We need more folks like you to speak out! Congratulations on a wonderful
essay.
(Hal T.)
*****************************************
Was the Spanish flu
that killed over 500,000 Americans in 1917 the result of two flu viruses
being recombined by nature or God's punishment of mankind for the first
World War? E. coli 0157, the deadly form of E.coli is a result of a normal
E.coli bacteria swapping DNA with the deadly Shegella bacteria. Was the
"0157" gene segment of Shegella inserted into E. coli by nature
or God as a deterrent to those who eat meat?
[...] God may have
created life, but the Lord's had a strictly 'hands off' approach in life's
evolution. The fossil record shows a multitude of errors. God doesn't
make errors. God's gift of freedom to all humans may be the exception.
Our freedom to believe in just about any religious various that comes
along could be fatal to our species. We also have the freedom to choose
between science and tradition, fact and parable, war and peace, love and
indifference, cooperation or competition. God also gave us the ability
to choose between wisdom and stupidity. Needless to say, in the 2004 election,
a majority of American voters took a step in the wrong direction.
(Chuck W.)
*****************************************
A healthy family leads
to a healthy society. Birth control within a marriage leads to sex outside
of marriage. Sex outside of marriage leads to the destruction of a society.
Killing your own baby leads to depression and suicide. Masturbation can
lead to a pregnancy through in-vitro fertilization. When birth control
fails, abortion follows. Do we want a culture of life or a culture of
death?
(Anita P.)
*****************************************
Normally, I don't
appreciate the mixing of politics and financial advice or comment, but
this article is so "right on" that it didn't matter in this
case.
I appreciate and agree with everything you mentioned and was wondering
what your suggestions are as to how best to fight this screwed-up movement...
(Marvel B.)
*****************************************
Actually, a great
many evangelicals are just like me. All I really wanted from the
general culture as I raised my family was what I got growing up: a few
credible cultural cues that, for instance, drugs are truly wrong,
or that teenage sex is truly destructive. What I got for my kids
was a relentless stream of popular songs and films portraying these things
positively, punctuated by a few poorly executed commercials to the contrary.
So why is it OK that the general culture has shoved its ideas off on me,
effectively ignoring calls for restraint, and I am viewed as intolerant?
Why is that?
(Ray S.)
*****************************************
I agree totally with
your observation about the intrusion of religious piety into our private
lives. This is how the dark ages began.
(Greg M.)
*****************************************
Concerning the "morning
after" pill which you call contraceptive; it is not. It is a
form of abortifacient, which most people don't find as disturbing
as the practice of partial birth abortion (for example). Nevertheless,
some apparently don't want to be a part of this either. Do we not defend
their right not to be? This is not a matter of governmental law banning
birth control. There never will be such a law. It is a totally
different issue. This is not "the tip of the iceberg" as
the Planned Parenthood rep accuses (obviously not a disinterested party). It
is, as it were, the very edge. The main issue is and will remain
abortion, which even in its most barbaric and cruel form, the abortion zealots
such as Planned Parenthood cannot find anything bad to say about.
(John J. W.)
*****************************************
Aloha and thank you
for your stimulating comments. Over the years, it seems that women have
become unaware of the reproductive rights their mothers and grandmothers
worked so hard to achieve. I also think that the citizens and tax payers
of the states in your article are getting the government they either want
or choose to ignore. I understand that if I believe in Planned Parenthood,
I have to write checks of financial support, and I do. I understand that
if I believe in a reasonable environment and a state government that is
responsive to my social views, I live in that state and support politicians
with similar views. It is my responsibility to vote at the polls, support
my beliefs with financial support and certainly live in a place that supports
my rights as a woman. Perhaps moving is not an option for many women,
but they can certainly put their legislatures on notice and become more
active in the political process.
(Helene S.)
*****************************************
This country was founded
on Christian principles, beliefs and values and is slowly being eroded
away. What you call shoving personal beliefs down our throats, I call
a return to traditionalism and moral values.
(Les H.)
*****************************************
Great article on the
return to Puritanism. Please keep up the good work!
(Kevin K.)
