Drastic steps
When my son was in his first year of high school in Connecticut and had just gotten his drivers license, there was a teenage driving accident that year that resulted in the deaths of four students, several of whom were my son’s friends. The accident was so horrific that it drastically affected everyone in the school and in the local community.
The high school administrators took a drastic step to try to stop future accidents. To this day, it brings back to me the horrible toll the community had to pay for this accident. One teenage driver’s misunderstanding of how serious hurtling a 4,000-pound vehicle down the road at 80 mph cost the rest of the students their innocence.
The school put the twisted and torn wreck of the vehicle in the school yard where all the rest of the students had to pass by for the rest of the year. Everyday, it reminded them. It affected my son so badly that he did not drive again till he was 18.
As drastic as this action may seem, it did remind the students of the consequences of bad driving decisions. There were no more accidents by students of that high school for years.
Larry Ferrell
Newport
What Jesus said
Now that our state legislators have signed the “A Call to Prayer” document on public prayer, they are obliged to extend this right to public prayer to all religions. They will have to allow Muslims to broadcast their “call to prayer” from the rooftops in any city in Maine five times a day, and Hindus to celebrate their holidays in the streets like they do in India. They will have to allow Pagans to celebrate rituals in the public parks, and any other religion to conduct public prayers and rites.
According to the BDN’s Jan. 18 article, these legislators are Christians. Have they forgotten what Jesus said in Matthew 6:6? “But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeith in secret shall reward thee openly.” This means do not make a show of praying before others to prove how pious you are. Such a prayer is not only hypocritical, but it is not a prayer to God. A prayer should be a private conversation between the worshipper and God.
My point is, do not abuse this right to public prayer by forcing others to listen to prayers that are not theirs, nor use this right to bully those not of your religion. As Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Linda Seekins
Stockton Springs
Put prevention first
Since its establishment, Maine has used the Fund for Healthy Maine as it was initially intended, targeting tobacco and preventable chronic conditions impacting Maine families. Much of this effort has been through the prevention work and projects of the local Healthy Maine Partnerships. These critical partnerships have been the foundation for Maine’s public health system.
As our mothers and grandmothers have told us, an ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure. It is the first, best and most cost-effective step in decreasing and containing Maine’s health care costs. Currently, the data show that every $1 spent on prevention Maine saves $7.50. We need to continue this investment.
Over the several years I have been involved with our Piscataquis County Public Health Council, I have seen these funds go to projects that encourage seniors to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables; to local towns to strengthen their recreational offerings for all their residents; to local food cupboards to broaden their offerings to include healthier food choices for their families and to local law enforcement for the removal of unused prescription drugs from our homes and neighborhood streets.
Support Healthy Maine Partnerships, before it is too late. Call your local legislator today. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Jane Conroy
Dover-Foxcroft
Crippling costs
My son just got the news from his employer. Health coverage for him and his 12-year-old son is going to cost him 25 percent of his monthly salary. This, on top of his other expenses, will probably put him in the red each month, and he is a careful spender.
I thank our politicians for accepting the responsibility to knife us all in the back. Does anybody really believe they would do anything to jeopardize their payoffs from the insurance, or other industries? I know they won’t. There is not an honest politician anywhere. They don’t care what happens to us, as long as their pockets continue to be lined by payoffs. What has happened to our country?
Harry Epp
Lincoln
Healthy fund works
Since its establishment, Maine has proudly used the Fund for Healthy Maine as it was initially intended, targeting tobacco and preventable chronic conditions impacting Maine families. Much of this work is done through the prevention efforts of the local Healthy Maine Partnerships, the foundation for Maine’s public health system yet currently proposed for elimination.
Prevention is the first, best, and most cost-effective step in decreasing and containing Maine’s health care costs. Currently Maine is the eight healthiest state in the country and is 22nd in public health spending, and every $1 spent on prevention in Maine saves $7.50. If the cuts to the Fund for Healthy Maine move forward as proposed, Maine will fall to 48th in public health spending and, over time, one can safely assume Maine’s health ranking will be adversely affected.
