Winston-Salem Journal LTE TH 04/26/12

Morality and Amendment One

I believe that those who vote against Amendment One will do so because they do not believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority in distinguishing right from wrong, since they will be ignoring biblical teachings against homosexual behavior and fornication (i.e., sexual intercourse between unmarried people). As a result, those voting against the amendment will be allowing themselves to be persuaded by the moral standards of our society, many of which have drastically deteriorated in relatively recent years.

Not long ago, homosexual behavior and fornication were both regarded by our society as wrong, in accordance with biblical teaching. Now, our society winks at these behaviors and other immoral behaviors, including adultery, and attempts to pass laws to prevent any type of intolerance against those who engage in such lifestyles. While many people in our society may think these changes indicate that we are now more enlightened, I believe these changes just indicate that our society is less willing to accept the moral teachings of the Bible.

Certainly, there have been incorrect past interpretations of the Bible regarding some moral issues, but it was the interpretations that were incorrect, not the Bible. In any case, I believe the Bible is sufficiently clear as to its position regarding issues such as homosexual behavior and fornication.

Before you vote against Amendment One, I implore you to ask yourself if you really want to place the lowered moral standards of our society above the God-inspired moral standards set forth in the Bible.

---

HARVEY ARMOUR

Winston-Salem

For Dave Plyler

I would like to endorse Dave Plyler for Forsyth County commissioner. As a conservative citizen of Forsyth County, I appreciate Dave and his ability to work across the political aisle to make things happen for our county. He is pro-business and pro-progress.

I have known Dave for many years and have been vocal in my complaints and concerns with the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. He has always been responsive and helpful. Once he called me on Mother's Day to answer my issue.

Local government should be accessible to everyone's concerns. When I was active with the Winston-Salem Jaycees, I called on Dave Plyler to speak at many events and two years ago he delayed a beach trip to sit on a panel at the North Carolina Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation West Conference held in Winston-Salem.

Dave Plyler is someone who truly represents all of the citizens of Forsyth County and I encourage everyone to vote for him in the primary on May 8.

---

STEVE ELLER

Clemmons

Persecution of Christians

The Gospel Light Baptist Church sidewalk brouhaha is just the latest example of the complete lack of common sense that is rampant (to a great extent) in those who are supposed to be in charge ("Church ordered to build sidewalks," April 23).

Sidewalks to nowhere? Duh!

I think it just shows the insidious persecution of Christians these days. Stay tuned.

---

ALICE JOYCE

Winston-Salem

Space exploration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration needs a new set of priorities. There are four NASA projects more important than going to an asteroid or Mars or anything else NASA is doing. These projects are also less expensive than sending people into space and they can answer the question, "Are we alone in the universe?"

I suspect there are many earth-like planets around the stars — and many of them with intelligent inhabitants. The discovery of life on these exoplanets, including intelligent beings, will be the most important scientific discovery in the history of our world. In the process of launching satellite observatories, we will create many scientific jobs in cities around the country.

The Kepler Observatory already has found planets orbiting stars, including a solar system that has six planets orbiting its star. The Terrestrial Planet Finder must receive top funding priority since it would be used to look at the atmospheres of exoplanets for the characteristic signs of life. The Space Interferometry Mission is designed as the successor to Kepler. And the James Webb Space Telescope will expand knowledge of findings of the other projects.

We did not have proof planets orbited the stars until 1992. Soon, with priority attention by NASA, we can learn that earth has many similar neighbors. Then, using existing radio telescopes, scientists can focus on exoplanets discovered in the habitable zones of stars and find radio signals of intelligent inhabitants. We will know then that we are not alone.

---

TED NELSON

Winston-Salem

Gays are here

If everything in the letter "The basic building block" (April 20) is true — if children do better with a mom and a dad in a low-conflict marriage — that still doesn't justify outlawing same-sex marriage in our constitution.

There are plenty of opposite-sex marriages that are not optimum for children, but we don't go around taking their children away from them.