*****************************************
I was a disappointed
that your own email not only complained of false statements but also contained
a few. In particular, the statement about Christian fundamentalists
being against contraceptives is absurd. There may be some who are but
most aren't. The example that you gave was concerning the "morning
after pill" which causes an abortion. Two completely different things
in an evangelical's mind.
The second thing is that it is clear from reading the text that most everything
reported was done from biased sources that have their own agenda. Planned
Parenthood, for one, is completely on the extreme side of issues like
abortion (including partial birth). Why not use some data that both
sides would believe rather then something I have learned to have to just
throw out based upon past experience.
(Robert M. M.)
*****************************************
On the assumption
that it's always good to know what the "enemy" is up to, I have
been watching televangelists off and on for years, and it was clear to
me that they looked in admiration on Iran when Khomeini and the other
ayatollahs took over and enforced, by law, Muslim Puritanism.
The fundamentalists said, almost in unison, "if they can do it there,
we can do it here." And like lemmings, many Americans are following
their lead over a cliff that could lead to a very different America than
I grew up in.
Then again, maybe it's just a matter of human cycles, since it seems
that religious followers all over the world are clashing with their governments,
other religions or non-religious people. I'm reminded of looking
at a litter of recently born puppies. Essentially at the same time all of
them will get up, wrestle or explore for while and then one will
lay down and go to sleep and within minutes all of them have done the
same thing. Maybe we're not that different from other animals
after all.
(Sean D.)
*****************************************
I took great offense
at your article in WWNK. Your side should be proud of the fact that more
women die in America of HPV [Human Papillomavirus] than they do of AIDS,
and that only 20% of the population even has ever heard of HPV because
the leftist media refuses to talk about it.
I work in a university where we have weekly AIDS testing (isn't that wonderful
for a college that is hard to get into and only has the brightest students
has to offer these tests so routinely?).
Also the college will not put out for display brochures re: HPV, even
though half of the women on campus have it!!! A longitudinal study
at Rutgers University showed that some 62% of their coeds had HPV several
years ago.
There are only some 40 to 50 sexually transmitted diseases and homosexuals
are dying some 23 years prematurely, so I guess that condoms are really
working. Have you not read that condoms do zero, zip, nada re: prevention
of HPV and many other diseases. Dr Charles Coburn in the US House of Representatives
( he is now a US Senator, thank goodness) has been fighting to get condoms
labeled correctly, in so far as they do not protect users from many of
the STDs now floating around, especially HPV. When I grew up there
were about 3 STDs, not 50 to 60, so we have made great progress since
we pushed the Puritans aside in favor of treating sex like recreation
instead of procreation.
(Chuck H.)
*****************************************
Very interesting article
indeed. But I think people in the stone age were probably more honest.
What we are witnessing here reminds more of the bigotry of the middle-ages,
when church power was capable of anything to not lose ground. Preaching
"moral values" and lying to your own children does not exactly
add up. What when they grow up – if they even bought that nonsense
- will they think of their parents ?
Of course, coming
from the same people who advocate gun ownership, it's not really a surprise.
Just the continuation of hypocrisy and double standards that have been
emerging lately... And the problem is, people will find ways to have abortions
if they can't have them nearby, which will put them at risk even more...
Those refusing to help rape victims truly point to a breed of radicalism
that – again - the same people support fighting on foreign soil.
(Pierre M.)
*****************************************
I have 4 teens, 3
in public schools. Every day we discuss the force feeding of anti-Christian
myths, half-truths and lies down the kids throats in the name of education.
Your article presents a very distorted highlight of a very few courageous
people standing up for what have always been considered foundational human
values (like not killing our own children).
(John M.)
*****************************************
Constitutional Freedom
works both ways. We are sick and tired of having the innocence of our
children robbed by teachers who think that teaching the use of birth control
and sex of all kinds is education. We are sick of having our rights as
parents overruled by some sex-depraved individuals in this country who
want to force their beliefs on us in our schools, TV, advertising and
anywhere else one happens to look. We are sick of having sex-depraved
individuals tell us that we have to sin in order to satisfy their behavior.
We have the right to practice our religion in our life's work, and if
a Catholic refuses to sell birth control, they have the right to do so.
