Support the Troops/ 10 Commandments

Letter of mine on response to Democrats not supporting the troops

Mr. Johnson wrote that Liberal Democrats want to cause chaos, turmoil and stop the things that need to be done, like filling the Supreme Court vacancies and supporting our troops.” (Nov. 10, letters)Hmmm, I don't know if Mr. Johnson realizes this but it wasn't the liberals who killed the Harriet Meiers nomination but the conservatives. They pounded the White House urging President Bush to withdraw the nomination even before there was a Senate hearing.
I guess when conservatives kill Supreme Court nominations then that isn't very important. Second, Mr. Johnson says liberals aren't supporting the troops. Well, when Rush Limbaugh was criticizing the bombing of Serbia by American planes, was he supporting the troops? After all, fighter pilots were risking their lives everyday during that conflict. If that conflict was wrong or right doesn't matter if all that matters is if the troops are being supported.Our Americans troops are risking their lives for their country and they should be applauded for their bravery and service. That can't be disputed. But, we as a nation should not support a war just because troops are currently engaged in the war. We should support a war because it is good public policy.The case for Iraq as good public policy can be argued but those arguments in support of a war/military conflict should be the central reason for support of a war, not the means (the troops). A bad war policy, a bad war (again, not talking about Iraq) cannot and should not be justified by emotional appeals to the troops. If it is bad policy, then we would not be obligated to keep supporting it. American soldier lives should not be thrown away needlessly.Now, Mr. Johnson might consider me not as a true-born American and that is his right. The idea though that anyone who doesn't agree with your side isn't a “true-born American” ignores the patriotism and love of country that Americans as a whole, share.


10 commandments

The recent letter by Buddy Walls showed the danger of putting the Ten Commandments in a courthouse.Not only is Mr. Walls and those of similar beliefs not satisfied by mixing religion and our state with such a display but wish to use such a display in a public building to get individuals to abide by that religious document. Now, there is nothing wrong with prohibitions on killing or theft, but the government has no right to tell me that I must honor the Sabbath, have no other gods or graven images. It is evident that Mr. Walls and many other Americans want to mix religious symbols into our government to get more people who share his beliefs. Mr. Walls, you have the perfect right to argue that your religion is true and that people should practice the Christian belief system. I support that right, but you do so in the marketplace of ideas. If your God is true, then it doesn't need the help of government in order to show that. If your religion is false, then it it's folly to have the government support it as true. Mr. Walls has been wrong on his knowledge of U.S. history in the past. Jefferson's Danbury letter wasn't in regards to the establishment of a National Church as Mr. Walls has stated but the lack of religious liberty enjoyed in their home state of Connecticut by the Baptists. Any reading of the Danbury letter would clearly show this fact. In regards to issues like school prayer, children can pray in school, just organized prayer is not allowed. The rights of parents of non-Christians or liberal Christians should be respected in this area.