I have worked with the Piscataquis Public Health Council on several projects. The support PPHC programs give to the community is essential in keeping our residents healthy, giving them the tools they need to maintain healthful lifestyles and reducing the costs of health care through education and prevention. Piscataquis County certainly has its challenges, especially with issues concerning public health. Cuts to the Fund for a Healthy Maine would adversely affect the positive efforts that PPHC has put into place to reduce, eliminate or prevent costly (in dollars and in human hardship) health issues.
Consider contacting your state representative to share your concerns about cuts to the Fund for Healthy Maine.
Deborah Somers
Dover-Foxcroft
Linda Seekins–Amen!
The believers in ostentatious public prayer would likely crucify Christ for denouncing them.
Just like the Pharisees who, although the Crucifixion was carried out by the Romans, convinced Pilate that Christ was an enemy of the Roman state (Son of God) and was therefore guilty of death (defying the deified Emperor).
As far as I know, he did not own property, wandered the streets and slept wherever he could, depended on handouts from the public, had long hair and baggy clothes, did not speak english, associated with ladies of the evening and drunkards. He would certainly not be looked at with favor by the conservatives of today.
Larry Ferrell–I remember driving on the old Connecticut Turnpike–they had a twisted wreck on a pedestal at every toll booth–and there were a lot of toll booths. They seemed to favor late model Cadddies and Lincolns. It got your attention and was also pretty effective for garnering support for Ralph Nader’s safety initiatives at the time but as I recall, some court decision made them remove stop the practice.
I also remember a time (decades ago) when both the Merritt Parkway and the ConnPike (both tolls) had signs, “Drive at your own risk”. Pray tell, at who’s risk does one ever Drive? Obvioulsy, they had to sttle some suit about road conditions or whatever.
Jane, i really would be nice if people took better care of themselves, but it’s not governments job to do so. Everyone knows that smoking, eating junk, not exercising, etc. is bad for you, so why spend taxpayer dollars reminding them?
Wasn’t the Fund for Healthy Maine made up of money from the tobacco settlement? When did taxpayer dollars get involved?
No taxpayer dollars are in the Fund For a Healthy Maine. This money is from the tobacco settlement. The Governor is trying to use this money to fill one time gaps in his budget. This money shuld be left alone to continue to do the good it was intended for.
Um…Deborah and Jane, it looks as if there has been some cheating going on with your letters to the editor. Have you been plagiarizing someone’s ideas and words???
Everyboy wants to keep their money. Everybody thinks their program really works and is vital, and, not only that, their program saves us money!
golly, with all the money we are saving with all this spending, we should be flush with cash.
LINDA,
Your are wrong. The bible metions group prayer with other Chritians. The only public prayer I want to hear in America is the American Christian prayer. All others may feel free to pray in their place of worship or country of origin.
JANE,
Sing me that liberal spending song one more time.
HARRY,
Way too much of a nanny state is what has happened.
DEBORAH,
See comment left for JANE.
Do you want to share the words of “the American Christian prayer” ….. seeing as it is to be recited in public shouldn’t we all be privvy to the words?
(warning: sarcasm ahead)
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
In chapel at a Christian prep school, years and years ago, I heard an ordained minister and faculty member in the Religious Studies department (who was from the South to boot) denounce this particular hymn as “bad theology.”
And it is.
I’ll apologize up front – this song describes why middle eastern countries and a lot of others hate Europeans and us. Christians started the so called “Holy Wars” by slaughtering so many people in the name of God during the Crusades. Middle Eastern countries and others learned so much from us – they started their own. We now call it Terrorism. It’s about Peace and love for your fellow creatures – not killing in the name of God. Two words in the last stanza have any meaning – “hope” and “charity”.
There is nothing in this song about killing. It is about the war against Satan; a war that many in these comment threads are on the wrong side of.
