Devout politicians can't separate
selves from church
Several people, including members of the ACLU, have been
regularly writing letters to you saying that the public display of
the Ten Commandments on government property is a violation of
separation of church and state.
These people are reading something into the Constitution that I
don't see there. The Constitution states that Congress shall make no
law establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof.
The vast majority of our adult citizens are aware of the public
display of the Ten Commandments on many government buildings
throughout our nation. It is fitting and proper to display the
commandments because they represent the basic principle of laws that
should govern all people who acknowledge the presence of a divine
creator and who want to live in peace with his neighbor.
The Ten Commandments have been around for thousands of years and
they will be here long after we are all gone. When an individual
walks by the display of the Ten Commandments, he or she has a choice
-- revere it or spit on it.
When a political candidate runs for an elected office which will
affect my property or well-being, I want to know what his value
system is. What is his philosophy of life? Does he believe in God ?
When a candidate tells me that he is a believer in a divine creator,
I will know what scale he is using to govern over me and my family.
I do not see how a devout individual in politics can separate
himself from the church.
Drew T. Johnson
Demopolis
Demonstrate faith with
acts
Frank Hardy's letter almost made me fall out of my chair.
More Christianity would settle the chaos in the Middle East the same
way we could settle all the chaos in our country if everyone would
just become conservative Republicans.
What a load of manure. I know both sides of the Irish conflict
profess to follow Jesus Christ, and hasn't that turned out well?
More fertilizer is laid on by Hardy's statement that "this great
nation was founded by Christians." Hello. There were many nations of
dark-skinned people already here, with long histories of diverse
spiritual beliefs, long before any fair-skinned European Christians
even set eyes on this land.
Why do Christians continue to spread the notion that a nation is
not legitimate until the heathens have been converted?
Saying that this is a Christian nation because the majority is
Christian is the same as saying this is a white nation because the
majority is white. How blind can one be? The words on the Statue of
Liberty don't say only Christians may live here.
Finally, as to God calling "us" to "win" people, the God I
believe in is great enough to win me on his own, he doesn't have to
send another flawed mortal to do it for him. Our country and this
world will start being a better place when people quietly
demonstrate the power of their beliefs through kind, loving action
instead of hollow, pious words.
Mark Minkler
Montgomery
Racism remains menace
today
This Memorial Day I read about Tuskegee Airman Sherman
White Jr. and James L. McCullin, who both sacrificed their lives
defending the United States. Because they were African-American,
they were denied any recognition by the city of Montgomery. Their
parents were even denied seats for a ceremony honoring Montgomery's
war dead. According to the article, "Amends will be made this
morning in Montgomery." Really?
Better late than never is a sorry excuse for racism of which
Montgomery is as guilty of now as ever. I was born and raised in the
South and left 25 years ago because I couldn't stand the racism,
ignorance, good-ole-boy cracker mentality. I returned this past
year, hoping to find a more enlightened Alabama. You can dress it up
any way you want, but the sad fact remains Montgomery is still
racist.
In the same edition as the article about the Tuskegee Airmen is a
public announcement with the city of Montgomery's Great Seal. It
states "Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement" and "Cradle of the
Confederacy." The irony is palpable.
The city of Montgomery can never make amends to White and
McCullin or their parents because they are dead. It can only begin,
today, to work to defeat the scourge of racism through its actions,
words and public policies.
You don't have to wear a white robe over your head to be a
racist. All you have to do is keep your mouth shut while it is
happening in front of you every day.
Denise Boggs
Montgomery
Stranger showed real
kindness
On May 4 around 11:30 a.m. I tripped and fell face down
onto the sidewalk near the front door of Compass Bank at Eastdale
Mall. Most of the weight of the fall was on my left knee and left
hand. There was much pain and I was in a daze.
Hearing a voice, I looked up and a very nice gentleman asked if
he could assist me in getting up. I told him yes and he lifted me up
on my feet, picked up my eyeglasses and papers. He then asked me if
I would be OK and said he would be glad to assist me further. I
completely forgot to ask this extremely nice person his name. I
would appreciate him giving me a call.
Wallace W. Haire
Montgomery
Nation lacking real
statesmen
This "deal" on judicial nominations and voting is the main
reason I am no longer a dues paying/card carrying member of the
Republican Party. Republicans sold out and why?
Because in truth they are no different than the Democrats -- keep
the status quo along with the power and the money coming in (to
themselves). We are faced with the most traumatic decisions in the
history of our republic -- what to do about Social Security and how
to fund Medicare and health care that makes Social Security look
like pocket change.
For years politicians on both sides told us that it was the other
side's fault that Social Security was going to go under. Put a
lockbox on it. Have we all forgotten that? The only reason Social
Security is failing is because both parties robbed the fund blind,
putting in worthless vouchers for billions.
Health care is horrible, both in cost and quality. I didn't even
mention an overburdened tax system that needs reforming and the
immigration problem.
Are we all out of political heroes -- real statesmen? We have
John McCain, a military hero, who can't seem to decide where he is
politically; Bill Frist, a majority leader who is afraid to make a
tough decision but wants to be president; and finally a president
who pushes for status for illegal immigrants and refuses to just
stand up and comment on all of the above.
Mike Flynn
Autaugaville
Take unified stand against
move
Now is the time for all of us in the tri-county area to
contact our Republican senators, representatives, governor and
president and ask them to save the Standard Systems Group at Gunter.
Not only are we talking about nearly 2,000 jobs that are directly
affected by BRAC, but all the defense contractors in the area as
well. When the old Air Force Data Systems Design Center moved here
back in 1971, it made Montgomery a boom town. The Air Force has been
very well served by Montgomery people as evidenced by all the awards
and decorations earned over the years.
During the first Gulf War, direct SSG supply support was so good,
it was better than that of stateside bases. What we have in
Montgomery is not only centralized management of the supply system,
but also a wealth of local knowledge that is nearly without match in
the nation. The loss of the SSG will have a negative impact on local
universities as well as the SSG students and instructors who will be
lost.
All this car business is great, but diversity is needed. Look a
the history of Michigan in the 1950s. The business can be fickle.
Ask the Republican party to reward all these years of support by
keeping the SSG here.
Bob Cly
Prattville
Proudly Serving Central Alabama for 175 Years
