Chuck Bean said that I was, “educated by people who repeat what the last person said” (“Historical facts speak to our founding based on religion,” Jan. 24 Times-News
He is referring to Founding Fathers I quoted in my letter concerning religion and its place in American history along with the current trend in gun violence (“History says America wasn’t founded on religion and the Bible,” Jan. 20 Times-News).
If you read my letter, Mr. Bean, you will notice I don’t deny the historical facts that you have mentioned. You mention the founding of Thanksgiving as a religious holiday in the name of Jesus Christ and an embargo on the import of bibles as talking points for America’s founding solely on religion. More American history shows religious influence. For example Duke University in Durham, N.C., was founded by Quakers and Methodists.
My letter simply pointed out the involvement of some of our founding fathers in science, sociology and academic pursuit. It also points out that several founding fathers spoke out against the idea of organized religion.
The fact that the U.S. Congress historically founded a holiday based on religion and was upset by an embargo of Bible imports by Britain is unrelated to words spoken by Founding Fathers and the idea that religion is a cure all for gun violence.
When looking at violence, a topic point of my original letter and the letter it was in was in reply too, we can look at Christianity.
Christianity, at various points in history, has a bad habit of recruiting converts at the tip of a sword or the barrel of a gun. The Crusades and the treatment of Native Americans along with other historical references point to this.
I was merely suggesting that scientific, sociological and medical study, along with commonsense regulation, is a better approach to solving a gun violence trend, than shoving one religion down everyone’s throat.
I was also noting that several of our Founding Fathers dedicated themselves to the applications referenced above, rather than the pursuit of religion.
Some even spoke out against the idea of churches, calling them “human inventions set up to terrify mankind.” Interestingly enough, American religious commentator Glen Beck likes to dress up as Thomas Payne (who originally said those words) while preaching the integration of American policy with Christianity.
Jeremy Gosnell
Oakland
Letters
Address this problem with common sense, not religion
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Were they really good old days? You decide
When a fellow gets old, it’s not unusual for his mind to wander back to the days of his youth. He may forget where he laid his glasses five minutes ago, yet he can remember events that took place a half a century ago. This is one of the interesting things of old age.
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Wearing the poppy tells others people that you remember
On May 25, members of Farrady Unit 24 American Legion Auxiliary, Frostburg, will once again ask the citizens of the community to remember the sacrifices our veterans have made.
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Donating your old bike will help someone who really needs it
Once again Bikes for the World is collecting used bicycles at Canal Place, May 25 from 10 a.m. to noon,
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Hosting Fresh Air Children can be a memorable experience
I got a phone call, and a little voice said, “Hi Miss Linda, I’m calling to wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.”
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Stop buying licenses; let them find the money somewhere else
A few months ago, I received two cards from the National Rifle Association. These were dealing with a legislative alert.
They asked that I should contact Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Kevin Kelly concerning the anti-gun legislation. -
Strength of gun laws is not reflected in grisly statistics
According to the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220, which makes up 68 percent of all murders in the state that year and equates to 3.25 murders per 100,000 people.
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
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Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
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Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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Were they really good old days? You decide
