Anchorage Daily News

New Testament embraces all

Leviticus equally cites as "abominations": male homosexuality (but not lesbianism); planting two crops in one field; wearing clothing made of mixed types of fiber; eating pork; using the same utensils for meat and dairy products; and condemns female adulterers to death by stoning.

But according to every New Testament I've seen, this is what Jesus himself had to say about homosexuality: Nothing.

Not one word. Nada. Zip. So there is no Christian basis for homophobia. Christ's message was love, peace, inclusiveness, caring for the poor, aged and marginalized -- not hate, war, rejection, and sucking up to wealth and political power.

The proposed Anchorage amendment allows religious institutions to give preferential treatment that is "reasonably calculated to promote the religious principles for which it is established or maintained."

News flash: Prevo and those of his gay-bashing ilk, who now or once professed Christianity, are guilty of apostasy.

-- Robert A. Mitchell

Anchorage

At least save old theater's sign

In regards to Henry Kimmins letter to the editor ("Save city's historical buildings," May 29). I just want to say how appreciative I was that our younger generation are showing interest in preserving our city's history. Thank you Henry.

Now, if the 4th Avenue Theatre's new owners actually do something as drastic as either tear it down or have it undergo a massive renovation where it's no longer recognizable, I plead for them to at least save the iconic sign that has been gracing the downtown landscape for over 60 years. If you feel that it has no place in your plans, at least donate it to the Anchorage Museum. I'm sure they will find a place for it in their new expansion.

-- Lance Graveley

Anchorage

Courtesy makes driving safer

What has happened to common courtesy? Driving these days is dangerous and stressful.

Whatever happened to changing lanes for oncoming traffic? It is apparent to me that a lot of people don't use driver courtesy. I don't mean just the young people. They are of all ages, men and women both. Is everyone really in that much of a hurry? With school being out, I really think everyone should take just a moment to think. Who knows, maybe a little courtesy might prevent a horrible accident.

I just hope that people will take a moment to be a little nicer to the next driver, and have a safer summer driving.

-- LaVera Snigaroff

Anchorage

Gay rights aren't just for gays

Let us keep three things in mind during this gay rights controversy.

• Putting food on your table and a roof over your head is not a special right. Evicting a gay tenant or firing someone who just came back from Iraq because you think Bush is a war criminal are special rights. This ordinance would repeal, not enact, a few special rights.

• Religion has its parochial rules and its universal rules. If a faith wants its women veiled or doesn't mix meat and dairy, fine. If they try to enforce that rule on the rest of us, we have a problem. Kicking a homosexual out of Anchorage Baptist Temple is a protected right and I would defend that. Kicking a homosexual out of his apartment is not.

• Fail to protect your neighbor and you make yourself vulnerable. Gay or not, veteran or not, we are all on the line here.

-- Pam Siegfried

Anchorage

Vote will test Begich promise

One of Mark Begich's big campaign promises was to support gun rights. He said he was NRA-endorsed.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor is clearly against gun rights. Just check her record. How is Mark going to vote? Is this going to be his first broken campaign promise? It should be noted, that's for sure.

-- Kenneth Monti

Eagle River

Paving projects are on track

In response to Wayne Brown's letter titled "Why repave Fifth Avenue (May 28)," maybe he should look into things before trying to criticize our state or government.

This summer Granite Construction will be repaving Minnesota from C Street all the way to 13th, and QAP will be repaving the Glenn Highway from Eklutna all the way to Hiland Road. The paving of Fifth Avenue last summer was only meant to be temporary to get the city through the winter. The project is to be completed this summer. Don't take our construction personnel for granted. Thank them for their hard work and determination to get the job done right.

-- Shannon Virgin

Anchorage

Local talent needs coverage

Thank you for the article on Virgil England ("Alaska bladesmith crafts weapons to slay dragons," May 26). There are so many talented people in Anchorage that we really don't know are here.

I would like to see more of the same.

With the amazing shrinking newspaper, perhaps more stories about our local talent, etc., Would be welcomed by the readership.

-- Kris Bliss

Anchorage

Rulings cut into Alaska jobs

All Alaskans need to thank Sen. Begich. Glad to see he was able to bring his vast influence to bear on the Obama administration to stop Tongass road construction under existing court orders. Democrats now have effectively stopped offshore oil, ANWR oil, and now Tongass logging development in Alaska. How many jobs are lost by these anti-development bans?

Guess the jobs lost by these actions are more inherited problems from the Bush administration.

Maybe we will wake up when the TAPS has to shut down due to low flow.

-- John Wolfe

Wasilla

Listening should balance talk

Mr. Prevo is showing a very negative side of Christianity. If Jesus walked the Earth today he would accept people of all orientations. I'm surprised Prevo accepts having a woman governor, since she's not the typical white Protestant male he supports. We listened to Obama give his speech at the Notre Dame commencement because it was such a controversial issue. His message was to "talk and listen" to each other.

Prevo wants to talk and have others listen to his viewpoint. It's too bad he can't use his leadership to communicate with others and get them talking and listening, rather than forcing his opinions on them. Maybe the law should take another look at his tax-free status as he seems to be involved more in politics than in religion.

-- Jackie Tanttila

Anchorage

Redesign Spenard for people

As a resident of north Spenard, I support its comprehensive street redesign. A couple of months ago, I brought my daughter to the Sugar Spoon for a treat. To get there, we walked down a back alley and through a large parking lot because it felt safer than taking the sidewalk along Spenard. Last week, I brought my son to the Sugar Spoon and decided it was safest to just drive the four blocks.

Arctic Boulevard is often cited as a reason to not move forward with a redesign of Spenard Road. However, even though Arctic was a difficult engineering feat and public process, the street is now a safer place to walk and drive.

I would love to see Spenard as a commercial area that promotes the ability to shop its wonderful businesses. Currently, people only drive in for a planned event or purchase and wouldn't consider risking their lives or dignity to walk down or cross the street to check out another store.

-- Laura Davis

Anchorage

Hansen has right to comment

Regarding Phil St. George's letter ("Pebble story lacked value," May 28) I found the story to be extremely newsworthy and I have no plans to cancel my ADN subscription like so many others who find fault with the way the news is reported. I also would like to see full disclosure of who is getting paid off and what pockets Pebble money is going into. Follow the money, if you can, but I suspect the trail is well covered.

It seems to me that Sig Hansen and his fishing crew have as much vested interest in Bristol Bay as the Alaska-based crews do and certainly more than Pebble shareholders. Who can say with confidence that Sig and his colleagues have no knowledge or background in mining? I, for one, care a great deal what they have to think. It is apparent that Mr. St. George will use any excuse to shed a bad light on anti-Pebble investigative reporting.

-- Mike Hansen

Chugiak

ADVERTISEMENT

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@