Posted: Friday, June 2, 2006 12:00 am
This weekend, the Democratic Party will host its state convention. Among the more mundane training is a topic entitled, "Faith Voters Share Our Values." This is a part of the national Democratic Party campaign to steal the "faith vote" from Republicans and to illustrate to those of faith that their perception of Democrats as long-haired, atheist, environmental wackos is just a wee bit off.
The initiative was kicked off by Howard Dean in an appearance on Pat Robertson's "700 Club." Hold the phone! Pat Robertson and his followers share my values?
The same Pat Robertson who called for the assassination of a democratically elected head of state? The right-wing nut-job who stated that Islam is essentially a "Christian heresy?" The evangelical who said of feminism, "The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians"? That Pat Robertson?
Dean and the National Democratic Party want religious folks to know that the Democrats are a "big tent party." Surely if the tent is big enough for Pat and his ilk, why not include Fred Phelps or Mullah Omar? Perhaps a speech at commencement 2007 at Jerry Falwell's university, ala John "Straight Shooter" McCain?
If there is a place and time for liberals to stand up and turn their backs to illustrate their utter contempt for a speaker, it will be when Howard Dean speaks in Eugene.
John T. L. Lee
Corvallis
Local paper's job to print local news
Recently someone wrote to the paper complaining about the lack of "breaking" national and international news on the front page and disparaging the pictures and articles about local people and events published there instead.
National and international news is available everywhere, 24/7, 365. We see it in the national newspapers; it's on television, the radio and the Internet.
But local news in Corvallis is available mainly in our daily local newspaper, the Gazette-Times. Please keep it up!
Beryl Bunker
Corvallis
It's past time to rein in the right
Here we go again. The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 10 to 8 along party lines to send to the full U.S. Senate a constitutional amendment that would prohibit states from recognizing same-sex marriages.
"Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman," reads the measure.
The 10 Republicans who voted in favor of this contemptible amendment admit that it stands little chance of passing. But gay-bashing legislation appeals to the GOP's religious right-wing base. It's a clear case of political pandering.
Here's my reaction: America doesn't need another moral stain like the Defense of Marriage Act. It needs a "Defense from Religious Fundamentalists Act."
Wouldn't it be great to give these faith-based bigots a taste of their own medicine here in Oregon? We could do it, and thus limit their ability to pass down such irrational, hateful and homophobic beliefs to a new generation, by supporting our own constitutional amendment: "When marriages involve members of a religious community, only a union between individuals raised in differing religious sects shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state," our measure could read. We'll call it the "Ban on Same-Sect Marriages."
Tim Leslie
Corvallis
Bush might flunk immigration test
With all this news of immigration, I am reminded of all those arriving in the United States at Ellis Island. Upon arrival, all steerage-class immigrants were examined by a ship's surgeon and an affidavit was signed before proceeding through immigration.
I will quote only part of that affidavit: "I believe that no one of said aliens is an idiot, or imbecile, or feeble-minded person, or insane person, or pauper, or is likely to become a public charge, or is a person who has been convicted of, or who admits having committed a felony or other crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or is coming to the United States for the purpose of prostitution, or for any other immoral purpose."
Now, I realize that George W. Bush would not have arrived in steerage class. Nor has he admitted any crimes or moral turpitude - or even mistakes for that matter. Nor will he ever become a public charge. However, after reading the affidavit and with regard to our world situation, I would have to conclude that George W. Bush would not have been let off the ship.
Roger H. Sheldrake
Corvallis
Judas' role gets new scrutiny
How difficult it can be to change our beliefs in light of new truths.
The recently revealed Coptic Gospel of Judas confronts some Christians with such a dilemma. This recently recovered document translated by the National Geographic Society and interdominational scholars reveals Judas as Christ's most-favored disciple, who impeccably serves rather than betrays Him - quite different than the King James Version.
The brief Gospel of Judas (search Internet) is not necessarily an easy read.
After the historical Christ died, the apostle Mark moved to Egypt (42 A.D.) and started the Coptic Church, which quickly Christianized much of Egypt, Ethiopia and the southern Mediterranean region. The Coptics founded a desert monastic order based on the ancient Essene models. Western religious scholars brought the monastic model to northern Europe. They are credited with saving western civilization during the Dark Ages, founding the modern university system and catalyzing the Renaissance.
The Gospel of Judas - along with recently discovered gospels of Mary Magdalene, Philip and Enoch - reveal a diversity of valid belief systems. Significant Bible revisions and deletions are undeniably a product of historical and political forces (a relief for some; troubling to others).
Fundamentalists the world over - Islamic, Christian or otherwise - all believe their way is the best and only way, each claiming the Word of God.
Alas, opposites co-exist; the universe also is ambiguous. The "Great Mystery" surrounds us at every turn. Perhaps a more open accepting, tolerant approach to other's benign belief systems would be a more lasting path toward world peace.
Reed Behrens
Corvallis
Health care: We could do better
We recently noted that the English are far healthier than Americans. Not only are the English healthier, but so are the Poles, Hungarians and Romanians by most standards of measurement. Our infant survivability is second to last amongst first world nations, passing only Latvia.
Other countries have successfully proven that universal health care is not only less expensive, but it makes people healthier. We have the finest doctors, nurses, and technology in the world, but we only care for a select few.
In America today, 41 percent of middle-income workers have no health coverage. We have nearly 48 million people uninsured. Our neighbors are often sent into bankruptcy because of medical costs. American workers are dropping their health coverage "benefit" because they can no longer afford the premiums. Premiums have risen, while coverage has been cut.
An employer with a sick staff is not getting the benefit of their work, and the employee is needlessly suffering. The employer has had premiums raised. They must try to compete with employers in other countries that provide universal coverage for all citizens, and they can't.
Our citizens are now going overseas to Thailand, Singapore, India and elsewhere to get surgeries they need, at a small fraction of the cost here. New insurance companies provide c overage for our citizens to get their health care in other countries. This is insane.
Let us in Oregon fix this. We can enact a universal health care coverage for all of us in our state. We must.
Shelley Ries, R.N.
Corvallis