Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995 TAG: 9507060022
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
First, Taylor posits that our ideals of liberty and respect for law and human life all come from Christianity. Does he mean to suggest that the great traditions of democracy, rule of law, and respect for life which came from such diverse sources as the ancient Jewish and Persian law codes, ancient Greece and the Enlightenment had no influence on Christianity and its subsequent impact on our own civilization?
Second, he cites Patrick Henry's contention that America was ``founded by Christians, not religionists.'' This implies that there wasn't much resembling civilization or moral values in the Americas before the arrival of white, Protestant Europeans. It also ignores the fact that the ``Christian'' founders the religious right worships also brought us human bondage, committed physical and cultural genocide against Native Americans, and often oppressed other European immigrants who were not Protestant.
Taylor also states that ``if it were not for Christianity, there would be no America.'' This I find most alarming of all. What of the rich and varied contributions to our culture from African, Jewish, Native American and Asian traditions? All these, along with Western Christianity, compose the great mosaic that is American civilization. To suggest that America is the creation of Christianity isn't only cultural arrogance. It's also an ominous sentiment for members of minority faiths, particularly those of the Jewish faith.
Rather than assert the superiority of one belief system, and frantically search for an idyllic time in our past that never existed, perhaps the religious right would do better to reflect upon the miracle of religious pluralism and diversity - surely one of the characteristics that make our nation the unique place that it is.
MARK DALHOUSE
KIRKSVILLE, MO.
Voters expect more than double talk
IN RESPONSE to the meeting of minds between President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich:
Of all places, in a primary state that will help to elect our next president! This picnic gathering where senior citizens were looking on was, to say the least, politics at its best. This little get-together involved issues pertaining to the ever-rising cost of Medicaid, health care, and who is going to do what, when and how about it. Anyone with half a brain could see right through this fake show of ``cooperation without politics'' to solve this country's major ills.
Gingrich set the tone for the battle ahead and, in particular, for the '96 election. At the forefront: threats of a train wreck (government shutdown) if Republicans don't get their way. Through the press, the GOP says that Clinton is irrelevant to this nation and how it will move ahead. Here comes banana Dole, Gramm cracker Phil and a few others saying they know best how to handle the many problems our country is facing.
Going back to the train, the Republicans rode it for 12 years, as conductor and operator. Government in that time grew fat, spent money like it was going out of style and left the little guy behind. Through all the speeches, broken promises, and a bunch of lies and disinformation, they now claim to be the leaders for tomorrow.
Politicians, regardless of party, seem to never get it. The voters, taxpayers, are the ones who really care about which way this country should go. Most look beyond the political sewer and double talk to see the true color of some who say anything to get a vote.
Clinton's troubles are just beginning. Republicans are massing for a full-frontal assault - the radical right and extremists doing their filthy deeds. God help us and guide us through all the troubled times that may lie ahead.
MITCHELL ROBINSON
GALAX
A Christian exercise in demagoguery
AS IF the editorial account of prayers in the name of Christ (June 21 editorial, ``In the name of Jesus Christ'') at a public-school forum wasn't disturbing enough, we now get to hear from people who, having known one Jew while growing up (June 27 letter to the editor by Madaline Murphy, ``Exposure to other faiths is positive''), are expert enough on the minority experience to offer Linda Ballin (June 21 commentary, ``I love my faith, too'') advice to lighten up.
The lesson of the valedictorian's address is that ends justify whatever means any individual deems necessary. Ignore protocol, exclude those who are different - just remember to invoke Jesus to make it all right.
In this case, with cheering audience at hand, it's called demagoguery. Both the speech and the letter exhorting Ballin to see that Christian prayer is good for everyone miss the point that the truth of God is many-sided, to say the least. They also miss the point that finding comfort in the name of Christ is a tall order for a lot of folks, given previous Christian initiatives like the Crusades, the Inquisition and Christian involvement in the Holocaust. I don't know what history class looks like at Patrick Henry High School, but these were required reading when I was in school.
Just as the Almighty reaches Christians through Christ, so do non-Christians experience divine truth in their own terms and their own symbols. Denying this flies in the face of God's capacity for infinite presentation.
As a child, I sang a song that had the line, ``And they'll know we're Christians by our love.'' One steamy Sunday many years ago I wondered, for the first time, who would know and just exactly how they'd know. I've wondered about the latter ever since.
In a world where 1.5 billion people claim to hear God through Jesus, it's appalling how many relish the opportunity to walk over their neighbors rather than with them.
LYNN COCOCCIA
ROANOKE
All in county are not treated equally
IN ROANOKE County, some taxpayers are getting the royal shaft by the backward Robin Hood system of government. It takes from one side of the county, where there is no water, no sewer, no sidewalks, no custom grass-cutting, no top-priority snow removal, and gives to the other side of the county where all of the above is up to date.
Taxes should match services provided. Have nothing, pay nothing.
The county did give the people on Bradshaw Road something - a Disney World landfill.
ROGER SHELTON
SALEM
Team effort kept readers informed
I COMMEND your staff for the great regional coverage on the recent flooding.
With something of this magnitude, it takes a real team effort on behalf of reporters, photographers, editors and graphic artists to bring such coverage to the readers. I especially enjoyed reading the June 30 edition, including layouts on pages A-4 and A-5 (``Flooding takes 3 lives'' and ``The floods of summer: Western Virginia 1995'').
When we left Sarasota, Fla., on June 25 to visit family in Roanoke, little did we know what was in store for the week. Before leaving for vacation, I wrote about some flooding in the Tampa Bay area. So, I can certainly appreciate the extensive work that goes into such coverage. I hope your readers also do. Keep up the good hustle and good work!
ANNETTE GILLESPIE
SARASOTA, FLA.
Anti-lawyer stand is commendable
REGARDING the June 29 article (``Lawyers' donation haunts Bell'') about Sen. Brandon Bell and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association:
I fail to understand how the trial lawyers' contribution ``haunts'' Bell when he, in fact, returned it. I commend him for taking a stand and sending back the money. For once, we have a politician putting money where his mouth is.
Legal reform is an important issue, and is one worth fighting for. And when the General Assembly reconvenes next year, we're going to need people like Bell in there instead of a trial lawyer like John Edwards.
MICHELLE SEMONES
SALEM
by CNB