This is Viewpoints for Monday, Dec. 21, 2015
Glass houses
Ref: Islam and ideology (David Burkovich, Macon, Dec. 15). I read in your letters column that the Catholic Burkovich tells us "Islam is a belief unlike any other. ... It is really a political ideology intermingled with religious overtones ... and has been violent since its inception about 700 AD." Burkovich should note that the Catholic Church is of precisely the same ilk. The Holy See acts and speaks for the whole Catholic Church and is viewed as analogous to a sovereign state governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head.
Is Burkovich of the same Catholic faith that, starting in the 12th century until the mid 19th century, held inquisitions around the world and tortured Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc., and held witch trials and burned "witches" at the stake? Is this the same Catholic faith whereby Pope Benedict XVI quoted the 14th-century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II, who wrote "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached"?
Is this the same Catholic faith that protected pedophiles within its organization and spent decades stealing or coercing babies from unwed mothers? May I remind Burkovich of the utterance "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." John 8:7.
— Colin Frayne
Macon
Coming together in faith
Given recent events in this country, we have been bombarded by negative articles and opinions of Islam (and sometimes, of religion, in general). I would like to share a more positive story.
For most of my life, I had little knowledge of Islam and no Muslim friends. That changed five years ago when some local friends and I formed the Women's Interfaith Alliance of Central Georgia. This group of Muslim, Jewish and Christian women formed our alliance for the purpose of gaining an appreciative knowledge of each other's faith traditions, through education, friendship and service.
Our ever-growing group meets monthly (at our various houses of worship) for lunch and a discussion of some aspect of our faith traditions and experience. We also have a book discussion group, a more focused study group, and we do a variety of community service projects together.
Some of my most meaningful spiritual experiences have been while in the company of this diverse group of women. We are Jewish, Christian and Muslim friends who recognize the love of God in each other, and are doing our best to contribute in positive ways to our Middle Georgia communities.
— Debbie Krafft
Warner Robins
Irked at sign maker
As I watched the news about the new Filmore Thomas Park groundbreaking in the Bellevue neighborhood, the camera briefly panned across the sign erected on Log Cabin Drive. Although it took almost half of a second to spot, it was apparent to me that the word "Bellevue" was misspelled on the sign. It is one thing to botch a word in a private email or note, but it really irks me when someone will not take 30 seconds to ask another person to proofread a sign that will be prominently displayed to the public and the news media in large black letters on a white background. Did anyone inspect the sign after it was erected and approve the completion of the job?
I have almost given up at being irritated at the word "your" being substituted for the contraction "you're" (or vice-versa) and seeing simple plural words being made into a possessive with a misplaced apostrophe, even on supposedly professionally produced ads for local auto dealers. Please tell me, exactly what does a Camry own? One big laugh came late year when I saw an official check from the Bibb County Seriff's (sic) Office.
If you really cringe at things like this, put a piece of opaque tape over the bottom of your TV screen before watching the early local news Saturday or Sunday morning because you will be in for an assault on your senses when you see the text describing the stories pop up. I bet that's where the sign makers get their inspiration before heading off to work. Sure hope I did not misspell any words in this letter.
— John Ricketson
Macon
Oh, for heaven's sake!
All these petty squabbles over who is a real Christian and who is perhaps anti-Christian? Who's a dogmatist? A traditionalist? Fundamentalist? Atheist? Agnostic? Inerrancy or infallibility? Who cares?
Why not just leave it that of all religions, schisms, cults, etc., the only one that is the longest, the most didactic, the most tested, the most benevolent, the most inspirational, the truest and the most defensible is the Judeo-Christian line.
The learned dissector of that, Dr. Bill Cummings, is constantly nit-picked by zealous believers in their own variations.
I propose to the good theologian Cummings that he now dissect the theocratic and jihadist Muslims and their Koran and enlighten all of us as to its errors and spurious rants. Then, see what reactions will come.
— Avery Chenoweth Sr.
Perry
Keeping promises?
The planning and zoning board on Monday passed the rezoning of Zebulon Road over the objections of many property owners. This board is a disgrace to our community. The P&Z commissioners should be elected, not appointed, so they would be accountable to voters. Someone with this kind of authority to destroy a neighborhood needs to be more knowledgeable of the needs of our community. None of the board members would want this done to their neighborhood. I hope the commission has enough sense to make them follow the plans they have shown the property owners.
The property owners on Zebulon Road, and in Ashford Park and Stone Edge have fought to keep our neighborhood a neighborhood for a long time. Southern Pine was the grandfather of this commercialization many years ago and the neighbors were promised by them that the Northway Church and Sonny Carter School would be the stopping point for commercialization. Promises are broken when the dollar signs are more important than the welfare of the neighbors. The big boys always win.
The people who own these two big businesses, SSP Commercial Group (Travis Griffith) and Sierra Development (Jim Daws), would not want this project in their front or backyard. They have made big promises to the people on Zebulon Road and Stone Edge about what they will do to protect the neighborhood. We will see if this is another broken promise.
— Virgia Lee Dorr
Macon
This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 9:55 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 ."