Stars and Stripes: Two letters off the coattails of John Kerry

[lebkuchen]

Letter was ‘chilling’

The letter “It’s a matter of loyalty” (July 19) stopped my pen dead in its tracks.

The writer claimed to be confused by an earlier letter likening the behavior of conservatives to sheep. The writer bleats on about loyalty and values, etc., while blaming the fall of South Vietnam on a Democratic Congress and the so-called “liberal media” for most of the ills of the world. (These are the same folks who scoffed at the idea of a “vast right-wing conspiracy” a few years ago).

The letter writer stated: “Liberals in uniform are living a lie. Values such as integrity, loyalty and love of country that are ingrained into the armed forces are alien concepts to the left.”

To hear a member of the American armed forces make such a statement is truly chilling and actually rather sad.

I have served two separate enlistments for a total of eight years on active duty. I prefer to think of myself as a freethinking individual; however, if pressed, I would have to say my views generally lean to the left of center. I gave eight years of my life to my country out of a sense of loyalty, duty and patriotism. There were definitely times I disagreed with the commander in chief, but I kept my head down and soldiered on. I also felt that, if I saw something that was blatantly wrong, it was my duty to speak up and correct the wrong. If leaders are always correct and the military demands blind loyalty and nobody should ever question authority, then we are in serious trouble. Does the letter writer remember My Lai? How about the Nuremberg defense, “I was just following orders”?

I respectfully submit that America is a nation that was founded on the principles of freedom and the right to dissent. Our country’s very existence is due to the dissenting views of the Founding Fathers. I believe our country will survive this latest threat, both from the terrorists bent on destroying our way of life and those of our countrymen taking advantage of this situation to pursue their own agenda. All it requires is a little independent thought and to stop following the mindless flock.

Edmund F. Lada
Heidelberg, Germany

Christ’s words lost

“The marriage institution should be a godly one” (“Gay marriages,” July 20). Amen.

But I would like to challenge the letter writer. When Christ stood before the Pharisees confronted by a different civic issue, taxation, he gave a well-coined response, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” Somewhere between the Declaration of Independence and the Christian Coalition, the defense of traditional values, and Biblical values in particular, has become annexed by various political platforms bellowing a historically Christian ethic … but the traditions of this historical Judeo-Christian ethos seem, well, lost. Christ’s own words are lost amid the campaigning.

“Marriage is the union of a man and a woman” is an oft-heard phrase. I tend to believe it’s true. But I tend also to believe that marriage is specifically a godly institution, i.e., God ordains it. The state is not and, much more importantly, must not be an authorizing force on issues of a religious nature.

Caesar does not ordain marriages, and hence he cannot proclaim what is and is not considered a valid one. If society (and, more importantly, secular government) wants to implement an institution inherited from religion, let it do so with all enthusiasm.

The moment secular government begins to claim the authority to define words it, in fact, borrowed from religion in the first place, my fear factor has to increase, if only slightly.

The Constitution will not save social morality, nor will our elected officials and their presumed notions of justice and equity. That is the role of the church, the role of families, the role of individuals as examples. Let us not falsely elevate to the level of the Constitution what was from the beginning on an eminently higher plane. The Taliban proscribes religion, the U.S. Constitution freely allows and offers it.

By all means, let’s discuss the state and social ethics. By all means, let’s discuss the family and personal morality. But give to Caesar what is his, and do not abdicate to him what is your gift to share in love.

Joshua Casteel
Baghdad

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