Letters 12-21-2015

Dec. 18, 2015

Too Much Attention

Our culture has entered into the theater of the absurd. Because it has become popular to distrust anything and everything our government and Obama are doing, we have given in to an angst that makes us do and say ridiculous things.

Because a couple in San Bernardino committed a horrible crime, we think that the government is doing nothing to protect us. That is what the security agencies of our government are doing all the time! And every catastrophe creates new learnings.

To come to the conclusion that Muslims are the problem rather than radical religionists only feeds a hysteria that looks for someone to blame. We cannot live without risks - from violence, from tornadoes, from hurricanes, from floods, from an abundance of guns.

We become what we pay attention to, and the news media is paying too much attention to one man who has made a fortune in business, who loves to win, but probably has no desire or competency to serve. I think he knows that. Why would he give up his penthouse for the Oval Office and the boring details of government service? Let’s not turn our national news into the National Enquirer.

Robert McQuilkin, Frankfort

Care for Others

At a time of year when we normally hear calls for peace and love, we are inundated with harsh and hostile rhetoric from politicians and presidential candidates calling for endless war, carpet bombing, closing mosques, barring refugees, and deporting immigrants. Cutting any and all assistance for the poor and their children also seems to be on the agenda.

In this atmosphere of fear and paranoia it may be useful to reflect on the words of Matthew (25: 35-40), recently quoted by Pope Francis: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.... Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me."

Alice Littlefield, Omena

Climate and Our Congress

The United Nations has approved unanimously, by almost 200 nations, a landmark climate accord which promises to move our planet forward to preserve our way of life and those of our children and progeny (New York Times, 12/12/15).

This does accord with 97 percent of our climate scientists who agree that our climate problems are our own use of carbon energy. It continues to note that this "system depends heavily on the views of the future world leaders who will carry out those policies."

But what do our leaders think of this? "In the United States, every Republican candidate running for president in 2016 has publicly questioned or denied the science of climate change, and has voiced opposition to Mr. Obama’s climate change policies"¦."

In the Senate, Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, who has led the charge against Mr. Obama’s climate change agenda, said, "Before his international partners pop the champagne, they should remember that this is an unattainable deal based on a domestic energy plan that is likely illegal, that half the states have sued to halt, and that Congress has already voted to reject."

Our course is clear. We need to change our Congress"¦.

Robert E. Marshall, Lake Leelanau

Dangerous Worldviews

Letter writer Gordon Lee Dean should be reported for possible inclusion on the terrorist watch list, immediately.

I am serious. He calls our twice-elected president a "tyrant." He believes he has a "Godgiven right" to use his arsenal against not only terrorists, but also against "government gone wrong," whomever that may be, and however he happens to define that phrase.

Mr. Dean believes this right comes directly from Jesus Christ. He uses Luke 22 as Biblical justification for taking up his sword (guns) against "government gone wrong." What was Jesus’ response in Luke 22 when one of his followers actually did take up his sword and cut off the ear of one of Jesus’ persecutors, a high priest? Jesus lovingly touched the high priest’s ear, and healed him (Luke 22:51).

I pray Mr. Dean may discover this true loving Christ, and soon. But even if writing letters is the extent of his crusade, what if someone even more troubled and delusional is emboldened by his words? I am no longer comfortable remaining silent or laughing off hateful threats from armed zealots.

I don’t want Mr. Dean walking around unmonitored. I don’t want him flying on a plane with my children and grandchildren. He and anyone known to sympathize with such a worldview should be placed on the terrorist watch list.

B. Smith, Traverse City

The Real Muslim Facts

Contrary to the assertions made in a letter in the Dec. 7th issue, most Muslim immigrants assimilate to mainstream American culture just fine, and they are more law-abiding and productive than almost any other immigrant group. The most educated female religious group, only behind Jewish women? Muslim women. Most importantly, the vast majority of the world’s Muslims are against religious violence and against ISIS. All of these facts come from Gallup and the Pew Research Center.

The idea that Islam is inherently violent/ authoritarian/etc. and that there is a "clash of civilizations" is shared by anti-Muslim people and Islamic extremists alike and rejected by everyone else (including most Muslims).

Anti-Muslim xenophobia not only goes against our country’s foundational idea of pluralism, it also plays into ISIS’s hands and helps them recruit. The irony of the fact that the people promoting it often identify as proud patriots is astounding.

The statement that "not all Muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are Muslims," originally made by Ann Coulter, is as untrue as it is inflammatory. Most domestic terrorism in the after 9/11 has been committed by white supremacists and other right-wing extremists, not Islamic extremists.

Coulter’s statement always reminds me of a similar one made by John Stuart Mill in 1866: "I did not mean that conservatives are generally stupid; I meant that stupid persons are generally conservative."

Finally, prominent Muslims do publicly denounce Islamic terror attacks; anytime one occurs, virtually every prominent American Muslim leader and group condemns it in unambiguous terms. If someone says otherwise, it’s because that person doesn’t want to hear it.

J.L. Emerson, Petoskey

9 Stories of Rebranding

We love Traverse City because it’s beautiful and offers so much to all of us. We can see the skyline and the nature around it.

People of all ages object to River West because we don’t want tall buildings, a crowded city, and more traffic that would destroy our quality of life. This project will turn our lovely downtown into another big city with tall apartment complexes, condos, and business developments. Goodbye, pretty town.

The River West development is rebranding an old idea. "˜Vertical Living and New Urbanism’ is nothing new. You’re just talking about development that houses a lot of people per square foot. Nine-story, 50-story, and 100-story buildings have been built before. New York, Chicago, and Seattle are a few vertical living destinations, and you can visit other cities that are less exciting by just taking a drive downstate.

River West is not going to stop sprawl or reduce the carbon footprint; it may contribute to it. There is no guarantee that people in the 162 units will ride their bikes to work or walk unless their jobs are right across the street. Most will probably drive, and that will be a big problem. River West is going to create a situation that it claims it will prevent. Crowded cities and traffic are why people leave in search of a better life. It’s called sprawl.

We all support affordable, sustainable housing, and growth. We object to River West because of its monstrous size, location, and its impact on nature, the economic health, and beauty of our small town.

Brigita Gumsey, Cedar

Ending Wars Will End Terrorism

We are such a frightened people. We are inundated daily with fear: In our local and national news, packaged as entertainment in which we have no way to defuse except to be uninformed.

Consider now we want to build an actual/virtual wall around the U.S. Our politicians are building up the fear as we speak. Fear works! It separates us and makes being different become bad and dangerous. Fear makes it easy to control our thinking and hence control our decisions.

Considering that we are such frightened, little people many feel a need to carry a gun at all times.

Our grossly huge military budget is an embarrassment that creates an alarming and dangerous fiscal deficit. Our military might has created our political ethic of being the world’s sheriff (of course with a gun on our hip).

We have been dropping bombs on small nations, attempting to control their political and economic decisions. This has led to the creation of an entire generation of terrorists. We must resist the U.S. military and large corporations (many of which pay no federal taxes) controlling our foreign policy through lobbyists and the buying of votes.

Question: If we were not over there (bombing and exploiting small nations) would they be over here (creating ever more mass shootings)?

It is time to leave the Middle East. Let them fight for their own freedom. It’s the way it works anyway.

Edward Rom, Traverse City