There are single parents raising children. We don't demand that they get married or lose their children.

There are opposite-sex couples who have no children. We don't tell them that they must have children or get divorced.

There are single people with no children. We don't force them to get married and procreate.

No one would dream of denying those people the right to marry, have children or not, as they choose. Only gay people are denied the privileges that these other people in "non-optimum" relationships take for granted.

The most optimum quality in any family is, of course, love.

Gay people exist. They're not going away. Some of them love each other and want to spend their lives together as a family. None of that is going to change nor can be changed. The only real question is, "What now?"

Discriminate against them? Or treat them like adults, with the same rights every other adult has, including the right to make up their own minds about their own lives?

Anything less is un-American.

---

WILLIAM B. PERRY

Winston-Salem

For Ramsey

I am writing this in support of Richard D. Ramsey, candidate for judge of the District Court of Forsyth County.

He has over 30 years' experience in the courtroom, appearing in capital murder cases, speeding infraction cases and everything in between. He has represented clients in civil and domestic cases, an increasingly important area of the law.

Given this broad legal background, he will be able to handle the duties of District Court judge from day one.

---

WILLIAM M. SPEAKS JR.

Winston-Salem

Democrats and the 'war on women'

Democrats must truly love the Lifetime Channel, which bombards us with movies about bad men and their pitiful wives and girlfriends. Their constant harangue about the so-called "war on women" makes me believe they have fallen into a deep amnesia. Perhaps they have forgotten those in their own ranks who have shown such a deep and abiding respect for the fairer sex.

Let us count the names: Jack and Ted Kennedy, John Edwards, Anthony Weiner, Gary Hart and of course the patron saint of courtly manners, Bill Clinton. We could include all those Democratic governors of North Carolina who so chivalrously sterilized women for decades.

Who else has guessed the ultimate irony about the war on women?

Without the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Al Gore would probably have won his home state of Tennessee or Florida and become president. He would have appointed liberal justices, and Obamacare would not be threatened by the Supreme Court.

Will Bill Clinton's war on women (too many to name) sink Obamacare? Monica Lewinsky may come back to haunt the Democrats much worse than she haunted Bill Clinton.

---

HARRY R. COOKE

Winston-Salem

Hanes' endorsement

Thank you and congratulations for endorsing Ed Hanes for District 72 of the North Carolina House of Representatives ("Our legislative endorsements," April 18).

In Hanes we will have a splendidly qualified voice in state government for Winston-Salem.

---

JAMES M. DUNN

Winston-Salem

Finish the Thought

Last Saturday, we asked readers to complete the sentence:

"You can discern that politicians are not telling the truth if …"

* * * * *

"... they finish their remarks with a forced artificial laugh, 'Hey, hey, hey,' they say their dogs like to ride on the roof of their cars, and they say they like grits when they come to the South."

---

BOON T. LEE

* * * * *

"… you hear the tappety-tap-tap as they dance around the subject."

---

JOHN REYNOLDS

* * * * *

"… their lips are moving. Sad, but true."

---

WILLIAM SAMS

* * * * *

"… they are in the 1 percent. If they believe that corporations are people. If they allow PACs to speak for them. If they are willing to sacrifice the poor, elderly and handicapped to the benefit of big business. If they think that disenfranchising 'the least among us' is good for America."

---

ALICE M. LONG

* * * * *

"… they are politicians."

---

LISA CROZIER

* * * * *

"… they claim heavenly approval for their positions."

---

AL BAKER

---

* * * * *

"... they quote 'facts' that are actually prevarications, not facts at all. 'Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.' "

---

PAT RECK

* * * * *

" … they say one thing — and do the exact opposite."

---

TONY HARTGROVE

* * * * *

" … they're breathing...if they get out of bed every morning...if they blink their eyes...just by being politicians."

---

MONA POTTS

* * * * *

"… their noses suddenly appear to be very, very long."

---

JACK B. LUCAS