Letters to the editor
Posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/57595/
A platform from which to hate
On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Northwest Arkansas Times published an opinion piece by John Terry entitled “ A solemn and sad situation” in which he suggests that an atheist is likely to become “ a pedophile, a murderer, a thief, or any other kind of a deviant you can think of. ” It is absurd that such a statement should even have to be addressed — but given that it was published in the most highly circulated paper in the region, it demands it. Mr. Terry attempts to wrap his brain around the idea of a passionate atheist, and then proceeds to give one of the most excellent examples I have ever seen of why so many of us are becoming more vocal.
Atheists are the most reviled group of citizens in this country. A recent study from the University of Minnesota (one of those darned secular universities ) found that “ Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians, and other minority groups in “ sharing their vision of American society. ” Knowing how many Americans feel about Muslims and homosexuals, it is pretty scary to see us ranked below them. It is the casual bigotry of people like Mr. Terry — who don’t even have the decency to be ashamed — that gets to us. He is the reason we are becoming so passionate.
The fact is, as a group, the percentage of the incarcerated who are atheists is far lower than the percentage of atheists as a whole. America is the most Christian nation in the world, and has never been more so. Yet our economy is crashing around us, poverty and teen pregnancy are on the rise, and we have the largest percentage of citizens imprisoned of any country in the world. And regarding the outrageous claim I quoted to begin this response, I would hope that, as a minister himself, Mr. Terry would remember Matthew 7: 3: “ Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye ?” In a society that prides itself on the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech (to say nothing of the freedom of religion so many assume applies only to their own ), it is important to remember the responsibility we citizens share in not abusing those rights. Mr. Terry has overstepped the bounds of that responsibility, as is also his right. But it saddens and frightens me that an esteemed publication such as the Northwest Arkansas Times would give him a platform from which to spread his hatred.
James Allen / Bentonville
Study group had it right
Gen. Petraeus’ and Ambassador Crocker’s testimony... includes plans for the withdrawal of a few troops from Iraq. But the general and the ambassador also laid out plans for a long-term U. S. military occupation of Iraq, creating a compliant, protected regime in the oil-rich heart of the Middle East. A long-term military occupation of Iraq is a bad solution to a failed war policy. Our members of Congress should be working towards an end to the war that people in this country of all political parties can unite around. One such proposal has already been put forward and would enact into law the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, including a firm commitment for the withdrawal all U. S. military troops from Iraq, full support for regional diplomatic negotiations with all of Iraq’s neighbors, and a commitment to assist in rebuilding a country that U. S. military troops have helped to destroy. I hope that we can count on our members of Congress to support this bill and a real end to the Iraq war. My brother recently went over to Iraq to fight someone else’s war, and due to this I was granted with power of attorney. This is very flattering, but it is not something that I would like to be responsible for. Please make the right decision.
Joe Kopek / Fayetteville