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Is this really how to run the country?
You know, when you stop and think about it, democracy really is a pretty lousy form of government.
Oh, sure, it sounds good — one man, one vote and all that malarkey, but wait a minute, that’s fine for you and me, but what about those weird neighbors down the street?
You know, the ones who let their dog out at night to wander over and leave little presents on our lawns. Well guess what, they have the same vote as we do!
Or how about those motorists cruising Glenoaks Boulevard with their stereos so loud they cause our windshields to vibrate when they pull up next to us?
Yes, sir, same vote as you and me.
Somewhere I read that 3.7 million Americans actually believe they have been abducted by aliens from outer space! Yikes, that’s scary in and of itself, but don’t forget, every one of them has the same vote as you and I have!
About once a year, a story comes out concerning an election in Dimwit, Mont., or some such place where a candidate has died prior to voting day and yet goes on to win the contested office — democracy in action. Even the Founding Fathers weren’t too keen on the idea — they didn’t trust us enough to elect the president directly so they gave us the electoral college.
Unfortunately, the poor dears failed to anticipate the evil, dark malevolence that has crept up out of the sewers and come to dominate our political system — the Democratic and Republican parties.
Of course, on the other side of the coin you have monarchies, military dictators, religious fanatics, witch doctors and whatever it is they have in Los Angeles at the moment.
Hmm, maybe I ought to just shut up and go watch the fireworks.
RICHARD J. TAFILAW
Burbank
Intolerance is a religious thing
The June 20 edition of the In Theory column, “Dealing with intolerance,” generated a number of thoughts.
I want to correct the Rev. Bryan Griem’s erroneous notion that atheists are likely to be more intolerant. I’ve been an atheist since my teens and spent years participating in Amnesty International’s urgent action network writing to various decision makers trying to stop violations of human rights.
It has been my experience that the rationale that allows human beings to permit or cause the death of others they perceive as different is often religious.
The Atheists United website’s frequently asked questions section includes this response to those who want to know if AU tries to “de-convert” religious people: “It’s far more desirable to promote the virtues of secularism, rationality, Humanistic ethics and tolerance as positive values applicable to all people rather than to attempt to diminish the beliefs of religious people.”
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remarked in 1963, in part, when asked if he thought integration could only be started in the Christian church:
“We must face the fact that in America, the church is still the most segregated major institution in America. At 11 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing and Christ has no east or west, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation. This is tragic. Nobody of honesty can overlook this. Now, I’m sure that if the church had taken a stronger stand all along, we wouldn’t have many of the problems that we have . . .”
Father Vazken Movsesian’s response made me ashamed for not speaking out against the hateful remarks on Bill Handel’s show. I don’t listen to talk radio and only read of this issue in the paper. Of course, all thinking people should condemn the ignorant drivel. If a similar situation arises in the future, and, sadly, it is likely to happen, I’ll make time to respond.
SHARON WEISMAN
La Crescenta
Jesus was pacifist, not a gun freak
I hope that the Rev. Bryan Griem read Pastor Clifford L. “Skip” Lindeman’s entry in the Burbank Leader In Theory column of July 4 titled “Bearing arms in church.”
Backing up his belief with scripture, Lindeman reminded us that Jesus was a pacifist.
I suggest that the “thwarting evil” movie scene that Griem refers to is a quick fix, not a long-term solution to the problem of people’s misuse of guns. Fighting violence with violence does not defeat violence. Misuse of guns is a symptom of human sin, not the cure.
I am offended by Griem’s parting pun. To take the sacred words, “Peace be with you,” and turn them into a joke that contradicts Christ’s message of peace is a miscarriage of thought and language.
May we all rise to a higher level of thought, prayer, and action to solve the challenges we face.
JEANNE LAVIERI
La Crescenta
You know, when you stop and think about it, democracy really is a pretty lousy form of government.
Oh, sure, it sounds good — one man, one vote and all that malarkey, but wait a minute, that’s fine for you and me, but what about those weird neighbors down the street?
You know, the ones who let their dog out at night to wander over and leave little presents on our lawns. Well guess what, they have the same vote as we do!
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Yes, sir, same vote as you and me.
Somewhere I read that 3.7 million Americans actually believe they have been abducted by aliens from outer space! Yikes, that’s scary in and of itself, but don’t forget, every one of them has the same vote as you and I have!
About once a year, a story comes out concerning an election in Dimwit, Mont., or some such place where a candidate has died prior to voting day and yet goes on to win the contested office — democracy in action. Even the Founding Fathers weren’t too keen on the idea — they didn’t trust us enough to elect the president directly so they gave us the electoral college.
Unfortunately, the poor dears failed to anticipate the evil, dark malevolence that has crept up out of the sewers and come to dominate our political system — the Democratic and Republican parties.
Of course, on the other side of the coin you have monarchies, military dictators, religious fanatics, witch doctors and whatever it is they have in Los Angeles at the moment.
Hmm, maybe I ought to just shut up and go watch the fireworks.
RICHARD J. TAFILAW
Burbank
Intolerance is a religious thing
The June 20 edition of the In Theory column, “Dealing with intolerance,” generated a number of thoughts.
I want to correct the Rev. Bryan Griem’s erroneous notion that atheists are likely to be more intolerant. I’ve been an atheist since my teens and spent years participating in Amnesty International’s urgent action network writing to various decision makers trying to stop violations of human rights.
It has been my experience that the rationale that allows human beings to permit or cause the death of others they perceive as different is often religious.
The Atheists United website’s frequently asked questions section includes this response to those who want to know if AU tries to “de-convert” religious people: “It’s far more desirable to promote the virtues of secularism, rationality, Humanistic ethics and tolerance as positive values applicable to all people rather than to attempt to diminish the beliefs of religious people.”
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remarked in 1963, in part, when asked if he thought integration could only be started in the Christian church:
“We must face the fact that in America, the church is still the most segregated major institution in America. At 11 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing and Christ has no east or west, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation. This is tragic. Nobody of honesty can overlook this. Now, I’m sure that if the church had taken a stronger stand all along, we wouldn’t have many of the problems that we have . . .”
Father Vazken Movsesian’s response made me ashamed for not speaking out against the hateful remarks on Bill Handel’s show. I don’t listen to talk radio and only read of this issue in the paper. Of course, all thinking people should condemn the ignorant drivel. If a similar situation arises in the future, and, sadly, it is likely to happen, I’ll make time to respond.
SHARON WEISMAN
La Crescenta
Jesus was pacifist, not a gun freak
I hope that the Rev. Bryan Griem read Pastor Clifford L. “Skip” Lindeman’s entry in the Burbank Leader In Theory column of July 4 titled “Bearing arms in church.”
Backing up his belief with scripture, Lindeman reminded us that Jesus was a pacifist.
I suggest that the “thwarting evil” movie scene that Griem refers to is a quick fix, not a long-term solution to the problem of people’s misuse of guns. Fighting violence with violence does not defeat violence. Misuse of guns is a symptom of human sin, not the cure.
I am offended by Griem’s parting pun. To take the sacred words, “Peace be with you,” and turn them into a joke that contradicts Christ’s message of peace is a miscarriage of thought and language.
May we all rise to a higher level of thought, prayer, and action to solve the challenges we face.
JEANNE LAVIERI
La Crescenta
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