Has Satan told you that?
You have a list of all those on the wrong side of Satan?????? Did your one and only true god give you that list? Did he ask you to chastise those on the list? Or are you self appointed? BWAHAHAH!
EJ, I agree with you. The hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers,” is about a struggle against wrong. It has, however, sometimes been used to justify killing.
Msally, I’m sure that you posted this as an example of what Conservative Christians believe, and not necessarily what you believe. Many churches no longer sing this hymn for a number of reasons, including the last two lines. Christianity is truly not united and sadly, may well be even more fragmented than before.
Only problem conservative Christians might hve with this hymn might be becvasue it doesn’t directly quote the Bible (therefore, not the Word of God ?!?)
Why should the ‘only public prayer’ be the ‘American Christian’ prayer? What gives you the right to say that?
And he’s wrong. Amconservative claims that the Bible speaks of “group prayer with other Christians,” but it does not. The Bible never uses the term “prayer with other Christians,” and Jesus himself never talked about Christians or Christianity. The word “Christian” only appears twice in the entire Bible, and it was not in use until several years after Jesus’ crucifixion. When Jesus spoke the words quoted in Linda Seekens’ letter, the term “Christian” had not been invented yet.
Who are these “Chritians” your are talking about?
I think Chritians may be the religiously intolerant that feel a compelling need to criticize those that don’t have the “The One and Only True and Living God.”.
You know amconservative for someone who claims to be a Christian you sure do spew a lot of hate. That must be one special God you worship that teaches what you preach.
Typical religious nut attitude. Only MY religion is worthwhile…
You need to learn the difference between hatred and passion. am expresses his beliefs and opinions, without hatred, malice, or deceit. Isn’t that a right in this country?
EJ I not only know the difference between hate and passion I recognize hate when I see it. We are a nation of equals and for someone to say that only American Christian Prayer should be heard and that the rest do their praying in a closet his not passion. Not only is it not passion it us Un-American as well. Or have you forgotten “All men are created equal……..”?
Forgive EJ, he’s deemed his hate to be passion for so long he doesn’t understand the difference.
So, by your definition of hate, you feel the need to spew it right back. I guess that’s fair. And we do serve a “special God”. The One and Only True and Living God.
Your special god, but not the one and only…
Be careful to not create God in your own image, however.
Voltaire said it best: “God may not have created man in his own image, but man has surely created God in his own image.”
Fair distinction, EJ. We need to give one another the benefit of the doubt.
The American christian prayer? America is a melting pot…always has been. So start melting, already. Jeez…
“Nanny state.” Conservatives need to get more creative with their descriptors. Same with “government teet.”
How valid is amconservative’s opinion, when he/she has trouble with “your” and “you’re?”
Very valid, since you liberals have to rebutal with ” look at his spelling “. I shoot these responses off quickly, unfortuntly because I have to work long hours in order to support myself and many others to boot. I’m not much interested in the fact that most of you disagree with me, I’m right, your wrong so it matters not. Your multiculturalism has destroyed this country, and please don’t come back with your liberal talking points that point out America has always been a multiculture society. We were once a melting pot, now all those minorities who don’t want to assimulate and have mega chips on their shoulder and blame the white male for all their ills have manage to destroy this country, and bring us close to being a designated third world country. Try getting out of Maine every now and then and take your blinders off.
What once was a “melting pot” has become a “salad bowl” with a bunch of rotten tomatoes and smelly onions. The liberal declare that the rotten tomatoes and smelly onions have a right to rot and smell, and the rest of us just have to tolerate and accept. That’s not what America is all about. The rot and stink has to go before the entire salad is ruined.
ABO – November, 2012.
“Your multiculturalism has destroyed this country” “What once was a “melting pot” has become a “salad bowl” with a bunch of rotten tomatoes and smelly onions.”
