Searching for a Reason
The United States has the highest prison population in the world with one in 31 adults either behind bars or on probation or parole. The result of this “tough on crime” policy fills our prisons with mostly nonviolent offenders. The world-wide organization, Human Rights Watch, in 2014 stated that this policy has failed to rehabilitate prisoners and makes many worse off on release than before incarceration.
It”s been 100 years since drugs have been banned in the U.S. with more drugs on the streets today than ever; with hundreds of thousands either in prison or not capable of landing a job because of our draconian attitude against the drug boogie-man. We think we live in a free country but just how much control does the U.S. government have in controlling our thoughts and behaviors when it acts like the biggest policeman on earth?
We are so quick to denigrate “Communist”, “Marxist”, and “Socialist” countries as being controlled by the government but Saudi Arabia, for example, is an Islamic theocracy where 75 percent of the population hold “Creationist” views. In Turkey 99 percent of the population are registered as Muslim and 60 percent hold “Creationist” views. Indonesia has 87 percent Muslims with 57 percent being “Creationists”. Catholic Brazil with 87 percent Christian has 47 percent “Creationists.” The U.S has 40 percent “Creationists” while Russia with about 46 percent of its population being Catholic has about 34 percent “Creationists.” Is Stacey suggesting that these people who believe in Creationism are coerced by their government?
She specifically mentions North Korea, Communist China, Marxist South America, and Socialist Europe as examples where Creationism and Evolution are not discussed and I could not find sufficient information to conclude whether these countries have discussions of this type. I did find that Evolutionary views are held by 68 percent of Swedes, 65 percent of Germans, 65 percent of Chinese, 34 percent of Mexicans, and 26 percent of Russians.
Stacey then evokes an end-of-time scenario from the book of Revelation in which Satan supposedly realizes that he must first dethrone God so that he, Satan, can be worshiped as the Antichrist. She feels these “godless” countries are Satan taking us on the path of deception.
Finally, I have searched in vain for the source of her Joseph Stalin quote about undermining our patriotism, morality, and spiritual life, and have concluded that this supposed quote is not in any reference and was made-up from thin air.
Greg Blinn, Kelseyville
They are ready
Two days after the brutal burning to death of the Jordanian pilot the lead editorial story in the New York Times was about Abu Ghraib, but no editorial about ISIS atrocities for a whole year. Dig up the dredges from 12 years ago, but don”t say a thing about the rapes, killings, and forced marriages of 12-year-old girls. In the USA, ISIS would be labeled pedophiles along with murderers. But, oh no, lets dig up a 12 year old story to smear the USA!
Real journalism gentlemen?
Why not come out and just glorify ISIS, isn”t that what you really want to do? Only in New York City & San Francisco can you get away with this, (i.e.: print this in a newspaper in the middle of this country and tomorrow you will be out of business, guaranteed!) Great job left wing press. This is like telling your wife with cancer, don”t worry about it dear. Really? Values count.
The Kurds who are ready, willing, and able to fight ISIS cannot get the arms they need to fight ISIS from the USA. Our enemies and allies know this, why doesn”t the administration?
Mac McKay, Lakeport
