‘Freedom to’ and ‘freedom from’ religious beliefs

Letters to the Editor

Published
July 7, 2011

‘Freedom to’ and ‘freedom from’ religious beliefs

Religious freedom has two dimensions. The first is “freedom to…,” as in being free to worship in our own way the God of our own choosing. The other dimension is “freedom from…,” as in being free from having someone else’s religious beliefs imposed on us against our will. Religious conservatives love that first dimension, but […]
Published
July 7, 2011

What would Jesus say about how some Christians live?

I read the letters and just shake my head in amazement; but now I must respond to Carolyn Farrington’s letter of June 29. OMG! (used simply as an exclamation — not a belief). Where does she get her information? Certainly not from history. This appears to be another case of someone using religion to distort […]
Published
July 6, 2011

Time to take another look at industrial wind power

Thank you for your coverage of the Kibby Mountain protesters trial. I think it is important for people to know what happened to these courageous folks, and it is a shame that they received such a harsh penalty for their efforts. It was a case of civil disobedience, where no one was hurt, and a […]
Published
July 6, 2011

State’s repeal of same-sex marriage merits praise

Recently, on MPBN’s Jim Lehrer hour, Daniel O’Donnell was exulting about the new same-sex marriage law in New York state. It brought to mind the 2009 repeal of gay marriage in Maine. I shall never forget facing head-on this tall gay guy who had moved to Maine specifically to get his marriage in California legally […]
Published
July 6, 2011

Thoughtful woman added her push to stuck mower

A very thoughtful but unidentified woman came to our assistance recently at our home on Benton Avenue. My husband and I were trying, unsuccessfully, to free our riding mower, which had become stuck on our front bank, when a car pulled into our yard. We initially thought that it was just someone turning around, but […]

Published
July 6, 2011

Vaughan Field park ‘lasting legacy’ for kids

My 3-year old daughter spends a lot of time at Hallowell’s new Vaughan Field park and playground at the site of the old elementary school. On a recent visit, she admired tadpoles in the muddy reeds, rode her tricycle on the newly paved parking lot, kicked the soccer ball around the grassy field and made […]
Published
July 6, 2011

Busloads same-day voter registrants? Prove it

Regardless of position, using facts and not fiction in debate is expected of our civic leaders. When someone purposefully veers into outright deception and spreading false claims to build support for one’s particular position, it is disservice to Maine citizens. Argue with passion, debate vigorously, but tell the truth. L.D. 1376, which reduces Maine citizens’ […]
Published
July 6, 2011

Hope CMP waits until ospreys done nesting

I found the article regarding Central Maine Power Co.’s osprey nest removal in the June 27 edition of the Kennebec Journal intriguing. It seems that a large company can find a way around the migratory waterfowl protections by saying that the ospreys are not building in their natural habitat. I don’t know how mere birds […]
Published
July 4, 2011

Messalonskee graduation an appalling display

The Messalonskee High School graduation has come and gone, on a wet Thursday evening when another graduating class received its diplomas. Graduation is a time when students, parents and educators reflect on the accomplishments of the past four years. It is a time when students look back on the many memories they have made. Many […]
Published
July 4, 2011

Christian finds Legislature not a spiritual desert

I read with interest the column by David Offer concerning how Ann LePage's prayer "offended" people.

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