OK EJ and Amcon.time for some history. You do realize the Indians settled the Americas first. They have a big history here . They have rich and complex cultures. They speak all sorts of languages. They’ve given us place name, more plant resources than you will ever understand, culture, appreciation for the natural world and parts of our Constitution.
The Spanish arrived next; they brought Catholocism, enslaved the Indians,built cathedrals, took as much gold as they could find and tried to destroy the Indians’ culture.
Then came the English they brought commerce, morality, Protestantism, slaves from Africa, white churches with spires, government and more war with the Indians.
The Dutch brought stubborness, hardnosed business practices, windmills and place names to much of New York.
We got mad at the English and fought a war using Indian tactics. Crispus Attucks was the first fatality of the that war. He was a freed African slave.
A bunch of nice people from France and Poland helped us fight England. They really liked it here and they stayed bringing French architecture and Polish sausage.
We brought lots of slaves to America. We absorbed their music, their art, their folk lore, their slang, their jazz and we created national guilt and a civil war that is still with us.
After that we bought a big chunk of land where most of the people spoke French and a lot still do. We also gota a few more French speakers in a boundary scuffle in the north. Never mind what we really wanted was a huge chunk of Quebec.
We “acquired” land from Mexico. A bunch of Mexicans came wtih that land. They spoke Spanish, they lived in hasciendas and ate tortillas. They had great music. We love it. We eat a lot of Mexican food. Spanish is our second language.
We bought another big chunk of land. People called it an icebox. A lot of Russians and Eskimos lived there. They had Russan Orthodox Churches and wonderfully scary fairy tales.
Lots of immigrants started coming: The Irish brought hard knuckle politics, the Irish tenor and great whisky. The Germans gave us hard working farmers, beer and hot dogs. The Scandinavians brought the ability to live in Minnosota, Lutherinism, classic designs and a subtle dark humor. The Jews came from all over and made American films the best in the world. They brought the bagel without which few breakfasts would be complete. We tried to subude Cuba and Puerto Rico. We couldn’t, so we adopted their rum, their music, their “joie de vivre” and avacodos. After that came the middle easterns and we got Pakistani taxi drivers and Achmed the Dead Terrorist without which comedy would fall dead and computer geeks without which the internet would fall dead.
So which part of our wildly varied culture do you want to throw out in order to retain this mythical mono-culture you two yearn for. We’re multi- cultural right straight back to the first Indian to set foot on this continent. We’ve never ever been anything but multi-cultural, even here in Maine I’m lovin it. What’s wrong with you?
BTW: tomatoes were something we got from the Indians. LOL
Yes! And I think you may have missed the Chinese laborers who built the Transcontinental railroads, and the Japanese immigrants (think of Daniel Inouye, Kristi Yamaguchi, Yoko Ono, and George Takei) who were sought by industrialists to replace the Chinese. How about the Vietnamese-Americans who came here because they were our allies in the Vietnam War? How about Filipino-Americans, the second-largest group of Asian-Americans? Republican Senator John Ensign is part Filipino (he resigned last year while under an ethics violation).
There are also the Welsh coal miners who settled in West Virginia, and Cornish tin miners who went to Michigan’s iron and copper mines.
I grew up in a small Michigan town that had a Finnish Lutheran Church, a Swedish Lutheran Church, a German Lutheran Church, a Cornish Methodist Church and an Italian Catholic Church. Four miles away was the Polish Catholic Church.
Here in Maine, I know a doctor from Syria and a Filipino businessman. Castine, Maine, not far from where I live, was occupied by the French, who were driven out by the Dutch, who were driven out by the French again, before the English took over.
We could keep going on this, of course.
What, I wonder, does EJ think an “American” is? We come from all over the world. Where was EJ hiding when he was supposed to be in American History class?
I did forget to include the Chinese and Japanese among many many others that have made our culture great. A gross error. To all those whose religion, race, culture and ethnicity that I missed accept my humble apologies.
msally, I wasn’t being critical — the list is so long we are bound to forget someone. We agree. To be “American” is to live in a multi-cultural society with ethnic ties all over the world.
