One of Jesus’ points was about forgiveness
Regardless of political views, I was very surprised to hear about Newt Gingrich’s recent speech at a church. He was against an apology regarding the accidental burning of copies of the Quran. One of the key points Jesus talked about was love and forgiveness — and further, to love our enemies. An apology is a minimal expression of love. Even if Gingrich has not reached that level of alignment with Jesus, I assume he strives to.
Erik Stremke, Snellville
‘Circle the wagons!’ should have been next
Rick Santorum recently said he doesn’t believe “in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.” His next line should have been, “Circle the wagons!”
John Peltier, Roswell
Santorum statement shows a lack of touch
Taking exception to what President John F. Kennedy said some 50 years ago, Rick Santorum said that a reference to separation of church and state makes him throw up. I never gave Santorum much credit for being a scholar, but this latest statement reveals how out of touch he is with the reality of what has made the United States a positive example to the world.
The West began resolving its theological issues hundreds of years ago, and the wisdom embodied in the Constitution (and the Bill of Rights in particular) represents the culmination of the struggles that shook and bloodied Europe for centuries. It is this struggle and the ability of this nation to capture the idea of a government that does not depend on religion for its strength that separate us from the theocracies that we see in the Middle East today.
Take away the separation of church and state, and you have Afghanistan run by the Taliban — or Iran run by the ayatollahs.
John Ehlers, Marietta
Right to vote should not be automatic
Given the deplorable condition of the American electoral system, the citizen’s right to vote should not be automatic. It should be contingent on passing an examination in such subjects as American government and political propaganda. This way, we could create an electorate that is much more effective in choosing the best candidate for office. Political machines spend vast amounts of money “donated” by special interest groups to influence the voters with an array of misinformation techniques and scare tactics. Free, short courses could be offered in every community to provide the training and education required to be a voter.
A secondary benefit would be the prestige of qualifying to vote by getting the license. Anyone serious enough to get a license would show up to vote. Voter turnout would rise, and a voter license with a photo would satisfy the need for voter identification.
Harris Green, Big Canoe
