The new war

There is a new battle in the war between church and state in America.

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In America today, certain religious groups are exercising their right to participate in the political process, as a bloc of votes. Nowhere is this playing out more openly than the gay rights movement, the new human rights struggle.

I am soon to be 64 years old. I was a young man during the civil rights struggle of the African American people. I saw firsthand the poverty and misery segregation caused. Poverty, as Gandhi taught, is the worst form of violence. My pastor, a segrega-tionist, taught that the black man was the child of Cain, and therefore cursed. I left that church that day and never returned.

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So how do I, as a Christian, reconcile the teachings of my religion, with the rights given every American under the Constitution — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

Jesus gave us the answer. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s. Judge not lest you be judged. Love your neighbor. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

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Now, the question is this. Will we continue to put our hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution, or will we put our hands on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible?

Butch Stone
Maumelle

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Immigration

Rafael Nunez’s article, “Latinos in Little Rock,” writes of an immigration era that is coming to an end. Presently, immigration of all types is slowing, will come to an abrupt halt, and an exodus will begin in the near future. Even if the congress passes an amnesty for illegal aliens; immigrants, particularly Hispanics, will depart America by the millions in the coming decades.

It’s ironic, but the election of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party taking control of Congress in 2006, partly because of Hispanic votes, are the very events that will reverse the immigration trends of the previous decades. The Democrats’ eco-nomic mismanagement, a coming war with Iran and global conflict elsewhere, will devastate America’s job market to the extent that it will be impossible for immigrants to remain in this country.

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Members of the clergy seeking a general amnesty for illegal migrants on humanitarian grounds are actually adding to their misfortunes. A minister has a responsibility to the entire community not just to one group. Ministers should also understand that you don’t always help someone by giving them something and you never help anyone by enabling them to break this na-tion’s laws.

Thomas Pope
Little Rock

Compare leaders

It is obvious that God has a sense of humor. The Democrats have President Barack Obama and the Republicans have Michael Steele, who was selected because Obama was elected president.

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The Republicans are masters of deception. They have managed to fool enough people to believe that Republican positions are “God inspired.” They believe that the posting of the 10 Commandments is more important than living them. They believe that “do not commit abortion” and the right to bear arms are biblical commandments.

My advice to the Republicans: “Don’t treat your African-American chairman like a runaway slave. You selected Steele, just like Sarah Palin, on the rebound, so live with it.”

Deborah Springer-Suttlar
Little Rock

Now casinos

Just as I figured. First the lottery and now they are working on getting the law changed to allow casinos. The mob bosses will be moving in soon.

Pandora’s Box was cracked when the lottery got in, even though I have yet to talk to anyone who admits to voting for it. If casino gambling comes in, the box will be broken open.

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Arkansas is supposed to be the third most religious state in the union. Better stand up and be counted now. I will not vote for anyone who backs this.

Peggy Wolfe
Heber Springs

Loves Disney

Walt Disney was surely the most influential American in modern times. Who has not heard his name or been exposed to his creative genius?

He is a national treasure, as are Norman Rockwell, Beverly Sills, Fred Astaire and the many others so shamefully ignored or forgotten by today’s tasteless society. In former, healthier times, when this nation was more discerning, their names would be on everyone’s lips and their contributions to American culture would be celebrated on a daily and continuing basis.

America chooses instead to honor the hopelessly inept and unworthy and, like so much else in this wretched country, it is symptomatic of a nation in deep decline.

William G. Carlyle
North Little Rock

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