I knew you weren’t . I just thought it was a good opportunity to apologize for leaving out other people that have enriched our culture and made us a great and welcoming nation well …….except for some. (see Amcon and EJ)
As usual, you have gone off onto a tangent that I didn’t allude to. And tomatoes are fruit.
Who’s gone off on a tangent?????? I’m not the one calling tomatoes names? LOL
It wasn’t tomatoes, it was potatoes. Europe didn’t have potatoes until after they brought it back from North America.
Puerto Rico is a United States territory (of which its citizens can vote and receive federal benefits… But they don’t pay taxes!), which was ceded to us after the Spanish-American war.
Just nitpicking, nothing personal.
Check out the origin of the tomato and the meaning of the word subdue.
Just suggesting nothing personal.
Get your rotting head out of our state.
EJ, Your prejudice does have a long history in America. There was once a major political party, the Know-Nothing Party, devoted to hating immigrants in general and Catholics in particular. And, of course, there was also that great American Christian group, the Ku Klux Klan — not just anti-Black, but anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic as well.
Give me a break. You’re just being absurd. I did not say anything about prejudice or anti-anything. I said that there is no place for rot and stink in America if one expects America to survive and prosper. I never said what the rot and stink were. So, don’t assume.
melting pot gone ……….. US just a bowl of rotting tomatoes ………… America not about rotten things ……………. throw them out before they ruin everything
Let me see does that sound like people are getting compared to rotting salad; like these people might be contaminating America, like they stink, like someone might be making ethnic or racial slurs? Let me think. Yup, sounds like bigotry to me.
You put the words “rot in stink” in the context of your statement, “what was once a ‘melting pot’ has become a ‘salad bowl with a bunch of rotten tomatoes and smelly onions.” The “melting pot” metaphor is a clear reference to immigration. In the context of American history it can mean nothing else. So you were talking about certain immigrants as rotten and smelly — your meaning was clear, and clearly prejudiced against certain immigrants.
Why speak of the Know-Nothing Party in the past tense? It merged with the Republican Party and anti-immigrant sentiment still holds that party together.
It is the white male’s fault for the ills of our country…after all they have been in power for so long.
The ills of this country are the fault of everyone who must blame someone else. I’m actually a bit ashamed for you.
It was tongue in cheek in reply to a post that was beyond absurd.
Yeah, sure it was.
Believe as you wish. But actually now that I have thought about it, there is some truth to it. White men have dominated American politics, banking and finance and look where we find ourselves now. It makes more sense to blame the ones who have controlled this country for centuries then to blame the poor, the lost, the unchurched and “liberals” as many do on this site day after day.
You’re clearly a racist.
Working long hours? On Saturday? So you have time at 2pm in the afternoon? Get back to your manual labor job and leave the thinking the anybody else. If you think something is right, check yourself, and do the opposite. Or just ask me.
America is the worse because of people like you. Ashamed you live in my state.
Read our Constitution, particularly the last paragraph of Article VI. Then count the number of times that “God” or “Christianity” appear in the text. The country you desire is not the country our Founders wrought.
I lived out of Maine for 22 years. I worked with people from all over the world. Most, except some of the older people, learned to speak english. There were very few who were lazy and looking for a handout. Many worked 10-12 hr days and always asked for overtime. I had more problems with ignorant bigoted whites in 22 years than anyone else. I would gladly work with foreigners again as I also learned a lot from them.
“I’m right, your wrong so it matters not.”
And that attitude just about sums up the most significant obstacle to the future health of this nation ….
Speel ckers work reely fast an mak you’re louk hilely intellekual .
amconservative, I’m puzzled about your statement that “the Bible mentions group prayer with other Christians,” since when Jesus spoke the words that Linda Seekins quotes, there was as yet no such thing as “Christians.” In fact, the word “Christian” didn’t even exist yet.
