Letters to the Editor
Archgarth
Published Letters: 14 Editor's Choice: 1
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Mitt Romney's Real Mormon Problem
[Read the article: A cause they've long ago forgotten]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The bogus claim that Mormon's are not Christians will quickly be forgotten by all but the most rabid anti-Mormon protestant. I feel most middle ground, independent voters, don't care about that particular point.
I think the problem that he will have will be when the press confronts him about whether or not he believes, as his church does, that blacks are literally descended from Cain (as in Cain & Abel) and that their skin color is a result of the curse of Cain. The poor guy will either have to renounce what is considered religious canon by his church (it is not only church doctrine, but is stated in doctrinal books such as the Pearl of Great Price), or he'll have to flip/flop on the issue, saying that while he believes in his church, he doesn't believe in that aspect of it. Even though all Mormons believe their church to be the "One True Church."
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Harry Reid is not the senator from Utah
[Read the article: Senate begins debate on Iraq funding]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Just a correction, Harry Reid is from Nevada, not Utah.
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Poor Mitt Romney
[Read the article: Why the Republicans don't like their candidates]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I feel bad for Mitt Romney in this entire debacle.
As the most Clintonian of all the politicians running for the Republican nomination, he appears to have the greatest mastery of the flexible morality necessary to appeal to all groups without becoming beholden to one specific one. Love or hate President Clinton (and Senator Clinton) for this ability, it is a good political skill to have.
But, as stated in the article, being a member of a religion viewed by most Christian evangelicals as a cult does has its inherent drawbacks. The Democrats need not even comment on the GOP field until a candidate is chosen due to their propensity for tearing each other apart, and if Romney finds himself in the lead, his own party will definitely rend him to pieces on behalf of their own prejudices.
If, and I say it is a mighty big if, Gov. Romney becomes the GOP candidate, democratic spin doctors will tear apart his religion and bring it front and center in order to further alienate him from the population.
All it takes is one direct question along the lines of:
Senator Barack Obama "I ask my opponent, Mitt Romney, if he believes, as his religion does, that the color of my skin is the result of my being descended from Cain, as in Cain & Abel, and that my soul inhabits this body because of sin I had performed before my life here on this earth?"
I know Gov. Romney has prepared for this eventuality, but it only takes a couple of well-researched and well-placed talking points to render him a religious nut in the eyes of most voters.
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Oh the hostility!
[Read the article: Takes one to know one]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While Saintzak's polygamy comment was below the belt, after Gary Owen's post benjaminm went off the handle.
Responding to religious criticism by labeling the critic as a pig, or a Nazi is nothing more than ad hominem attacks. May I remind you that the hate groups you have likened Gary Owen too are not critical of a way of life or of a philosophy, they're critical of an entire ethnicity.
Criticism of LDS religion is as fair game as criticism of any religion. LDS theology just happens to be fairly recent and more easy to target due to the availability of facts.
And yes, attacking the founder of the religion when that religion is based upon the "truth" of what that founder says is a valid course in debating its verity. People do the same thing in regards to the Church of Scientology, and nobody ever says "boo."
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Definition of Religion
[Read the article: Takes one to know one]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Definition of religion, courtesy of Dictionary.com:
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Let's not mince points on the "real religion" topic. Scientology is a "real religion." Belief in Flying Spaghetti Monster is a real religion. What you take offense to is someone calling LDS beliefs a load of crap.
As for the money-making corporation line, since most Christian religions fall under a loose definition of that umbrella, we'll let it slide. In fact, any organization that uses revenue from adherents to build up said organization fills that definition. Check dictionary.com.
If you were to apply Joseph Smith's behavior to somebody today, the man would go to jail. Period.
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Nominate Patrick Fitzgerald for Attorney General
[Read the article: Gonzales' shame]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Seriously, I don't think anybody would have a problem with this man being nominated to the position, as he has a proven track record.
Additionally, isn't he a republican anyway?
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New Age of Democrats
[Read the article: Wimps]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The only good thing I think can come of this situation is that the Democrats, by continually capitulating on every single issue that comes before them, are increasing the strength of their progressive base to where they will eventually outnumber the spineless versions we have in Washington, and hopefully will run for re-election. I'm all for civility in politics, as name calling usually gets in the way of civil discourse, but a democrat should be able to stand there on C-Span and declare their fellow Republican congressmen as misguided idiots responsible for the erosion of civil liberties in a way only dreamed of by fascists and communists. That is what I want to see from a Democratic statesman in office today, its unfortunate that no one seems to have a spine to do so. Seriously, call it for the Bull-S*it it is.