Unfettered Letters

Socialism or freedom?

Did you ever throw away something that you at one time prized? And later, when it was too late to retrieve that wonderful item, you felt total dismay and were irritated with yourself for being so short-sighted?

Those feelings will return in a couple or three short years once the government broadens its hold on socialism. That precious freedom that we all had, that the younger generations never appreciated because they didn’t earn it, will be gone. But it was always there, usually camouflaged in hard work, tempered with honesty and honed with integrity.

The easy life is being over-sought, even demanded, by people who feel that whatever was gained by determined entrepreneurs should be shared with irresponsible, lazy do-nothings. Lord, help us!

And, Lord, especially help those among us who seek entitlements at the cost of loss of freedom for our country. Guide them to see the truth and validity of the American way of life. It must be earned.

Don M. Russell
Independence

Support for ERA in Kansas

Kansas is debating whether to add an Equal Rights Amendment to the Kansas Constitution (2/26, Local).

The opposition is trying to frame the debate by making the slippery-slope and fear arguments. They make the usual charges of abortion conspiracy, that it will invalidate rape laws, and that it would d be a pathway to gay marriage. Beyond the fact that these arguments are absurd, one must only look to the 22 states that have ERAs to know the claims are ridiculous.

Many states with ERAs have stricter abortion laws, and Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania courts have held that their ERAs do not allow for any change to abortion provisions existing in their states. The 22 ERA states all have laws against rape, and we already have an anti-gay marriage amendment.

When all fear and smear are debunked, the ERA is simply a collective constitutional commitment. It incorporates into the Constitution the prohibition of sex discrimination. While there are federal and state laws that address sex discrimination, it’s not the same as a constitutional commitment. Laws can be repealed and revoked at any time.

Support the ERA.

Marla Patrick
State Coordinator, Kansas National Organization for Women
Lindsborg, Kan.

Many gay couples are great parents

Christie Jessee (2/24, Letters, “Same-sex unions”) cites a lack of masculine or feminine parental influence for children of gay couples as justification for gay marriage bans. However, even if it were true that fatherless or motherless families are less than ideal, that is no reason to deny gay couples equal marriage rights.

If only those who would be ideal parents could marry, no one would be married. We don’t grant or deny heterosexual couples the right to marry based on their presumed level of fitness as parents. Why make an exception for gay couples?

Many gay couples already have children, and many make excellent parents despite whatever challenges such families must face. The welfare of these children is better served if their parents have the right to marry than if they do not. We are doing these children no favors by treating their parents as second-class citizens.

Chad Inman
Kansas City

Too bad U.S. can’t ban Fred Phelps

Kudos to the British government for banning Fred Phelps, Shirley Phelps-Roper and their band of Westboro lunatics from the United Kingdom (2/20, Local).

I doubt that our founding fathers had Phelps and his crew in mind when they secured our freedom of speech. Apparently, their twisted application of the First Amendment does not travel well beyond our borders.

It’s unfortunate that we can’t allow them to leave the United States and lock the door behind them.

Dean D. Garland
Olathe

Incarceration of Peltier

While history is replete with examples of deplorable treatment of Native Americans, the prosecution and incarceration of Leonard Peltier is not one of them (2/9, Local, “Behind case lies a larger cause”).

Peltier was present at the scene of the execution of the FBI agents, and if he did not commit the act, he knows who did. If he did not do the murder himself, his misguided loyalty to whoever did and his unwillingness to cooperate in the investigation make him a conspirator, which is adequate justification for his imprisonment.

He has always held the key to his own freedom if he is innocent, but he has chosen instead to play for sympathy from “celebrities and countless others of influence,” which, if successful, would be a miscarriage of justice and would in no way undo past and present mistreatment of Native Americans who have committed no crimes.

Mike Wheeler
Kansas City

Bishop doesn’t speak for all Catholics

I wish to express my apology to Jack Mandelbaum (2/3, Letters, “Holocaust-denying bishop”) for the hurt that has come from the views and opinions of Richard Williamson, a bishop of the Pius X Society. Williamson does not speak for any Catholic I know, and the views of this individual in no way represent people of the Catholic Church.

It is important that we focus our common efforts on the work of peace and harmony. No individual should or can get in the work of God’s wish for unity and peace.

The Rev. Gerald Waris
Pastor, St. Patrick Parish
Kansas City

Closing Gitmo bad idea

President Obama’s decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center is a terrible mistake. To consider bringing the Islamic terrorists from that facility to the United States mainland is even worse. These terrorists are vicious killers who have no protection under the Geneva Convention and certainly no protection under the U.S. Constitution. These detainees should be tried by military courts and tribunals.

Those found innocent should be sent to their native countries. To the guilty, as their crimes are judged, let them be incarcerated or executed. To bring these people to the United States and try them in our federal court system would be nothing more than a tremendous boon to the likes of radical left trial lawyers and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Bud Frye
Olathe

Phelps’ funeral protests

I do not understand how Mike Burlingame (1/19, Letters, “Protecting free speech”) can compare the marchers for women’s rights and the freedom marchers of the ’60s to Fred Phelps. Mr. Phelps and his band of followers are putting up terrible signs at the funerals of fallen heroes.

I would like the American Civil Liberties Union to explain how the band of followers can infringe on the rights of the families to bury their loved ones.

As a Christian and a Vietnam veteran, I find the ACLU and Phelps quite disgusting.

John A. Smith
Kansas City

‘Free speech’ and the ACLU

I have a question for Mike Burlingame (1/19, Letters, “Protecting free speech”) who wrote in regard to Fred Phelps’ protests: “The ACLU is only ensuring that everyone gets their constitutional right of free speech.” If that is so, why are the Christian attorneys of Alliance Defense Fund and the Liberty Counsel having to fight all across the U.S. to protect free speech that the American Civil Liberties Union is trying to destroy?

Christian attorneys are winning the battle against the ACLU because the ACLU attorneys are using scare tactics to get public offices, schools, businesses and even homeowners organizations to get them to prevent Christians from using their right to free speech.

Are Christians the exception to the right to free speech? Not according to the many biographies I have read about our founding fathers who constructed the Constitution or influenced the writing of it.

Roland Sneed
Blue Springs

Protecting free speech

I agree with John Gaines (1/13, Letters) that Fred Phelps and his antics are disgusting. But Mr. Gaines seems to unfairly paint the American Civil Liberties Union with the same brush. The ACLU is only ensuring that everyone gets their Constitutional right of free speech.

Many Americans believe that controversial views should be subject to some sort of popularity contest. If this were true, African-Americans and women, for example, would never have gained their civil rights.

Mike Burlingame
Overland Park