The Readers' Forum: Monday letters

Freedom of religion

This is in response to the Jan. 23 letter "Pressing their message": If I remember my American history correctly, this country was founded based on freedom of religion. Our forefathers wanted to be free to worship God without the government telling them how, where or when.

I am a professing Christian and absolutely proud to proclaim it. We in America are free to talk about our faith, more freely than in any other country, without fear of persecution. That is one of the many blessings we have, one that we should be thrilled to tell everyone about with each chance we have. Not only does being a Christian give us daily blessings too numerous to count, but it comes with a responsibility to share our faith in Jesus Christ with the entire world. So we should be ready and willing to shout it either on the World Wide Web, the newspaper, billboards or street corners.

The Bible teaches love and compassion for all our fellow men, not casting doubt or making anyone look or seem like a "second-class citizen." Jesus always walked and taught among the everyday people, to sick, the crippled, the criminals, showing them only love and forgiveness, teaching us that we are to do the same.

Yes, this country has been called a Christian nation, but are we really living up to the responsibility of what that really means? Living by God's Word and his example to us through Jesus Christ.

KATHY R. VANHOY

Winston-Salem

Feelings of anger

It seems to me that most people who achieve a sane and stable adulthood come to the realization that making decisions or engaging in actions based on feelings of anger will nearly always lead to negative and regrettable results. Often, the hotter the anger, the greater the remorse.

How is it then that many leading adherents of one of America's two principal political parties claim to be able to act positively in our country's best interest by provoking, encouraging, harnessing and ennobling a deep sense of anger against individuals who agree with the values and beliefs of the country's other party? Are they truly convinced that this manner of expressing their political argument will have real traction with the American people? Or do they hold such deep contempt for those whose views differ from their own that they truly believe a majority will support their immaturity, negativity and self-destructive message when Election Day comes?

Anger must be tempered by our leaders as well as ourselves or we will all regret what will surely follow.

PETER CONNOR

Clemmons

Knee-jerk reaction

Everyone is entitled to their opinion — but that doesn't mean that all opinions are equally valid or even of good quality. A prime example is the current stance some have against Planned Parenthood because it provides abortions (about 3 percent of its overall services). Considering that it provides birth control and education to women and that many women would seek illegal abortions if it were outlawed, there are actually fewer abortions with Planned Parenthood than there would be without it.

But anti-abortion proponents can't think that far. In their minds, Planned Parenthood equals abortion equals bad, and that's all they need to know — all they want to know.

I think there's no better way to run a democracy than the way we do: one person, one vote. I certainly don't think that voters should be disqualified by intellect — that would open our system to abuse. But I wish there were some way to ensure that all voters were educated and informed, with an understanding of both sides — or all sides — of every pertinent issue. Too many Americans make decisions about issues by knee-jerk reaction, and that's bad for America.

PAUL KIRBY

Winston-Salem

One detail

Regarding the debate about guns in city and county parks: Gun advocates will tell you that guns don't kill people. People kill people kill people. They leave out one detail: People with guns kill more people than people without guns.

If people are allowed to bring guns to parks, I will stop patronizing those parks.

RICHARD SIMMONS

Winston-Salem

Strongly committed

The misnamed National Organization for Marriage offered its congratulations to Newt Gingrich for his victory in South Carolina.

The group's president, Brian Brown, said, "It is now clear that the Republican Party will nominate a candidate who is strongly committed to preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

Honestly, Jon Stewart couldn't make up something this funny.

SARAH G. FINCH

Winston-Salem