Letters for Saturday — December 18, 2004

• Rename roads

• Atheistic Left response

• Atheist response

Rename roads

Mayor Baptiste and Kaua`i Citizens,

In honor of Kaua‘i’s most famous surfers, can we change the names of the four roads leading to Hanalei Bay to Titus Kinimaka Street, Andy Irons Road, Bruce Irons Way and Bethany Hamilton Drive? They have made all of us on Kaua‘i proud.

Savannah and Anabelle Marvin

Papa‘a

Atheistic Left response

In a pathetic attempt to demonize his opposition, Wednesday’s (December 16) letter writer passes on a new entity to fear: The Atheistic Left.

The idea that there is an organized band of atheists, leftist or otherwise, plotting and working to destroy Christianity is preposterous. This figment of imagination is presented by bombastic radio entertainers bent on increasing their audience and making more money.

After all, an atheist worships himself, how do you get that type in a group? There are two threats to Christianity and they come from within. The first is from some Church denominations, and their members, who are busy deciding who to exclude from Christ’s nonexclusionary message.

They are also busy deciding which other Christians to damn for not worshiping as correctly as they do. The second threat is from self described Christians who wish to politicize Christianity in order to legislate their definition of morality. They also wish to renew the Holy War of the Crusaders in defeating extremists misusing the Religion of Islam as the Spanish Inquisition once misused Christianity. If you wish to punish or slay scores of nonbelievers in the name of God, then the Old Testament World is for you. Don’t forget to take your goat to the Temple for sacrifice. Christianity takes its name from Jesus Christ who, in the New Testament, established a “New Covenant.” It has nothing to do with killing people or animals. It has nothing to do with bigoted exclusion. It has nothing to do with politics. It does have love at its center, present and eternal peace of mind as its reward, and is available to all who seek it.

Pete Antonson

Kalaheo

Atheist response

Once again, another atheist-bashing letter has appeared in the Garden Island. I’m seriously beginning to wonder about the “Aloha Spirit” I’ve heard so much about.

The rant in the Wednesday The Garden Island equates the “atheist left” with “a traitorous fifth column.” Does he seriously believe he does any good by making such stupid and insulting charges? He speaks of the clash between Islam and Christianity and says that we should “honor our traditional faith.” While Islam and Christianity may be the “traditional faith” of Muslims and Christians, they have nothing to do with atheists. Neither one is my “traditional faith.” Unfortunately, this religious madness is affecting the lives of non-Muslims and non-Christians. One well-known example is professional football player Pat Tillman, who was killed in the war earlier this year. Does the letter writer consider Tillman, an atheist, to be a “traitor?”

The letter writer appears envious of Islam’s ability to “inspire our enemies and produce beheaders and suicide bombers.” Is that really the kind of soldier he wants in our military?

Next he mentions that “George Washington led his troops in prayer at Valley Forge.” Sorry, but that story is false. It’s just another myth perpetuated by Christians.

Finally, the writer mentions that, as a Marine, “religious observance is strongly encouraged.” That is probably true because many military leaders are also religious fanatics who have difficulty separating their religious beliefs from their job. Lt. General William Boykin is an excellent example of such a misguided commander. The letter writer believes that “belief in a higher power sustains soldiers in the horrors of battle.” While some might need such a belief to get them through hard times, what really sustains a soldier is good training and good equipment.

Brian Christensen

Lihu‘e