Letters to the Editor
bernbart
Published Letters: 1657 Editor's Choice: 20
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Democracy vs theocracy
[Read the article: The Islamists are coming]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Progressives need to start pointing out that one of the most important parts of any constitution that separates a Democracy from a Theocracy is the "Separation of church and state". Fundamentalist movements in any religion is a danger to Democracy. The Islamist who want to force women to cover up are are not any differnt for those Crhistians in the U.S. who want to deny women their reproductive choices (privacy rights). All of these political Christian Right issues: abortion, gays, denial of evolution; their family values all has to do with the "Separation of Church and State". Unfortunately the right has made it seem as if "the dirty liberals" changed the constitution to eliminate religion. When in fact our founding fathers designed this nation as a secular Democracy.
The violation of the "separation of church and state" in the U.S has risen enormously under this Republicain administraton and right-wing talk radio promotes it. The Right now control the airwaves, with their half truth and lies, and claim anyone who disagrees with thier views is part of the "biased liberal media". Instead of taking up the right-wing family values and faith messages, progressives need to craft a way to talk about these issues in a way that resonates with the majority of americans. For instance, I support gay rights but the gay rights movement made a big mistake using the term "marriage". The term 'Marriage" has more to do with religion than civil liberties. No one one's marriage gay or straight is recongnized unless the couple have a civil license to form a union. That is what it should be called for all couples... "civil union licnses. Religion have the right to decide who they will provide "maririge rites" to. Gays should recognize the right of religion. I suspect the majority of americans would support "civil uinon license".
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Next Journey
[Read the article: Rove, Bush and "the next journey"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I suspect Rove's Next Journey" will be his old journey. Crafting "dirty tricks" for RNC.
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So True
[Read the article: This Modern World]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The DNc keeps calling us asking for money. I finally deciced to jump off the cliff and tell them when the candidats stop waling and talking liek the republicnas about faith and GOd then and only then will I give them money.
We are loosing our "Rigths to Privacy" on many fronts.
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Whre have you all been?
[Read the article: The collapse of Karl Rove]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I find it rather amazing thet the general public does not rise up and protest the intrusion of religion our govenment policies and laws.In Turkey (also secular government) Milions of people took to the streets to protest when a religious Islmaic was elected to parliment. Where are the out cries here? Voters should be focused on the real issue that endangers our Democracy, and our Constituion ... The Christian Right.
In the 1980s Pat Robertosn and crew frightened America and Republicans with their ranting at the GOP convention. Most Republicans ran the other direction. Not even Reagan gave them what they wanted. The Chrsitain right changed thier tactics by building local representation through training candidates to run for local and state offices and getting out the vote from the pews of thier growing churchs. These candidates eventually rose to the national level and won positions in teh U.S. Congress by the mid 90s. By his second term, President Bush gave them the power to impose their religious beliefs on us through government policy and this will continue if any of the current Repbulcans candidates get elected or the Repubicans do not take back tehr party from the growing sore of the Christain Rigth.
IN teh late 80s and early 90s the press used to reported on the rising influence of the "Chiristian Right", but the general public ignored it as a passing influence. Today even PBS calming reports the influence of wha tis now called " the social conservatives" as if it is the norm, and still the majority of the general public seems unconcerned as the The so-caled "biased liberal media" give much air time to the right's "family values" agenda. Today the Chrsitian right are building a youth movement, not unlike the Hitler Youth. We will all be marching lock step to "Heil Jesus" if we do not stop this.
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Abortion more than a single issue
[Read the article: From tears to cheers: Huckabee's surprise second in Iowa]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In regard to this commnet..."There are people who oppose abortion, not because they want to maintain a stranglehold over women's bodies, but because they honestly believe that it's murder. Holding that belief is not enough of a reason for me to remove a politician from consideration."..
It is an important reason to remove a politicain form consideration, if they use the government to impose thier personal religious beliefs on others. Our government is a Democracy not a Theocracy. Abortion is not a single issue it is a "Privacy" issue and a "Separation of Church and State" issue. If you alre willing to let abortion be made illegal then you must be prepared to give up other privacy rights.
Many politicians who are pro-choice, do not believe in abortion personally, but also do not try to impose their opposition to abortion or their personal religious beliefs on others by making abortion illegal or less acessible. As far as calling abortion murder. If politicians and the pro-life movement are going to call abortion "murder"; doctors who perform abortions "murders"; health clinics that provide abortions "Murder Mills"; then why don't they call women who choose to have and an abortion "murders". Why doesn't someone ask the candidates who rant about getting rid of Roe v. Wade this question: " If you are willing to fulfill the Republican agenda to make ALL abortions illegal, will you then be wiliing to prosecute women for having abortions and put them in jail"
Would you all rise up then? Truth is the ANTIs try to make it look like women are "victems" instead of "deciders" in regard to abortion. And don't be fooled it is about control.