An Exchange of letters to the editor over Phelps
and tolerance
Albuquerque Tribune,
February 11, 1998
PO Drawer T, Albuquerque, NM, 87103
505-823-7777, 800-665-8742
(Fax 505-823-3689, print run 29,294)
letters@abqtrib.com
LETTER: Dole's question still needs answer
In 1996, presidential candidate Bob Dole puzzlingly asked,
"Where's the outrage?" Here we are in 1998 with a "scandal of the day"
atmosphere in Washington and more than 11,000 pack onto Civic Plaza to express their
adulation. As this was going on, William Bennett, author of several best sellers on virtue
and values, admitted that he was dumbstruck by the apathy shown the escalating filth and
corruption. Where IS the outrage?
Item: In Massachusetts, a school board redesigned its
curriculum to (are you ready for this?) teach kindergartners and first-graders the
benefits of the gay lifestyle. Not ONE Bay State congregation or cleric bothered to
protest; it took a small church group from Kansas to bus all the way in to express
outrage!
Item: Under this administration, nearly all of the
departments of government have been compromised Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, the FBI,
parks and Labor. Indictments, subpoenas and internal investigations are now the order of
the day. And what of the morality emanating from the White House? Where is the outrage?
In the middle of all this filth, one of our major dailies
reports that almost 90 percent of Americans believe in God. When you look at the
presidential approval ratings and the crowds in Albuquerque, it makes for a strange
reading of God's prerogatives. And, where is the outrage especially from the church?
Donald L. Adams
Rio Rancho
Albuquerque Tribune,
March 7, 1998
PO Drawer T, Albuquerque, NM, 87103
505-823-7777, 800-665-8742
(Fax 505-823-3689, print run 29,294)
letters@abqtrib.com
LETTER: Real outrage is intolerance
Donald L. Adams asked "Where is the outrage?" in
his letter of Feb. 11, "Dole's question still needs answer."
He mentions a Massachusetts school board that initiated a
program to teach kindergarteners and first-graders to be tolerant of others--even when
they may not agree. Included in this program is respect for their peers who may have
different family arrangements including adoption, divorces, blended families, and gay
parents.
Adams is upset that not one Massachusetts Church or pastor
protested the policy, which was widely discussed at PTA and School Board meetings. The
only protestor, as Adams points out, was the Rev. Fred Phelps of Kansas and his church of
family members.
The churches and pastors of Massachusetts did protest. They
protested Phelps' unwelcome visit to their state.
Phelps protests a lot of things. He has made news protesting
at funerals. He protests at the funerals of people who have died of AIDS. He recently
protested at Rep. Sonny Bono's funeral. He protested at President Clinton's funeral...
[much about Phelps omitted from original letter.]
Is this a man to be emulated? Is this the sort of action that
Donald L. Adams thinks we should all express?
The outrage should be directed at those who would divide us,
those who promote bigotry and discrimination, those who would prefer our children to hate
each other.
Bob Summersgill
Albuquerque
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