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Democrats need to wise up about how they are perceived

Re: Democrats get religion, by Adam Smith,May 29.

Letters to the Editor
Published June 5, 2005

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As a centrist evangelical, I think I understand the situation. No matter how some Democrats try to spin it, they are the party whose leaders tend to be secular and highly averse to religion. I believe statistics would easily back this up. I believe this is a shame.

When one steps back and thinks about George W. Bush winning states such as West Virginia and Arkansas, something is terribly wrong with the Democrats. In essence, people are saying: Well I don't like Republican economic policy, but Democrats scare me. They want to ostracize religion, take my guns away, and let my 13-year-old daughter get an abortion without her parents knowing about it. That's not the Republicans' problem. That's the Democrats allowing themselves to be painted into a corner, becoming the party dominated by secularists.

Now for the Democrats to call Republicans Pharisees is silly and a red herring. If you are perceived as the party of the immoral, then you fix that - not by blaming somebody else, but by taking responsibility for your actions.

I cannot wait until this party once again becomes the party of the little guy. Republicans ought to be easily defeated as there ought to be a tiring of the current leadership. But the Democrats keep botching it so bad, that I predict that Republicans will add some seats to the House and Senate in '06. Maybe the Democrats will learn their lesson by '08 and take back the White House.

-- Luis Segarra, Miami

So unlike evangelicals

Re: The Air Force Academy's force-fed evangelism, by Robyn Blumner, May 29.

Robyn Blumner labors to expose the alleged coercive proselytizing tactics used at the Air Force Academy. As the article unfolds, Blumner draws us a rhetorical picture of cadets gone wild; commandos for Jesus intimidating, coercing and bullying unbelievers to convert or face the wrath of the academy. She cites the case of Capt. MeLinda Morton, an academy chaplain, "exiled" to Okinawa for her reticence to "get with the program" of aggressively evangelizing cadets.

I personally have no idea what went on at the Air Force Academy, but I suspect there is a generous portion of hyperbole being served up by cadets indignant over the mere presence of evangelicals. For cadets to use strong-arm tactics in the pursuit of evangelism would be counterproductive, and not in accordance with their personal beliefs. Conversion cannot be forced on someone; it has to be a free-will choice.

I suggest Blumner take time to actually talk to an evangelical. She may find that they are not the bogeyman. She may even hear a message of hope.

-- Richard Scott, Clearwater

No place for Christians

Re: The Air Force Academy's force-fed evangelism, by Robyn Blumner.

Thanks are due the St. Petersburg Times for keeping us updated on the situation at the Air Force Academy, where Christian idealists are brow-beating and haranguing fellow cadets into accepting Jesus Christ as their lord and savior.

While trying not to be cynical, I'd like to ask this: If they are Christians, what the heck are they doing at the Air Force Academy? By enrolling at the academy, they have shown their willingness to bomb and strafe anyone. They are willing to follow these orders blindly, calling that a virtue, and if innocents are in the way of their bombs, then let them be damned!

This in no way reflects Jesus Christ as I was taught - as one who loves his enemies and protects the innocent. They exalt a shriveled idol of our Lord, fashioned to serve at the altar of militarism.

-- Kirk Hamilton, St. Petersburg

The challenge for Europe

Re: The European project is foundering - as it should, by George Will, May 29.

The European Union has been "foundering" for a long time - ever since its inception which, according to George Will, is continuing due to the need to ratify its new constitution.

What is obviously difficult is that unlike our Constitution, which was developed by newly self-created states, Europe consists of many old nations that have been sovereign for many years, even centuries. Thus, it is extremely difficult to give up this sovereignty.

Furthermore, even the new American states first produced a constitution called "The Articles of Confederation" which failed, requiring the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to revise and create our present Constitution.

This may be the story of the European constitution as well. The world, however, is becoming increasingly smaller - economically if not yet politically - and Europe is faced with large, integrated nations like the United States as well as a growing China and even India. Europeans will require a more united Europe to deal with them equally.

-- W.H. Riddell, Tampa

The country needs the oil

Re: Imaginary lines, editorial, May 31.

Your editorial about the effort to redraw state lines in the gulf was an eye-opener. Admittedly, I haven't been following this issue as much as I should. But I had the impression from Florida's (and Sen. Bill Nelson's) resistance to "oil exploration off its gulf beaches" that the oil rigs would be, generally, visible from shore.

But the map that accompanied your editorial shows that the area under discussion is at least 100 miles from the nearest shore and close to 200 miles from the Suncoast beaches.

Come on, Sen. Nelson, do what's right. Your resistance to exploration depends on having an uninformed public who are sure that all this is just offshore.

It's not. It's way out in the gulf. The country needs the oil. Get with the program.

-- Ernest Lane, Trinity

Silence can be destructive

Re: Wetlands series.

I am grateful to you for having people such as Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite on your staff and for the sad-but-true series written by them on wetlands. Here in North Florida we depend on the St. Petersburg Times to "tell it like it is."

I only hope more people will begin to face the fact that we, by our silence, are as much responsible for the destruction of our environment as our leaders and others who play the money game.

-- Marilyn Blackwell, Wewahitchka

Insight into depression

Re: Coming out of the dark, May 29.

Your article on Dennis Ross was excellent. As someone who has known Dennis for years, I feel you captured the man and the disease with rarely read insight and compassion.

I didn't think it was possible for my enormous respect for Dennis to be higher than the stratospheric level at which it has always resided, but by sharing his story, he has found a new galaxy in terms of my abiding admiration for him.

I hope, as does he, I'm sure, that many people will benefit from his candor.

-- Luanne J. Panacek, Tampa

[Last modified June 4, 2005, 10:42:02]