The Biblical book, Acts of the Apostles, tells us that the word “Christian” was first used in the city of Antioch many years after Jesus’ crucifixion. So how could Jesus, who never used the word “Christian,” and never spoke of Christianity, have been speaking exclusively about Christian prayer? Just wondering.
Quite splitting hairs, it makes you look juvenile.
Linda, there are different kinds of prayer, corporate prayer being one of them. There is nothing unbiblical about it. In fact Jesus prayed along with His disciples. It becomes an issue when your prayers are for the sole purpose of being seen. God knows your intent. God also loves for His children to talk to Him whether its corporately or privately. Its all a vital part of being a Christian.
There’s a difference between Christ praying with his disciples (and congregations praying in their chruches) and this very public demonstration.
LePage and his nasty little conservative christian cabal don’t give a fig for your definition of “corporate prayer” They have in mind dragging their god back into politics where they will use him to pray for corporations. This isn’t about prayer or religion or Christianity or God. It’s about corporate power.
This may be the first time I have agreed with you.
“They will have to allow Muslims to broadcast their “call to prayer” from the rooftops in any city in Maine five times a day, and Hindus to celebrate their holidays in the streets like they do in India. They will have to allow Pagans to celebrate rituals in the public parks, and any other religion to conduct public prayers and rites.”
You have some problem with this?
No me. The more pagan rituals the better. LOL I also like sound of the Muslim calls to prayer. And Hindu religious parades are exciting and colorful and scary all at the same time. Let’s have more of all.
I agree!
The writer was pointing out that the Christians who signed the document will have to allow things that they may not believe in. I happen to know the writer and she definitely has no problem with any of this.
Jane and Deb, Funds for Healthy Maine is good concept. But cuts have to be made and this program seems low on the priority list. I am sure Mainers are very capable of taking personal responsibility for their own health and well being. We as a society do no need government money to take care of everything for us, do we?
Oh really. I don’t know about you, but I see way too many Mainers who can’t take personal responsibility for neither their health nor the health of others.
Once again, it’s not tax dollars that funded these programs.
Very true that major brands do give out samples on their products, search online for “Get Official Samples” we just got ours today. You wont need CC.
Harry Epp- Great question. What happened to this country? Simple. We stopped condemning greed sometime during the Reagan administration and we have been on the highway to hell ever since. We might as well just step on it and get it over with. There are 6 people in Arkansas that have more wealth than the bottom 30% of Americans, or 96 million people. And the one objective in life that consumes their every waking moment is to have MORE.
And here you are wanting what they have. You’re different how?
CP: You have apparently ignored all the statistics that say we live in a time of unsupportable income gaps if we want democracy and capitalism to survive. You also apparently don’t understand the difference between equity and equality. Nor do you care to admit that compassion for the poor and powerless is not the definition of jealously of the wealthy.
No, we live in a time of unsupportable and unsustainable government.
Compassion for the poor just doesn’t come to mind when I think of you. Typical liberal, let the government hand it out like candy and thereby relieving you of personal any responsibility. No thanks. Its my money and I’m not only capable but eager to help who I deem deserving of help.
I became aware of the fact that there are no luggage racks on a hearse about 50 years ago. You’ll never catch me lusting after money. I believe in different forms of wealth. I really have no skin in this game. I am merely pointing out that in the 5,000 years of recorded history, it is exactly this type of greed that starts the bloodshed every single time.
——————————
Good letters all.
This hymn is about spiritual battles not about war. Get a grip.
Riiiiiiiiiight, beating down the spiritual beliefs of others until they see the light and accept the “true” god.
I seem to remember bits of history where the “spiritual” battles involved some rather spirited killings.
Yes, it is just like the Arabic word “jihad,” which generally refers to spiritual struggle. Muhammad said that the greatest jihad is the inner struggle against one’s own cravings and temptations.
It’s odd that we can understand “Onward Christian Soldiers” as a description of a spiritual struggle, but we are not willing to give Muslims the benefit of the doubt when they explain that the word “jihad” simply means “struggle,” and generally does not refer to violence.
