Pressing their message
As quoted in your story, "Court action backs prayer ban," the Rev. Steve Corts, chairman of the N.C. Partnership for Religious Liberty (what a misnomer) says of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, "It creates a chilling effect on religious speech in America." Oh, if only it were so.
Christians in America have more freedom of speech than probably anywhere in the world, so much so that they like to claim this is a Christian nation. They have inundated the culture to such a degree that people with no religion or different religions are casually cast in doubt and often treated as second-class citizens. Christians can freely press their message on TV, radio, the Internet, newspapers, billboards, street corners — and they do so all the time. In the South, "What church do you attend?" is as ubiquitous a phrase as "Have a nice day." They can pray pretty much anywhere they want.
Yet they won't be happy until the government tells them how special they are.
Of course, they're following Jesus' Great Commission, which wasn't to go out and listen to people — it was to go out and preach.
Essentially, Jesus gave his followers an order to pester people, and they take that responsibility seriously. I don't expect this court ruling to hinder them in any way.
JANE FREEMONT GIBSON
Winston-Salem
Dead on arrival
In reference to the sales-tax proposal ("Perdue to push higher sales tax," Jan. 18), don't we have the area's highest tax on gasoline already? Do we need to be the highest in sales tax, too? I hope this proposal is simply dead on arrival.
Education funding is why the lottery was established. Now they say it's not enough. I think every legislator and executive should take a pay cut to come up with the additional funds, if really needed.
VINCENT CIMMINO
Kernersville
A lot of money
I see Forsyth County is apparently going to get a bill for $200,000 from the ACLU for legal fees ("Court action backs prayer ban," Jan. 18). That sure is a lot of money to spend on prayer. Will Tebowing be next?
WILLIAM SAMS
King
Dismayed
After seeing the article "Creative Corridor art submissions go green" (Jan. 14) in the Journal, I am dismayed at the prospect of a big green baby with solar eyes and disco diaper representing the "City of the Arts."
Having worked as a business partner/art director for many years in this town, I am hard pressed to figure out what the baby symbolizes or the meaning behind it. I also can't help but think that this will become a "big source of amusement" if it comes to represent Winston-Salem.
I have seen a lot of the plans the Creative Corridors Coalition has come up with and have been very impressed by the creative vision the group has had up until this point.
I hope the group will consider extending the project and reaching out to more of the members in the art community for submissions. A piece as serious and representative of this need not be taken lightly or hurriedly.
ROBYN BILFELT
Winston-Salem
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