THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 30, 1995 TAG: 9509290045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
WHEN I WROTE last week about parenting classes at area houses of worship, I invited others to plug their parenting programs. No one took me up on the invitation, though a few readers did call to say they liked the information provided.
Most readers, however, were still hung up on the column two weeks ago about Dr. James Dobson and a letter he'd written to supporters deriding the recent United Nations women's conference in Beijing.
From the Rev. Kenneth W. Bryant of West Side Christian Church in Portsmouth: ``I think you were too gentle with Dr. Dobson. His inflammatory piece of ultra-right wing political rhetoric was scurrilous! It is remarkable to me that he is so terribly threatened by women giving attention to their own welfare. It is lewd to suggest (as Dobson did in his letter) that Mrs. Clinton goes to China to encourage lesbian relationships as a way to control world population and that Mrs. Clinton is somehow responsible for rights violations and abortions in China. I didn't know whether to be angry at Dr. Dobson, pity his lack of balance and objectivity or laugh at his ridiculous notions. Where is academic objectivity and Christian fairness? Why can't we simply brand right wing politics as politics and not as the Christian religion?''
From Vernon M. Bonniwell of Exmore: ``In our current `separation of church and state' emphasis, one would hardly expect to find politics discussed in a `Religion' column. Indeed the subjects reiterated in the Sept. 9 column (about Dr. Dobson) are political. Or, are the lines between politics and religion fading?
``Did Betsy Wright correspond with Dr. Dobson for a more detailed explanation of her questions/objections about his letter? If not, her investigative reporter responsibilities have not been thorough. Rather, she has just used the column as a method to give her own response to an objectionable (to her) claim by a more qualified assessor than herself.''
Columnist's Response: I did not contact Dr. Dobson because his eight page diatribe was explicit enough. My column was simply a response to his letter . taking pot shots at the First Lady and encouraging his followers to protest the women's conference by calling their representatives.
Sorry you didn't like the column, Vernon, but I just call 'em as I see 'em. And I've let you do the same.
And now, having put to rest the Dobson issue, I will play catch-up. Here are some odds-and-ends from the mail bag and other sundry places.
From Nandor Lazar of Norfolk: ``It seems to me that religion is like an aspirin. It makes some people feel better, which is OK. Some people, however, claim their brand is better than others. This is the problem.
``In my opinion, we need a (national) slogan which (reminds us to) care about everybody and everything. The Golden Rule represents this. We should use it more often in the schools. At the beginning of the first class, its meaning could be explained. At the end of classes, (teachers could say), `Do not forget the Golden Rule,' as a reminder.''
In case you missed it, the Rev. James W. Watkins, pastor of Old South Church United Church of Christ in Kirtland, Ohio, wrote an excellent editorial - ``Religion is not - repeat, not - barred from public schools'' - which appeared in this newspaper on Tuesday. In language clear enough for a third-grader, Watkins summarized the current law, concluding that ``students do not shed their religious rights when they enter a school building.''
If you've thrown out Tuesday's paper or can't find it at the library, send me a self-addressed stamped envelope and I'll send you a copy of Watkins' article.
If you want more information about the current law, write for ``Religion in the Public Schools: A Joint Statement of Current Law'' available through the United Church of Christ, Office for Church in Society, 110 Maryland Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.
Seen in an Ocracoke, N.C. gift shop: ``Angels fly because they take themselves lightly,'' G.K. Chesterton.
And my laugh of the week came from Jill Barrett (no city given) on the Internet: ``Where did the Pilot dig you up anyway? What possible qualification could you possibly possess for writing a religion column? Where did you get your seminary degree? What theological studies have you completed? What's the street address of the church that has elected you its elder? My guess is that somebody from the Pilot went down to Farm Fresh and found you in the fruit aisle palming a casaba. . . . '' by CNB