Anchorage Daily News

Despite Christian group's mantra, you cannot 'pray the gay away'

I am worried about "Focus on the Family" and their ex-gay movement coming to Anchorage. What worries me about this is the false hope it will give some parents.

Some parents are very, very sad that their child has turned out gay or lesbian and they will clutch at any straw to try to make things "right." I have raised five foster kids who identified as gay or lesbian. I have seen them struggle with being Christian and being gay. The religious right tells them they can change. They can "pray the gay away."

When it doesn't work, and there are huge amounts of statistics and studies that prove that it doesn't work, the parents and the child often become estranged in many instances. We all know the importance of a parent's love in the life of a child. That importance doesn't change with adulthood.

I wonder why we can't accept ourselves and our children just as God made us.

-- Edie Bailey Eagle River

McCain ticket speeches fail to address our real problems

The speeches delivered by Republican presidential nominees are sheer unsullied mockery of self-righteousness and patriotism. Mr. McCain's accusation of his opponents as "me first, country second" is a reprise of the culture war, us against them, which we have endured almost the last eight years. Ms. Palin's remark "al-Qaida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm to America, and he's (Barack Obama?) worried that someone won't read them their rights" is pure fear-mongering and outrageous blatant violation of basic human rights of her professed God's teachings. Even Sen. McCain earlier supported so-called terrorists' basic human rights and shielding them from torture. The revelation and legitimization of her teenage daughter's pregnancy and marriage surely smack of sanctimony.

She should invoke her God not on her side but put her on her God's side!

The whole shebang was full of partisan resentment and banality instead of seriousness and solutions for the problems facing this country and the world.

-- Young Ha

Anchorage

French, Legislature must stop this disgraceful witch hunt

Kill a cow moose: Go to jail.

Taser stun your preteen stepson: Go to jail.

Drink and drive: Go to jail.

Make no mistake about it, you will go to jail. Oh, unless you happen to be a state trooper. Then you get an in-house investigation, a five-day suspension and you keep your job.

We ordinary folks wonder if our Legislature is investigating the wrong entity. Hollis French has our governor already impeached. Our state Legislature will lose all credibility if it doesn't put a stop to this disgraceful, partisan political witch hunt.

Hollis looked a bit embarrassed on the news Friday night hiding from the reporters behind his desk.

-- Kathy Centoni

Anchorage

Republicans showed lack of civility

The difference between the Republican and Democratic conventions? Booing. Lots of booing. This from the Republican audience against Barack Obama. The booing difference provides us with a good gauge of the attitudes and the tactics involved. It's an old but effective Republican strategy: Use sarcasm, derision and fear-mongering to make your opponent seem to be a bad person. Rudy Giuliani, for one, was particularly nasty, but Sarah "Barracuda" Palin wasn't a whole lot better. Overall, I found myself quite disheartened with the lack of civility. Are voters smart enough to recognize the meanness that lay beneath the smiles?

-- David Holladay

Palmer

Candidates care not for change

I believe that the Democrats and Republicans are a pair of "mirrors" arguing face to face. Do either of them honestly sound like they're interested in saving America from death?

I haven't heard Obama, McCain or any vice president ever mention "It's time to take this great nation away from corporate enterprise, and give it back to the people (the true government)."

Hmmm, so much for "change."

-- Michael C. Valouch

Anchorage

Stevens deserves our support

This Troopergate investigation has gotten out of control. Wooten should have been fired for drinking on the job and driving his official trooper vehicle. Why wasn't he? Good old boys club runs the state troopers and protects their own.

Sen. Stevens' old, run-down cabin in Girdwood was an embarrassment for all Alaskans. Stevens deserved his remodel and I would have gladly helped with it if I could have. We should all stand behind him and thank him for his service to Alaska.

Don Young is another story.

-- Rebecca Titone

Girdwood

Force not the way of the church

"My Kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus in John 18:36. So why is it, then, that so many evangelicals act and, more importantly, vote as if God's kingdom is simply "America" said in a loud voice?

It's ironic that Jesus and his followers continued to preach and advance their message despite overwhelming opposition and oppression from their government (the kingdom of this world), whereas today's "disciples," like Gov. Palin and her pastors, spread God's kingdom using the kingdom of this world, the American government.

The function of the church, the community of all Christians on earth, is not to cleanse society with legislation and force. Rather, the church is to be a witness to the world by being the church -- by seeing people as Jesus showed us. When we see the way Jesus does, the sick and the poor, instead of being a burden to society, become the royalty whom Jesus, in Matthew 5:3, proclaims to be blessed. Our enemies, instead of being demonized, become another opportunity to show God's grace and kindness.

This is the meaning of the church. Not because it makes society a better place in which to live, but because it reveals the way God feels about people: despite their imperfections, they are precious to God.

-- Brian E. Stanley

Wasilla

Law enforcement needed shake-up

Is it possible that the so called "leak/breach into trooper Wooten's personnel records came from his own ex-wife? Most spouses keep copies of such records at home. In a messy divorce case, spouses would have copies on hand.

I believe the public safety commissioner needed to be fired in order to clean up and change the attitudes within the law enforcement community throughout Alaska.

-- Eileen Haines

Sutton

McCain/Palin not the answer

When I read the business section of the paper today, the headlines were "Home loan troubles far from over," "Jobless rate gallops to 5-year high," "Alcohol sells despite economy," and "Suicide rate for soldiers is climbing." Our country is in trouble and we need to get this one right. Do you really want another four years of GOP leadership? McCain/Palin is not the answer.

-- Lois Lane

Anchorage

Daily News needs tuneup

Wooten's a goon.

John Cyr is a loon.

The Anchorage Democratic News sings the same tune.

-- Rick Miller

Anchorage

Pay more attention to your family

Sarah Palin is the one who is not respecting her daughter's privacy. This "abstinence-only sex education" Mom is doing more to promote teenage pregnancy than Hollywood.

When McCain came calling, her response should have been "Please call back in four years. My family needs my attention now."

-- Beth Dittrich

Anchorage

Palin will prevail despite ADN

ADN, you are so anti-Palin, that you will say or do anything to elect Obama. Well, Sarah has got a fire going, the people of America have a champion and we will unite.

-- Robert Ralls

Sterling

ADVERTISEMENT