June 17: Palin as export, special rights as tax exemptions and Jerry Prevo as Paul Revere

Please keep your governor home! Each time she ventures to the Lower 48 there is ALWAYS a problem.

Considering her fondness for engaging in vitriolic comments toward those who do not share her personal ideals, I find her "outrage" somewhat hypocritical. Even in her interview on the Today show, she simply could not refrain from a snide remark about our president.

Please reel this loose cannon away from the spotlight and provide her with a full length mirror to keep her at her desk!

- Christine Patton

Concord, Calif.

About those special exemptions, Rev. Prevo...

We've heard several arguments advanced by opponents of the addition of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people to those categories protected by the Municipality's antidiscrimination ordinance. One frequently repeated-argument states that including these groups under the umbrella of the ordinance unfairly grants them "special rights."

In 2006 the Alaska State Legislature passed State House Bill 334, giving religious groups property tax exemptions not available to other charitable organizations. Rev. Jerry Prevo was an enthusiastic lobbyist in support of the measure.

A little-known consequence of the passage of State House Bill 334: All Rev. Prevo's employees are exempt from paying property taxes on their private residences, based on the justification that they are carrying out the "ministry" of the church. Thus, church and church school administrators, teachers, and janitorial and maintenance staff pay no municipal property taxes on their homes while they are employed by Rev. Prevo.

Special rights?

Like so many issues in this debate, the opportunity to reach out to others must begin with an unbiased look at ourselves.

- Cincy Lelake

Anchorage

God is Boss, not Springsteen

Has the Old Testament God morphed into a kinder, gentler New Testament version of Himself with a softer attitude toward sin? Is He modern, lenient and politically correct?

Well, He has no radio, print, TV or other revenues to protect, doesn't need 51 percent of the vote to be God, and is not intimidated by His countless critics; He can therefore afford to tell the truth. Since He is immutable, and calls a particular sin an abomination, He means exactly that ... forever. If a third grader savvies that, those in the poorly named gay community should as well.

Like Paul Revere, Pastor Jerry Prevo issues warnings, but with far more disastrous consequences if disregarded. He has been polite and diplomatic, yet he and his family have been viciously attacked on more than one occasion. Someday he will hear the Lord say, "well done, good and faithful servant..." The finally unrepentant and unregenerate will hear, "depart from me, ye accursed..."

Which will you hear? God is Boss, not Springsteen.

- Forrest James

Palmer