Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 04.01.15
In response to “Ind. lawmakers try to calm uproar” (March 31):
I support freedom to discriminate
Indiana’s law gives businesses the right to discriminate against homosexuals, but no one is talking about whether or not businesses should have that right.
People automatically assume that all discrimination is wrong, but no one would bat an eyelash if a black-owned restaurant denied service to KKK members, nor have a problem with a Jewish dry cleaner denying service to a member of the American Nazi Party.
I don’t support discrimination, but I do support an individual’s and business’ freedom to discriminate.
If you will not give a religious business owner who believes that homosexuality is a sin the freedom to discriminate against homosexuals, then you should also not give black-owned and Jewish-owned businesses the freedom to discriminate against the KKK and Nazis.
Brady Shackelford
Charlotte
In response to “Battle lines form over bill that could be debated this week” (March 31):
Rev. Harris is wrong; human rights trump religious rights
So the Rev. Mark Harris claims that without religious freedom laws, sexual rights trump religious rights.
No Rev. Harris, human rights trump religious rights.
If your argument is sound, then radical Islamists ought to be able to kill infidels with impunity since they are following their religious beliefs.
Stop hiding behind your religion to deny people human dignity!
Jack Hankins
Charlotte
In response to “What Jesus would think of Indiana law” (March 31 Forum):
People should not be forced by any law to violate their faith
Forum writer Jeff Costa cites examples of Jesus voluntarily ministering to stigmatized groups.
Nothing in these Religious Freedom Restoration laws prohibits voluntary service – and many will offer it.
These laws simply allow people to avoid being compelled to participate in activities they believe violate their faith.
Bob Garner
Charlotte
In response to “Clinton says she wiped server clean” (March 29):
Let’s not forget about the millions of missing Bush e-mails
Let’s not forget about the millions of missing Bush e-mails
While Rep. Trey Gowdy is wasting taxpayer money on another scandal, let’s recall the estimated 22 million deleted e-mails of George W. Bush’s White House that surfaced in 2007 during an investigation into the dismissal of eight U.S. Attorneys.
Administration officials had been using a private Internet domain called gwb43.com – owned and hosted by an RNC e-mail server. These e-mails were used for various government communications of unknown content and purpose.
Since the Iraq War was far more cataclysmic in terms of death, destruction and debt, I feel the deleted Bush administration e-mails should be recovered to explain to taxpayers that mismanaged boondoggle.
Chip Potts
Mooresville
In response to “Iran talks hit crunch time; here are the gaps” (March 31):
U.S. will be the loser under nuclear agreement with Iran
So if Iran agrees to limits on its uranium enrichment program, that will slow down but not eliminate their ability to produce a nuclear weapon.
In return, we will agree to lift trade sanctions, making it possible for Americans to purchase Persian rugs for their fallout shelters.
Clearly, a win-win situation for everyone.
Diane Nanny
Norwood
In response to “York woman’s cherished 1949 Schwinn stolen” (March 28):
Bike story was great, but no need to slam mothers-in-law
I was enjoying the story of the stolen Schwinn bike but felt dismay to read: “It (the bike) was in pieces and as rusty and jagged as a mother-in-law’s heart.”
Really? Tired stereotypes are bad enough in opinion pieces, and especially don’t belong in news articles.
Mothers-in-law are as diverse as any other group of people.
Margie Storch
Charlotte
This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 04.01.15."