Critic of Christians
casts his net too far
Leonard Pitts’ column, “Must Christianity always be the last to get it right?” (Opinion, April 10) is a prime example of the kind of reductionism critics use in writing about Christianity. World Vision is a nominally ecumenical organization avowedly conservative, an evangelical organization that has been accused of putting evangelism ahead of humanitarian efforts.
As with other religions, Christianity is by no means monolithic. Evangelicals may be slow to “get it right,” but recall that Quakers and Unitarians were at the forefront of the movement to abolish slavery and advocate for the rights of the unenfranchised. In the 20th century, that’s been true of Episcopalians as well. In fact, I think most evangelicals today would accuse mainline Protestant churches of placing humanitarian concerns before personal salvation.
So please, Mr. Pitts, if you must tar adherents to a particular religion, do it with a narrower brush.
LEE PASSARELLA, LAWRENCEVILLE
Market should have
decided GM’s fate
I appreciate the facts and overview presented in “Valuing profits over lives” (Opinion, April 6). However, the closing premise about strong checks and balances was flawed. General Motors is not an example of free market capitalism. Prior to 2007, it was a rotting shell of slipshod, arrogant management and a foul labor union propped up by government cronyism. The market almost prevailed when GM slid toward bankruptcy in 2007.
The cleansing of this toxic corporate culture was thwarted by the Obama machine’s “rescue” and transfer of assets to Obama’s UAW backers. Obama thugs and cronies bear responsibility for the deaths incurred by the flawed regime they preserved. Regulation and its related corruption can never equal the cleansing power of unfettered markets.
LARRY WOODS, SNELLVILLE
Companies aren’t
the same as people
Julianne Thompson’s commentary (“Religious liberty defines freedom in U.S.,” Opinion, April 10) has a significant flaw. She maintains, “A company like Hobby Lobby should not be forced to violate its beliefs because of a government mandate.” Ms. Thompson elides the meaning of “company” and ” people” when clarity about each is at the heart of the debate. Companies are corporations with legally fictitious personhood. They are to be clearly distinguished from biological persons who may be presumed to have consciences.
Corporate personhood is a fiction we accept in order to create a great public convenience: a marketplace. Those biological persons with the biggest stake in the corporate person “Hobby Lobby” are entitled to their conscientious beliefs. They are not entitled to foist those beliefs upon the marketplace using the corporation as their agent.
JOSEPH D. HERRING, JOHNS CREEK
Austin: Enjoy the
new schools chief
Greetings and congratulations from Austin, Texas, on your new school superintendent Meria Carstarphen. Beware: Atlanta is about to be burned for the second time. Hide your children and your money, as she is very divisive and has never seen a property tax increase she didn’t like. We’re happy to see her go, and feel sad for you.
GEORGE WORTELL, AUSTIN, TEXAS
