Letters - Friday

FIGHTING BACK
Atheists not as described, have beliefs important to society

The Gazette's Aug. 20 Our View, "Dems dismiss the atheists," contained many distortions, fallacies and lies. It shows the ignorance of the writer as he spewed tired and dogmatic lines to enforce the fear of atheism.

Rather than go through the piece and refute every error, I thought it might be educational for the author to hear some of what I, as an atheist, do believe.

I do not believe in deities mainly due to the lack of empirical evidence to their existence.

Natural phenomena can and should be explained without resorting to the divine.

One can live a moral life without the promise of a reward or the fear of punishment.

People should be judged by their actions, not by their beliefs.

It is easier to follow and obey than it is to create and to learn.

I value life because it is fragile, fleeting and finite.

Humans knows they exist and thus believe they are too important to cease to exist.

One doesn't believe who doesn't live according to his belief.

Truth cannot be determined by majority vote.

The moral is the rational.

The study of ethics pre-dates Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The basis for ethics is empathy.

Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.

Jonathan Williams, Colorado Springs

Attack on specific religion would not be tolerated, proper

I feel compelled to write in response to Wednesday's "Our View" which unapologetically lambasts atheists for being so brazen as to wonder why they have once again been disincluded from America's political machine. The Gazette would have you believe atheists have no call to expect representation in America's secular government; that a tenth of the country's population should continue to have their voice and perspective stifled; and that a group of individuals, unique in character and humor, can politely be described collectively as "overbearing," "rude," "insulting," "embarrassing," "pseudointellectual," "intolerant" and "self-aggrandizing."

Blinded by his own bigotry, the writer fails to see what is patently obvious to the rest of us: that this article crosses the line of good taste and that it serves to reinforce, through misinformation those negative stereotypes long prescribed for atheists. Imagine the same article penned with some other faith the subject of its author's venom. No doubt that faith would be calling for this tactless editor to resign his post; I'd be satisfied with an apology.

Julian Peterson, Colorado Springs

Editorial might have been helpful had it not been so divisive

This is in response to the Our View, "Dems dismiss the atheists." I am an atheist and have never put people down because of their beliefs, nor have I attempted to force my belief on others. To be placed in the same category as Hitler and a few other tyrants is utterly ridiculous. Even to be called rude and told my belief is odd just because it is different from yours is close-minded

Just because someone is an atheist does not mean they do not donate to charities that feed and clothe starving children. There are atheists who give to universities and hospitals.

Faith is important. It's not important where your faith is, just that you have faith. As an atheist, I have faith that the majority of humanity is good, I have faith in myself, my family, my friends and my community.

Perhaps instead of adding to the problem by belittling people, The Gazette should be part of the solution to fight against discrimination and hate. Like it or not, we all live in the same city. Let's put our differences aside instead of just pointing out all the things that make each and everyone of us individuals.

Nicole Gaal, Colorado Springs

PULLING TOGETHER
County Republican Party reaches out to voters, regardless of race

I am grateful for the letter of Aug. 19 from Bishop Jerome S. Nixon outlining his concerns about the Republican Party ("Treatment of black Republicans could cost McCain Oval Office"). His argument was that the Republican Party treats black Republicans in a cavalier or disinterested manner. As chairman of the El Paso County Republicans, I can assure him that nothing could be further from the truth.

We care about the opinions of all Republicans, irrespective of color, ethnic origin, or economic status.

Members of our Outreach Team (Willie Breazell Sr., Ed Jones, Dennis Moore and Dane Nowels) and I tried unsuccessfully to contact you the day your letter appeared in The Gazette to seek your input and thoughts as to how we can continue to improve communications. I will publicly invite you (and any Republican) to stop by Republican Headquarters, 710 South Tejon St., to get involved. In fact, as part of our continuing outreach to our community, on Aug. 29 we will be showing a movie titled "Emancipation, Revelation, Revolution." This is an instructive and fascinating look at how the political process has, or has not, communicated and engaged certain segments of the American population. Go to www.gopelpaso.com/ movie for more information.

Bishop Nixon, your resources, help and vote are crucial if John McCain and Bob Schaffer are to be elected in November. Come celebrate the diversity of the El Paso County Republicans and the progressive thinking of our leaders including a speech from Senate candidate Bob Schaffer on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Flying W Ranch. (Go to www.gopelpaso.com/unity for more information).

While many Republicans feel our party seemed to lose its way in the recent past, I assure you that there are many El Paso County Republicans like you seeking to go forward, "country first" wrapped in the traditions that we hold dear: personal responsibility, individual freedoms, limited government, free markets, strong family values, and a strong national defense among others. We need your help - and that of every American who seeks substance over form, leadership over naivete - in the weeks ahead as we work hard toward victory in November.

Greg Garcia, Chair, El Paso County Republicans Colorado Springs

FORGOTTEN WARRIORS
Voters have no appreciation for candidates' military service

In November 1992, I witnessed a draft dodger (Bill Clinton) defeat a World War II hero who was shot down over the Pacific (George H. W. Bush) for the presidency of the United States.

Today, many believe that in November another man with no military experience or service to our country (Barack Obama) will defeat a Vietnam War hero who spent more than five years in a POW camp (John McCain) for the presidency.

On Aug. 12 - in a congressional district populated with active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans and their families - once again I saw a man who never served this country in uniform (Doug Lamborn) defeat (for a second time) a retired two-star general and United States Air Force Academy graduate (Bentley Rayburn).

It appears to me that the only time the American people truly honor and appreciate their very own sons and daughters in uniform is when they come back home in a flag-draped coffin.

Now, I'm not advocating nor even suggesting that one must have served in the military in order to run for public office. But, if one has, shouldn't that count for something? All three gentlemen who ran in the Republican Primary for the Fifth Congressional District (Lamborn, Jeff Crank, and Rayburn) are all extremely qualified, good, honest, decent men; and all share like, conservative, Republican philosophies on the important issues of the day. But only one had military service on his resume.

George Orwell wrote, "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

I hope and pray that Lamborn and Crank - and those who voted for them - sleep peaceably at night; and if they do, they can thank people like Rayburn.

Charles M. Prignano, Major, U.S. Air Force, retired Colorado Springs