Letters

Godly messages get muddled

A March 13 letter by Brian Rothfusz included this quote from Christ: “My kingdom is not of the world.” One could interpret this as it suits them, just as “Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s.”

He chooses to believe the statement gives Christians a responsibility that may not include the welfare of this planet or its inhabitants. Apparently, their earthly mission is to bend everybody to their will; excuse me, God’s will.

History and current events demonstrate religion can make people do anything to please their God. If a modern-day Abraham planning to kill his children is living next door to Rothfusz, I hope he will have enough sense to dial 911. Sometimes those messages from God can be a little confusing.

My concern is with the tangible, not the abstract. I continue to hope the majority of people on Earth feel the same.

Donald W. Daw

Chattaroy

We don’t elect pastors

( Editor’s note: Due to an editing error that changed the meaning, this letter is being rerun.)

One hundred years ago a small group of extremists forced Prohibition on an entire nation based solely on their personal religious belief that alcohol was evil for everyone. They destroyed the personal right of every adult who wanted to use alcohol regardless of the fact that the vast majority were responsible drinkers.

One hundred years after this Prohibition disaster, religious extremists are on the march again. What could America become if personal religious beliefs can be welded into governing our nation?

Today Catholic and evangelical churches want to prohibit all abortions and birth control use for women. Perhaps Jews will then insist that no one eat pork. The Muslims may demand no work on their Friday Sabbath. The Mormons may require after-death baptisms. The Westboro Baptist Church may want to legalize disrupting the funerals of dead soldiers.

America is a secular constitutional government, not a theocracy. Secular does not mean godless, because our Constitution guarantees the personal right to freedom of religion, as well as freedom from religion being imposed on us by government, religions or other people’s beliefs.

There is no difference between Islamic or Christian Shariah government. So should Americans elect a president or a pastor?

Donald Kobaly

Spirit Lake, Idaho

Fight for cleaner river

World Water Day is March 22, and this year it should come with reminders about how precious our right to clean water is, and how tenuous our hold on that right has become. Even as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the federal Clean Water Act, the very law that has done so much in restoring waterways like the Spokane River is under attack.

From Olympia to Washington, D.C., to right here in Spokane, those of us working to protect clean water and a healthy environment are essentially being told we have to choose between pollution prevention and economic recovery.

To say that this is a false choice puts it far too politely. Particularly with regard to the Spokane River, the evidence is that clean water is the catalyst for economic development, not an impediment to business and job growth. In fact, I’ve yet to see Spokane and the Inland Northwest “sold” without using the Spokane River as the attractant.

As we look back at 40 years of the Clean Water Act, I urge us all to fight for stronger environmental regulations, not weaker ones. That’s the only way this place really will be near nature, near perfect.

Bart Mihailovich

Spokane Riverkeeper

Spokane