CARLSON COLUMN

Government should not have a say

I was surprised to see Reporter columnist John Carlson defend political correctness in his Dec. 9 opinion piece on the displays at the State Capitol.

I do not believe that the government should, and under the First Amendment, even can restrict speech to only that which is “nice.”

Attempting to walk the line between the First Amendment, religion, and being inoffensive is impossible, and thus the government shouldn’t attempt it.

Consider the situation where a holiday sign at the Capitol next year reads “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be punished; for the slave is his property” (Exodus 21:20-21).

As well as being an example of the “hardened hearts” that the atheist sign talked about, this is a phrase which, under Carlson’s proposal, would be banned.

Do we really want a situation where the government decides which parts of the Bible can be quoted in public displays?

I’m sure Carlson would be first in line to complain if they tried that. Apparently he has no problem with censorship when it targets the speech of atheists.

Carlson should remember that principals are only principals if you stick to them when it is not convenient.

Murray Chapman

Redmond

MILITARY INFLUENCE

Editorial hits the bullseye

The Dec. 13 Reporter editorial entitled, “Military: The driving force of our country” is right on in more ways than most people know.

I think the statements made in the article are right on. The editorial made me even more proud to be a veteran.

What most people don’t realize is that it is because of our military that we have the freedoms we have. Not because of our politicians.

Having served in the Air Force, I know how so many of the things in the editorial are so very true.

It is so sad that so much of our public became so negative about our military in the past, especially during the Vietnam War.

Myself, I served during the Korean (War) police action.

Just one thing, there was no mention of the Korean War in the editorial, but that is because it is considered the “Forgotten War!”

James L. Robinson

Redmond