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Open Forum: Complaints of ELCA leaders not credible
It is noteworthy that the letter by former Gov. Al Quie and Bob Lee wrongly blaming ELCA leaders for church policy changes affecting homosexual members appeared just as a proposed draconian anti-gay law in Uganda is finally getting national press. This legislation would imprison gays for life, and imprison others who know gays but don't report them for three years. The legislation was launched with promotional help of some U.S. evangelicals last March, five months before the ELCA vote. It demonstrates how difficult it is to limit the bad effects of a negative human rights stance.
Complaints about ELCA leaders turning their back on laity are not credible. The laity-led resolution authorizing a church-wide study leading up to a vote was passed in 2001. Study guides that fairly represented both sides were put on line and copies sent to all congregations for study groups in 2004. There were over 30,000 responses tabulated and reported.
If there was failure of leadership, it was in the organizations lobbying against change. Rather than promoting open congregational discussions followed by vote tabulation, they promoted their own meetings, books, and agenda. These included serious misrepresentations of mainstream science such as vulgar stereotyping of homosexual persons and serious exaggerations of reorientation successes. Such a book sent to all ELCA pastors cited a similar book that was freely distributed in Uganda last March. If this approach was persuasive, it likely pushed undecided voting members in the direction of change.
Some members who favored tradition are now trying to scapegoat ELCA leaders rather than acknowledge their flawed methods. ELCA members should be pleased that the assembly vote distanced them from certain associations, including recent actions in Africa.
C.R. "Dick" Peterson, M.D. (retired)
Nisswa
Be thankful for obstructionists
As 2009 ends it's become quite evident the Republicans in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have conspired to do nothing, no matter what the cost to the people of the United States, no matter that more than 44,000 people die every year for lack of health insurance because insurance companies refuse to cover pre-existing conditions, charge exorbitant rates, refuse to pay for doctor ordered medications and procedures while setting records for both profits and donations to political campaigns.
In some ways, the "do nothing" plot to leave the solutions to Democrats for the many problems facing their voters may be the best for us all in the long run. At least they're not responsible for starting another unnecessary war like they did in Iraq. If only they'd said no when they had the chance before enacting the economically crippling tax cuts mostly for their rich friends and special interest supporters. If they would have said no to torture like they did to trying to fix global warming, or to the "go it alone" policies that so badly damaged U.S. prestige in the world as well as providing aid to terrorists in recruiting for their unholy causes. They could have, but didn't, say no to the "no bid" contracts for Haliburton, for some, their former employer. They fought, and continue to fight against, any regulations that might have prevented or would prevent another financial crisis brought on by the mortgage companies and banks that has so badly hurt middle class Americans and shattered their American dreams. These things all happened while Republicans were in charge and lining the pockets of their special interest financial backers. Makes one wonder if we shouldn't be thankful they decided to obstruct and say no all the time.
Jim Grimes
Crosby
Double standards for Democrats
Double standards! This seems to be the Democrats way of running the government. Harry Reid's racial comments about his boss should lead him to resign or be removed from office. But like so many things with this honky-tonk administration, it will be swept away.
Remember Massachusetts. After Kennedy's death, they decided to hold a special election to replace him even though the Democrats had said no when Kerry was running for office. What holds true for one party should hold true for all parties! It's like Strom Thurmond all over again.
Phillip Netteler
Brainerd
Some points were left out
In regards to a Merrifield writer's Open Forum about the speaker Mr. Sami Rasouli at a peace rally at the library with about 15 people participating. In your comment about Mr. Sami you are correct when you said you may be off a little on some detail. I agree you left out some very important points. Mr. Sami said that the Iraqi people were better off under the last dictatorship than what they have now. Since the last dictator believed a woman is a second class citizen then Mr. Sami must think that way?
As far as the man asking the questions I don't think he was over the top. He asked good questions and made some good comments. You also left out the fact that he shook Mr. Sami's hand before he left.
I was there. I asked Mr. Sami about the radical nuts that were killing our men and women and innocent people. He said he felt they were fighting for Iraq's freedom. Like beheading people and hanging mutilated bodies over the bridge do much for freedom fighters.
George Brancato
Pillager
Please add your voice to mine
In July of 2009 I became a victim of the donut hole. I take five oral prescripts and three glaucoma drops. In July my anti-cancer drug went from $120 for 90 pills to $1,079. I wrote all my people in Congress. The only answer was from Jim Oberstar. Less than satisfactory, so wrote him again. He did answer but said in 2010 we may get $500 but the donut hole would be closed in 15 years. When you're already 81 years old how much help will that be for people in my age group.
Write all your people in Congress. We can help people in other countries, but let our aging population fall through the cracks. I'm only one small voice. Please add your voice to mine.
Ramona Pedersen
Longville
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