Restino has ironic notion of freedom
I read with interest Carey Restino's commentary on Anchorage Christian Schools' choice to give up hosting ASAA wrestling over giving up opening events with prayer. Her central argument that ACS should respect the people's right to religious freedom is quite ironic given the great bulk of historical evidence she brings to support her point. Yes, government should not be in the business of supporting one religion over another. Yes, people should have the freedom to decide their own religious beliefs. And yes, taxpayer events should be free of religious requirements.
The irony is, in the name of freedom, Restino would deny ACS the freedom to do what would be ordinarily expected, and legal, for them to do. Opening with a prayer of blessing is a central component of the Christian faith; as ACS administrator Tom Cobaugh stated, "That's who we are." ACS does not seek to force their beliefs upon the wrestlers; those in attendance have the freedom to disregard the prayer just as they have the freedom to not say the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the national anthem.
Having taught high school in both the Christian and public school environs, I experience much more freedom to discuss social and political principles in my Christian classroom. For example, in the name of freedom, discussing the Christian ethics and backgrounds of our Founding Fathers would, at best, be discouraged in the public school classroom.
I fully agree that we want our children to be liberated from a controlling single-view perspective. This includes being liberated from a single-view state perspective that denies people their legal and constitutional right to religious freedom.
— Christopher Smith
Palmer
Flowers Cosby comments off-base
In the article "Cosby accusers waited far too long to come out with their stories" (ADN, Nov. 24), I can't tell if Christine Flowers thinks the Bill Cosby news story reflects the false allegations of manipulated women who have the emotional sophistication of preschoolers (the tragic McMartin case); or if it reflects inappropriate but consensual sex between adults ("extracurricular sex", "taking advantage of his position"), or if she believes the women were actually raped but "bear some responsibility for their injuries" because being drugged and raped by your mentor is similar to taking a fall while mountain climbing; or if she believes that even if he's guilty of vile acts it doesn't matter because taking responsibility for one's actions has an expiration date.
False accusations are a terrible thing. But it seems clear Ms. Flowers has already exonerated Bill Cosby in her mind, which implies that she doesn't trust "our venerable legal system of due process" to decide his guilt or innocence. I don't know what really happened either, but I do know the great limits of my knowledge of the case.
And, "compassion … needs to be evenly applied." Did she forget to read the rest of her article?
— Kristin Holmes
Anchorage
Anchorage should opt out of alcohol
A few weeks ago, an Anchorage Assembly member from Eagle River declared that she was going to ask the Assembly to consider having Anchorage opt out of becoming a retail destination for Alaskans seeking to buy marijuana. A community may "opt out" under the new marijuana law, and I like this provision of the law.
I do not live in Anchorage, and do not smoke. I do wonder why the Assembly member is not also going to ask the Assembly to "opt out" of selling alcohol. Schoolchildren walking down the sidewalk are killed by drunk drivers, hundreds of intoxicated people confront the police in the streets during the middle of the night, and drunks panhandle on the street corners. So much tax money is wasted on alcohol … but alcohol is OK in Anchorage?
— Nicholas Cassara
Palmer
GOP never not at odds with Obama
Republicans are angry and say that President Obama's executive order changing immigration policy has made it impossible for them to work with him on getting a thorough, permanent fix to immigration problems. But when have they ever been willing to work with him on anything?
Exactly how has Obama's action made immigration legislation impossible — because Republicans are angry and will refuse to compromise on anything? What's new?
Republicans were angry when Obama got elected, and haven't stopped being angry since. It's time for saner heads to prevail.
— Rick Wicks
Anchorage
Ferguson comparisons are hot air
In response to Don Neal's letter (ADN, Friday) questioning whether the rioting in Ferguson would have happened if:
"The police officer had been black and the youth black."
"The police officer had been white and the youth white."
"The police officer had been black and the youth white."
I wonder how often those three scenarios occur compared to what actually happened.
— Kim Dahnke
Anchorage
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