Published: May 01, 2008 09:20 pm         

Our Readers Speak - Friday, May 2, 2008

No compromise when it comes to religion



Being an Army veteran and a possible user of the Beckley VA hospital, I feel a need to put two cents worth of opinion in. My understanding was that the VA policy was to cover up, not remove, Christian symbols from the facility. Emotion is running rampant!

Now a recent writer has said that same atheist just wants to stir something up and abuse the Constitution. I notice that is usually what Christians say that have had things their way so long that they are actually astonished when things turn out different. My cap is off to the atheist (or whoever it was) who first had the courage to withstand all those slings and arrows shot their way. You know and I know that actually the VA facility has been delinquent for decades due to administrative oversight.

Since veterans of Christian faith deserve their own place to pray, like-wise shouldn’t atheists have the same right to practice belief and healing without the disruption of unpleasant objects and people? Of course they should. Does writer Kennedy, for example, wish us to go back to the old ways in which atheists were brutalized and imprisoned? Oh yes, those were the good ol’ days, weren’t they, for Christians?

And that is what many of the writers are advocating for; that we offend you and ought to be sent to another country. But by all means, and as quickly as possible, get us out of your sight. Now that was suggested, if I know my history right, by some people for the black race during the slavery era in America; and that was put forth by the Nazis for their unwanted masses, and that was acted upon by Stalin and others.

Gut check: The fact is that religion and atheists are in a death match and only one will prevail.

There is no compromise, there is no mutual existence. Sooner or later one will step forth as victor from the mental rubble. One will be dominate in all minds. Time and minds will decide — assuming we’re not destroyed before then, assuming by then we will care.



Lonnie Bailey

Pineville



President’s job is to protect citizens



The president’s primary job is to protect the citizens of the United States.

That includes protecting us by keeping our borders tightly controlled.

I think that any president who doesn’t do this should be tried for treason.



Fred Pierce

Beckley