Missed the point
In a letter titled "Increased contraception," the author completely missed the point of the Rally for Religious Freedom. This occurs so often that one could believe it is deliberate.
Many Christians believe that artificial contraception in marriage, abortion and euthanasia are activities that do not lend to the perfection of humans nor the human condition. What's so subversive or criminal in that? Thinking pagans such as Aristotle professed many of the same convictions. Why does she believe that in a free society those that hold such beliefs should not be allowed to live up to those convictions as best they can? That is the point. That is what is at stake here.
None of the emotionally charged examples of rape and physical abuse offered in her letter shine light on the issue of religious freedom. All the examples are crimes and matters for the police. None would have been solved or even alleviated by "Increased contraception." Would contraceptive pills help the girl that wrote, "My father and brothers rape me"? I would dare say that each of those cited cases is indeed against "Christian religious values" to answer her question. I would hope even atheists would hold to such "values."
I fear for an America whose electorate cannot, or chooses not to, make valid distinctions among issues.
In 1941 Hitler proclaimed: "National Socialism and religion cannot exist together." Are we to believe that constitutional Democracy cannot either?
Milton B. Mantler
Pro football charges
Grasping for something redeeming for pro football, I failed to find it in your Tuesday paper. There I found the picture of New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma exiting a hearing bearing on the accusation, among others, that he and others planned to "knock out" competitor Brett Fave in the NFC championship game of January 2010. They succeeded in their mission, and, at one point, claimed they had broken Fave's leg. For this accomplishment $35,000 was apparently paid.
These are the talented athletes that youngsters are led to admire? That adult fans adore? The hearing referred to in your story was before a NFL panel? More properly it should have been before a judge and jury where they were standing trial for deliberate infliction of bodily harm, that is, for assault. Football is the roughest of sports, but it ceases to be a sport under any definition when the "players" behave as criminals.