulting the religion of a country whose people have absolutely nothing except for their religion can only serve to undo the past 10 years of sacrifice by our troops that we are still having difficulty trying to wrap things up in Afghanistan.
LTE 5: I've known a couple of Mormons, but I'm not familiar with their practice of posthumous baptism to know how they go about it. I can surely see how someone who is Jewish or Muslim would be highly offended by the practice, particularly if it is done without permission of the surviving family members.