Let me give you a little insight into the American Birth Control League.
1932 - Plan for Peace,
by American Birth Control League founder Margaret Sanger, is published.
She calls for coercive sterilization, mandatory segregation, and rehabilitative
concentration camps for all "dysgenic stocks" including Blacks,
Hispanics, American Indians and Catholics.
We are not only taking
our country back, but our God-given rights as well.
(Rose L.)
*****************************************
Could it be that this
far right agenda is the result of the fears generated by the far left?
I think that common sense is being lost. No one wants to take responsibility
for their own actions. Maybe a discussion on common decency, sense, responsibility,
and the middle ground would be useful.
(Dennis H.)
*****************************************
Religious freedom
for the most part has been replaced by anti-religious freedom. In San
Francisco, we have had to endure an attack of the Pledge of Allegiance
because it contained the phrase 'Under God'. In several towns throughout
the US, we cannot have a Christmas tree or sing Christmas carols. At some
school in Texas, they were not allowed to have a pre-game prayer, yet
if a player gets hurt we are asked to pray for him. In a court building,
there was an objection to the display of a plaque with the Ten Commandments
inscribed. [...] My beliefs are that we should honor every religious holiday
we have done in the past and those that are offended by our rituals are
by no means obligated to participate, but we should not be asked to avoid
them because it offends a few.
(Bill R.)
*****************************************
Wholeheartedly agree!
Actually I believe the fed should get out of the education business anyway.
They don't know how to do it!
(R.)
*****************************************
As a member of the
religious right I completely agree with the above statement. For the last
several decades we have had the personal beliefs, tastes and distastes
of the hedonistic left shoved down our throats. Ironically the religious
right is the creation of the irreligious left. These challenges to the
established order that you don't like are the result of the religious
right organizing and applying the tactics used against them by the hedonistic
left.
I am not sure how we as a society are going to balance these competing
views. We need to start respecting each others views. Editorials such
as yours are typical of left wing social views; they always call
for the right to compromise their point of view, while the left gives
up nothing. How about this idea as a starting point - If I concede that not
all members of the hedonist left are evil, will you concede that not all
members of the religious right are out to take away your freedom ?
(Richard B.)
*****************************************
In this free nation
I believe people should be allowed—even encouraged to be ruled by
their conscience. Unfortunately, there are always fanatics such as the
pharmacists that you reported who refused to give a referral or even return
a prescription for birth control. The so-called "morning after pill"
is not birth control, it is an abortion drug. Even so, the pharmacist
should have given a referral so that the patient could have the prescription
filled.
Abortion is, sadly,
legal in the United States of America. But no one, doctor, nurse or pharmacist
should be forced to take part in a procedure that they find morally, ethically
and spiritually repugnant. In regards to abstinence education, I'd like
to see you name one procedure that is more effective than abstinence in
preventing sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. If some abstinence
educators told the lies you discussed in your column, shame on them.
But while we're at
it, shame on those who teach our youth that the only ill effects of early
sexual promiscuity are unwanted pregnancy and disease. What about the
emotional and mental damage done to our children by "free sex"?
Human beings, especially females, form deep attachments to their sexual
partners. These attachments are not easily broken and always leave scars.
I have talked with and counseled many young women whose sense of self-worth
and lovability has been devastated by early sexual involvement.
(Laura McG.)
*****************************************
I am appalled to learn
that the "church" is using public funds as described in the
12/20/04 "Puritan Past, Puritan Future" Article.
The growing practice of intolerance in the name of religious morality
scares me badly. As a good Republican, I voted for GB 43 with some considerable
trepidation over just this issue.
(Corbin S.)
*****************************************
Human life begins
at conception -- all science and reason point to this -- religion is not
required. To kill is a crime, and society has every right to protect people
against crime, just as bank robbery is a crime and is illegal.
I may be wrong, but
I have a theory that the only people who are in favor of abortion are
those who profit by it, and those who feel guilty about their own personal
involvement in it, in one form or another.
Since you are not
an abortionist, I would seriously suggest that you consider going to sacramental
confession. If not possible, consider death-bed repentance.