Except for the fact that many Imams the world over have ultimately said that “jihad” IS “total war” — That is, a war on every level that should be fought by every Muslim. Physical, financial, philosophical, and spiritual. It is even mentioned that a Muslim may lie to a non-Muslim as part of the furthering of Islam under “jihad”, whether it is a direct lie or a lie of omission. This isn’t simply an “extremist” view of Islam, this is a widely accepted fact of Islam that top Islamic scholars have outright spoken of!
Actually, you ARE expressing an extremist view of Islam. How many Muslims do you think there are in the world? There are about 2 billion. Yes, that’s not 2 million, nor is it 200 million, but two BILLION. How many of them have ever committed an act of terror? What percentage of the world’s Muslims is that?
The vast, vast, vast majority of Muslims believe in being truthful to everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim. The vast, vast, vast majority of Muslims are respectful of other religions and hope that others will be respectful of their religion. The vast, vast, vast, majority of Muslims have an agenda like yours and mine — get up in the morning, wash up, eat breakfast, brush teeth, go to work or to school, etc. The vast, vast, vast majority of Muslims are ordinary peaceful people living ordinary peaceful lives. But you judge two billion people by what a comparative handful of extremists have done.
Do we judge all Christians by the likes of Pastor Jim Jones, David Koresh, Anders Breivik Behring, Eric Robert Rudolph, those who murder doctors who perform abortions, and other Christian terrorists? Do we judge Christians by the Protestants and Catholics who murdered one another for decades in Northern Ireland? Do we judge all Christians by the bloody Crusaders of the Middle Ages, by the Inquisition, or by the Catholics and Protestants in Europe who fought the Thirty Years’ War? No. We know lots of fine Christians, and we realize that not all Christians are terrorists.
But because we don’t know many (or even any) Muslims, we think they are all like terrorists portrayed on TV dramas. But most Muslims, in fact, are like the Syrian-American doctor I know, just an ordinary guy trying to help his patients get better.
My Muslim friends don’t believe that nonsense. Where are you getting this from?
Amazing! No coverage of any real national news!
Sopa! Pipa! NDAA! Etc. nothin’? What is going on? BDN shame on you!
I can’t believe it.
I know. They should be reporting on the 50 wind turbines that are 450′ tall installed on the hills around Oakfield.
Linda Seekins,
No one is “forcing others to listen” to anyone’s prayers. It’s not being broadcasted on local TV and radio stations, it’s not in your home, it’s not in your grocery store, and it’s not in your kid’s school… It is all just in your head, this preconceived notion of someone violating your rights by praying in a public place with other people who are of like mind. So please stop being a big cry baby.
And no, I don’t care if the xyz’s have their prayer and holidays too. It’s not going to bother me one bit. They already do what they want now anyways, protected by the same document that protects my rights.
Consider this–if you attend a public gathering, let’s say a basketball game, and someone stands at a microphone and gives a prayer that goes against what you believe, you are basically being forced to listen to someone’s prayers. Oh, and it can well be broadcast on local TV and radio stations, in your grocery store, and, yes, in your kid’s school. Do you want your kids to have to sit in a classroom and listen to a prayer that you might not approve of? What if the teacher makes them pray the rosary, bow down towards Mecca, or is a Satanist? I wonder who the big cry baby will be then?
They can have their prayers and holidays, and they already have that right, thanks to the First Ammendment. But, this right does not mean that any particular religion can push their prayers and holidays onto others, like some try to do.
“They will have to allow Muslims to broadcast their “call to prayer” from the rooftops in any city in Maine five times a day”
Please no……That music kills my ears…..Have you ever heard it????
EJ your statement speaks volumes to your bigotry. No doubt you will pull your usual routine and say that you are not a bigot and then turn around and call me one. Next I will state that you are lying about not being a bigot and finish with “I don’t lie.”
Let’s see you wiggle out of this one.