Friday, Jan. 20, 2012
January 20 Letters to the Editor
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To the Editor:
This is in response to Daryl Pitts’ letter last week in his opinion that Vicki Hartzler’s religion had no business in the political realm (referencing her Dec. 30 article) due to “separation of church and state.”
If this were the case, our founding fathers – the 250 men who were instrumental in the birth and establishment of our country – would have been disqualified long before they wrote the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Ninety-five perenct of them were orthodox Christians, theologians, and very outspoken about their faith, in their public service.
The Declaration states that our rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights. They do not come from man or the government, but come from God. The only separation mentioned is the cause of separation from England which was denying them their God-given rights, in which they were impelled to declare.
The term “separation of church and state” is derived from a phrase used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Church in 1802. They were concerned about Congress picking one denomination over another, to be the country’s main denomination, as the Church of England presented.
Ironically, Jefferson was reassuring them the government’s hands are tied from interfering with, controlling, or showing favoritism in the churches of America, due to the First Amendment, “thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
The First Amendment is to protect freedom of religion, not from religion and prohibit any favoritism of one denomination over another. Religious persecution being where we came from within Christiandom, from England.
There is so much the founders said revealing their Judeo-Christian faith and their original intent. I encourage Daryl to search it out for himself. Find out what they said themselves, not what others may have said about them. I recommend some scholars on this subject, to name a few: David Barton, “Wallbuilders;” Bill Federer, “America’s God and Country;” and George Grant, “The Patriot’s Handbook.”
Even though we have the God-given freedom of our religion and the right to express it afforded in the Declaration and the Bill of Rights; we don’t have to agree with everybody. There’s a difference between our God-given religious freedoms and using those freedoms, in the name of God, while you’re personally and financially benefiting from it.
Because our founders were willing to sacrifice, not at taxpayer’s expense but at their own expense; we now reap the benefits of their labor. It is part of our labor and duty every election to decide for ourselves if “We the People” are being served by our elected officials. Or are “We the People” serving them?
Sharon Neff, Garden City
To the Editor:
I just saw Rick Brattin on the news about the science bill he’s written. Was I watching a puppet whose mouth was moving, with the voice of Rex Rector was coming out? Geez...the guy doesn’t even make sense. From the little I saw on it, if passed, his bill would stifle Missouri schoolkids and what they learn about evolution. Surely there are much more important issues for them to address and leave the science of evolution to the scientists and science teachers. It just makes use look like a bunch of idiots in Missouri.
Lynnette Swartz, Freeman
To the Editor:
Is this what our “Christian” country has come down to? Evangelical leaders meeting in a back room, with no media, to tell us how to vote! Isn’t this a space usually saved for politicians? Or is there any difference today? Just look at the background of some of these leaders, especially Ralph Reed, who associated himself with Jack Abramoff, the biggest crooked lobbyist of all time, and that is what he says.
Then you have James Dobson, who started Focus on the Family, but was pushed out of his position by his board, and now is in competition with Focus on the Family for funds. Are we as Americans unable to decide who we want to vote for as guaranteed by the Constitution? Politicians can run their nasty ads, but there is a time we stand up to these great “evangelical” leaders, who are part of the Tea Party.
How many of you remember the 1960 elections? We were warned then about the Pope taking over our country. In the religion I was in at the time we had all kinds of brochures and “information” on how the Catholics were dangerous and had killed so many “Christians.” We actually had pictures of disemboweled women to bring over the point. Now, to stop one candidate, the evangelical leaders decide we should vote for a Catholic.
Is this year of the Republicans, Tea Party, is far right for real or is what we are seeing what lies ahead? For those of you who have never heard of the C Street house in Washington, D. C., you need to read about how they are attempting to bring the perfect government about by “their Christian beliefs.” Along with this, we have Grover Norquist who has so much money power that almost all Republicans would not vote without getting his approval, including our 4th District Representative.
I asked her some time ago if she would remove her name from his tax pledge. Never received an answer. I am a Christian and proud to be one, but I don’t see my Jesus in the Bible having meetings with the political parties of His day, especially in back rooms. Actually it was quite the opposite. Voters of the 4th Congressional District, 2012 is what possibly could be the most important vote you have ever made.
George Wheeldon, Archie
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to the letter written by Daryl Pitts in the Jan. 13 edition. If you notice the date of the paper that Mr. Pitts is referring to, it is the Dec. 23 edition, which happens to be two days before Christmas. I don’t believe Mrs. Hartzler was speaking about politics in a church or speaking religion on government property. The last time I read the Constitution of the United States of America it gives every citizen freedom of speech.
What was wrong with Mrs. Hartzler speaking the truth of the reason for Christmas? It was over 2,000 years ago that Jesus Christ was born, and His reason for coming to this earth in the form of man was to save us from our sins. I guess Mr. Pitts is not used to hearing the truth from someone in government. If more of the politicians in Washington leaned on our Creator, this country may not be in the mess that it is. Keep up the good work Vicky! Stand strong in your beliefs!
Tammy Powers, Harrisonville