(Mark S.)
*****************************************
I applaud your "Puritan
Past, Puritan Future?" column in the December 20 What We Know Now
issue. The Christian ayatollahs are gaining more and more influence
in our federal government, and the results could be as frightening as
what happened in Iran. Please keep speaking out about this critical issue.
(Michael D.)
*****************************************
I have taught family
planning, reproduction, etc. to teens over the years, have studied the
issue for 30+ yrs and found your article just a reiteration of the "facts"
given by Planned Parenthood, et al. The "facts" about abstinence
ed causing more pregnancies is just not true; in fact, the opposite is
the truth. States that have, for years, had abstinence-only ed are
seeing fewer pregnancies, VD, etc. - not more as PP would have us believe. I
don't believe the statement about the California teen pregnancy rate going
down due to PP's type of sex ed as the studies show the exact opposite.
Sex ed is the only place where we say to our youth "well, abstinence
is best, but since you can't do that, here's the way to protect yourself". We
don't do that with drug ed or any others. Imagine telling kids "no
drugs is best, but since you're going to do them anyway, come to room
101 and we'll show you how to do it safely". Ridiculous!
[...] I have looked through many abstinence ed curricula over the years
and have NEVER seen the statement that "touching genitals can cause
pregnancy". That certainly is not true, but it isn't stated
in any curriculum that I've seen! Also, there are some very good
abstinence curricula that are secular, having nothing to do with Christianity
or God.
(Marion H.)
*****************************************
- The chief reason
men are interested in abortion being available is that it is a means
to clean up their unfortunate misdeeds: unwanted pregnancy in women
they had not intended to marry.
- In the United States,
for every child aborted there are two couples awaiting a child for adoption.
- Plenty of taxpayers'
money is spent on abortions; Planned Barrenhood gets its share.
- If your mother
had aborted you, where would you be right now?
(Greig S.)
*****************************************
Thank you for telling
it like it is. Don't forget the Creationism being forced into science
classes by the so-called Religious Right, which is neither right nor religious
-- just a know-nothing fundamentalism that is basically a misogynist backlash
welling up from the reptile mind. But now we unfortunately have a political
leadership that panders to this whole mindset... and supposedly a majority
of us voted for it, mostly out of fear of 'terrorism' (induced by those
same politicians in a calculated ploy to keep power) and, for some, out
of a self-righteous desire to control other people. Is no one in America
an adult anymore? Democracy is the one form of government that requires
its citizens to be adult, mature, and aware, or it doesn't work. Like
now. We are in headlong retreat to the Dark Ages.
(Teddy G.)
*****************************************
I agree with you 100%.
Anyone to the left of say, Hitler, in this country is totally screwed.
BTW, the History Channel is not a bit squeamish about showing the UCC
commercial. Just to pick a nit or two: If you pay close attention to the
commercial it's not just gays that are unwelcome, it is any non-white
that is not welcome. The "Bouncers" turn away two gay couples,
one male and one female, plus one non-white male and non-white female
while admitting two white couples. The conservative party this year made
clear to all Americans that cared to pay attention (not many IMHO) that
their idea of "Family Values" includes hatred, bigotry, fear,
and homophobia. So it doesn't come as any surprise that some states, especially
in the south, would refuse RU486 to a woman who had been raped. How Talibanesque.
(John B.)
*****************************************
The America of 2004
resembles in no meaningful way the America in which I grew up – thanks
mostly to the horrific outcomes of the so-called sexual revolution that
your article glorifies. The America of 2004, with its leftward tilt,
over-sexualized filth, amorality, corruption, and descent from what once
was a Constitutional Republic, might be better off if we had a little
Puritanism.
I, for one, am tired of having somebody else's personal beliefs, tastes,
and dislikes shoved down my throat – lately by the homosexual lobby,
the Democratic Party, and Planned Parenthood for starters... and now,
WWNK.
(Russell R.)
*****************************************
Amen to your article
on the rash of purity and misinformation being shoved down our throats
by conservatives. Did they not used to believe in staying out of our lives?
Bush and his ilk are the biggest threat to this country since it was founded!
(Peter D.B.)
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