Readers respond
to 'Price of Paradise'
What about dragons, Hawaiian blessings?
Is anyone else besides me fed up with all the pseudo-intellectual blabber regarding separation of church and state in Hawaii?Mitch Kahle, for all his anti-Judeo-Christian fervor ("Separation anxiety," Star-Bulletin, Oct. 6), has yet to pronounce his position on the constitutionality of Hawaiian blessings at the state Capitol and the launching of lanterns on the Ala Wai Canal, not to mention the assortment of firecrackers and dragons onour public streets.
That our public institutions, not to mention the media and the public, should continue todignify such nonsenseis puzzling.
Jose Jean-Pierre Muntal
Kaneohe
Religion was at heart of nation's founding
The phrase "under God" should be kept in our nation's pledge of allegiance because it represents the foundation of our nation ("Separation anxiety," Star-Bulletin, Oct. 6). Mankind has always worshiped someone or something. To not worship and serve the true God is to worship and serve another god of some kind.This nation was established to give people the right to believe in whatever religion they want. However, this nation was founded on the God of the Bible. By basing many of their laws and the individual rights that we so cherish on the Bible, the founding fathers were able to establish a strong and successful nation. Removing God from our pledge would remove the nation's foundation.
The separation of church and state is a relatively new doctrine and was not a part of the original Constitution. Its source is a phrase taken out of context from a letter by Thomas Jefferson. The intent of the Constitution's Article VI and First Amendment was to protect Americans from religious qualifications and the establishment of a particular line of faith.
It may seem that the government is forcing the words "under God" down people's throats, but all the pledge of allegiance is referring to is that when this nation was established, it was based on the God of the Bible.
No one has been forced into a particular belief system in our nation's history. We all should recognize the true religious aspect of this nation's heritage.
Justin Knapp
Ewa
Crosses are down; is God going down too?
Three cheers, hats off and God bless you to Leland Cadoy, Honolulu Police Department Officer of the Year ("Did anyone ask police their views on God?" Letters, Star-Bulletin, Sept. 25). I am sure there are many men and women in the HPD and in the fire department who feel the same way.I was disappointed with the police chief and others who have bowed down to these individuals. First the crosses, and now God. With all that is going on in the world, we need God in our lives more than ever.
Is Mitch Kahle gainfully employed or does he just sit around and think of ways he can disrupt the feelings and traditions of the majority? Maybe he should ask the men and women in the military who are away from their homes and families fighting for our freedom (his included) how much they want God in their lives.
It is time that the majority of the people in Hawaii get involved and show their displeasure with the minority. It is time that our public officials and leaders say, "Enough is enough." We do not want God removed from our society, our lives or our oaths.
God bless you, also, Mitch and followers.
P. Bates
Mililani
Religious right making a godless government
Last month God was removed from the Honolulu police officers' oath, rendering them what -- godless? Then President Bush declared fetuses legal persons to advance the religious right's efforts to criminalize women who violate their religious beliefs.Then it hit me: The religious right, and its handmaiden new Republicans, are driving my God out of my government.
My God is the God of whom Christians have written, "God is love." My God embodies the lessons of Jesus Christ, a God whose power dwarfs nuclear weapons but who teaches by love and example, even at the cost of a horrible death, rather than use that power to enforce God's will upon us.
But the religious right promotes a different god. Theirs seeks to use the government to require women to bear children despite their wishes. Or what? Execute them if they refuse by declaring abortion murder on the stage set by Bush's crafty new law?
My God resided comfortably and comfortingly within my government for centuries, but my God is now being driven out by people who fear the Taliban-like version of god proposed by the religious right -- one that uses government guns, not example or love, to impose their god's will. I am powerless to oppose them, for I share their fear.
George L. Berish
Bible clearly prohibits religious oaths
Numerous letters to the editor have objected to the removal of the words "so help me God" from oaths used for various public offices. The writers usually profess their strong belief in God and the Bible.The King James version of the Bible clearly states that Christians are not supposed to use any oaths at all. Their personal statement that they will do -- or not do -- whatever is being asked of them is all that is allowed. James 5:12 states, "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
The letter writers are objecting to those oaths of office that, by eliminating any reference to God, do not allow them to become sinners and be condemned. Strange.
Stewart Dawson
Ocean View, HawaiiBACK TO TOP
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The Price of Paradise appears each week in the Sunday Insight section. The mission of POP is to contribute lively and informed dialog about public issues, particularly those having to do with our pocketbooks. Reader responses appear later in the week. If you have thoughts to share about today's POP articles, please send them, with your name and daytime phone number, to pop@starbulletin.com, or write to Price of Paradise, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI 96813.
John Flanagan
Contributing Editor
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