Letters to the Editor
Mishima666
Published Letters: 125 Editor's Choice: 28
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Why the focus on Wright?
[Read the article: Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's interesting to me that the focus is so much on Wright, whereas little is said about one of the central doctrines of fundamentalist Christianity: the doctrine of hell.
This doctrine is basically that all those who do not believe in Jesus as their lord and savior, plus all the related details and doctrines, will literally be tortured in hell for all eternity. This most likely includes the greater part of humanity now alive or dead. This includes family, friends, coworkers, fellow-citizens, whoever. Ghandi? Einstein? Forget it, they get tortured too. Non-Christian American soldiers dying in Iraq also get tortured in hell. It includes many founders of the country.
The doctrine of hell is surely one of the most immoral religious doctrines ever devised. It makes Osama Bin Laden look friendly by comparison. The doctrine of hell is an official dogma in many churches, often written into a public statement of faith.
Every week millions of Christians, among whom are some well-known politicians, attend churches where this doctrine is taught. But this passes by without comment, indeed, without notice.
Here's the interview question I wanted to hear: "Governor Huckabee, it was reported that Pat Tillman, the U.S. soldier who died from friendly fire in Iraq, was an atheist, or at the very least wasn't a Christian. Would you say that he currently is being tortured in hell, or does that occur at some future time, and if so, when?"
But we never hear anything like that. No, the big issue is a handful of Wright's sermons, snippets of which are repeated endlessly, while the thousands of his non-controversial sermons are never played and almost never mentioned. Go figure.
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The Christian church in Iraq, or what's left of it.
[Read the article: The right's selective political manipulation of Catholicism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One consequence of the occupation of Iraq has been the persecution of Iraqi Christians. Never a large group in Iraq, they made up about three percent of the population. But the church had been in existence for many centuries, and was allowed to exist even under Saddam. Many churches now stand empty; some have only tiny congregations remaining.
As of 2007 about half the Iraqi Christians had been killed or fled the country. As the occupation continues it may be that the Christian church in Iraq will eventually be destroyed.
Ironically, it seems that the many American Christian supporters of the war never even thought about the possible consequences for their Iraqi co-religionists, nor at this point do they seem to have any concern over the actual consequences. Like all other Iraqis, even the Christians are expendable. Surely the Iraqi Christians must be thinking "with friends like this, who needs enemies?"
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Will anyone be able to retire?
[Read the article: Have we fallen behind our parents?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I have one of the last of the traditional company-paid retirement plans. We have a house that's paid off. We have some money saved. We have no consumer debt. I have a younger wife who will be in the work force, and who will bring home most of the bacon and the benefits.
In spite of all that, it is an open question whether I will actually be able to "retire," or whether I'll have to continue to work part-time.
The spouse and I have some health problems. We have what seems on the surface to be decent health insurance. But we literally get eaten alive by all copays and deductibles. We spend around $300 per month just on routine prescriptions. And every where we turn we are laying out another $50, $100, $500, whatever.
And then the car has a problem, and that's $500. The gas heater needs some work and that's $600. The back awning needs to be replaced and that's $800. Then the car needs another $500 repair job.
At best, I'm going to have a retirement in which we "get by." There are no plans for an exciting vacation, no RV purchase, no new hi-def television, no cool kitchen remodel.
So I look at my situation and feel that I am very fortunate even to consider the possibility of retirement. But I have no idea how other people are ever going to be able to "retire."
What's coming is, I fear, the "perfect storm." People will be stuck with their 401K money, but no company retirement. They will face increasingly expensive health care. At some point, Social Security benefits will have to be reduced. And all of this on top of declining house values.
In an earlier post one fellow said that he will have to work until he "drops in the harness." Unfortunately, I think that will be the experience of most of the people currently in the work force.
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The end of the mainstream media.
[Read the article: Psycho Christians and the media]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The 1976 movie Network was truly prophetic, even in the biblical sense. It predicted a time in which news and news organizations become nothing more than entertainment. That time has now arrived.
I think the best way to understand the situation is to see that, with some exceptions, "the press" no longer exists. It's just not there. Yes, the trappings are there -- "reporters," "analysts," "anchors," and so on. There is video, print, audio. But the press is gone, other than a few dinosaurs.
The Fourth Estate was good while it lasted. But today it's like the cathedrals of Europe; largely empty, with perhaps a few true believers in attendance.
Network used to be seen as a satiric comedy. Today we see that it was almost a documentary.