Letters: 'Liberal media' not in evidence here

If the Sept.10 Advocate editorial page is an example, I could not characterize our local newspaper as a minion of the “liberal media.”

First there is Billy Acrement, who goes all the way back to the Democrats of the 1960s to defend the racist philosophy of Republicans in 2012. The Democrats he mentioned, George C. Wallace and Robert Byrd, would have long ago switched parties, as many of their compatriots have.

Then Acrement goes over again the oft-repeated GOP rhetoric about how much universal health care will cost, and complains that Barack Obama is incompetent, while objecting to the simple truth that the policies of the Bush administration were the largest single cause of the current recession.

Meanwhile, Janis Schear seems to be saying that if we suffered during Hurricane Isaac it is our own fault, and that we, along with the desperately poor of the world, should take full responsibility for natural disasters, and that everyone should pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Her message is that self-responsibility is the only way a person can be dignified.

So why do we pay taxes, if not to ensure that the government is there to help when disaster strikes or when we are too old, young or disabled to work?

Last is the column by Jordan Blum highlighting the congressional battle between conservative Charles Boustany and ultraconservative Jeff Landry. While the election of either candidate will not make a whit of difference in the Republican battle against Americans’ quality of life, he discusses at length the support for Landry and Todd Akin, of forcible rape fame, by Tony Perkins’ homophobic hate group, Family Research Council, without so much as an editorial opinion. To me, an endorsement from FRC should have the same effect as an endorsement from Al-Qaida. Yet Blum benignly refers to FRC as simply “socially conservative.”

All in one day’s Advocate: three opinions about how to make America a worse place to live. Now we just need another praise of Teach for America and a screed from Gov. Bobby Jindal. The conservatives will think they have reached Nirvana and never complain about the “liberal media” again.

Thank the Lord Jesus Christ this far-right annoyance does not happen every day.

Rhonda Browning

educator

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by twinkie1cat - 01/10/2012

The letter was about the conservative slant of a particular edition of the Advocate, not about Christianity. But it seems always that if the subject of homosexuality is mentioned, that the right wingers are quick to take offense and defend the hate groups that try to force their faux religion and their backwards concept of "God is hate" on the rest of us, giving God a really bad name and making it hard for those of us who are believers to win others for Christ. They are a stumbling block to those who would believe and a hindrance to the Holy Spirit. As for your question of whether I believe all of the Bible, yes I do. I believe it all in the social and historical context in which it was written. Jonah, Noah, and Jesus really happened. I don't believe in picking a verse here and there and merging them into a convenient "truth". As for how long I went to church, oh, about 62 years enriched with 3 in Campus Crusade for Christ, primarily Southern Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian USA with a sprinkling of COGIC and occasional attendance and most other denominations including 6 months singing in the choir at a Catholic church. I was a regular worship leader for several years in a Presbyterian church, often serving when the pastor was out because I knew the procedure, and was President of Pastor/Parish Relations in a United Methodist. Taught Sunday school for at least 5 years and Vacation Bible School when I was 10 and right before Katrina. I still attend and serve in the choir and as a scripture reader with such regularity that I have told certain church members that if I DON'T show up and they have not heard from me that they should either call or come by my house and check on me. Bible Study: My mother started reading the Bible and Bible stories to me before I can remember and told me I recited the 23rd Psalm in church at the age of 2. My religious beliefs were shaped, however, by Dr. Martin Luther King, because I knew that he was right from the time I was 10 when I saw the civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham and seeded when I saw restrooms labeled MEN, WOMEN, and COLORED when I was 7. Now you know. Thank you for asking.

2) Comment by Whatnow - 21/09/2012

@Springer98, we still don't know if twinkie1cat believes all of the Bible or conveniently parts of it. Not sure she believes in the teachings of Paul. She won't give an answer.

3) Comment by Springer98 - 18/09/2012

twinkie 1 cat Romans ch1 v 27, Read it, it is very plain & easily understood.....

4) Comment by Whatnow - 18/09/2012

twinkie1cat and Rhonda Browning, ( I can never keep you two straight) Those who learn as a child will teach as a child. I just have one question for you. How long did you go to church and study the Bible? And you never did acknowledge that you must not believe in the teachings of Paul. Jesus didn't talk about child molestation, beastiality and quite a few other sins, either. Christians study the Bible all of their lives.

5) Comment by twinkie1cat - 18/09/2012

jdk944: You are notorious for being a swordsman. I think you know what I mean---brought up doing Sword Drills in Sunday School and reciting your verse-a-week. I used to do it too and I had three years of Campus Crusade for Christ that taught me door to door evangelism. Proof texting is not a sign of knowing God's word. Taking the Bible in the context in which it written instead of memorizing isolated verses requires work and study. Knowing and spreading the word of Jesus Christ and being a Christian involves, yes, accepting Jesus as your personal savior. But like in AA where stopping drinking is only the beginning, living a Christian life is about walking the walk of Jesus, not just evangelizing. It is about taking care of others, being your brother's and sister's keeper and voting for leaders who believe in social justice and equality and who follow that walk.

6) Comment by nimby? - 18/09/2012

Fox NEWS .... BOO !!!

7) Comment by Protean - 17/09/2012

Not quite "made up", potkalb. As with other ultracons who've been permitted to use a keyboad and a comments page, this one is simply repeating what he's been told by his corporate media masters (the Blame-Stream Media). No ultracon would dare risk offering an unauthorized thought.

8) Comment by 8point6 - 17/09/2012

ms. browning. Another awesome letter! Thank you for reminding me why I vote for conservative candidates. "Thank the Lord Jesus Christ" that your letters aren't printed in this medium every day.

9) Comment by Protean - 17/09/2012

10) Comment by potkcalb - 17/09/2012

I've noticed from other sites where jdk944 has commented on religion that he makes up the Bible as he goes along.

11) Comment by simbatigercat - 17/09/2012

Clearly Ms. Browning's letter is very thoughtfully written, just as it should be clear to anyone who reads what the Family Research Council has to say----that they hate anybody and everybody who is not exactly like they are. Comparing them to Al-Quaida was just a little over the top.

12) Comment by Whatnow - 17/09/2012

Excuse me, choose...

13) Comment by Whatnow - 17/09/2012

Rhonda Browning, you pick and chooses what the New Testament teaches. You clearly don't believe in the gospels of Paul.

14) Comment by twinkie1cat - 17/09/2012

Tradewinns: Often people who are destitute either don't have famiy, have families who are toxic, or who have abandoned them for a variety of reasons, such as their being gay. Early in the AIDS epidemic there were many families who would not even claim the bodies of their supposed loved ones.

15) Comment by twinkie1cat - 17/09/2012

for jdk944: God told us NOTHING about homosexuality. Sodom was destroyed because they did not care for the poor and were arrogant and full of themselves. ( Ezek 16:49-54 ) They were also worshipping idols and from the earliest time idol worship included getting it on with the temple prostitutes. Further, they were trying to have sex with angels, a separate species from human beings. Therefore what they were practicing was not homosexuality but bestiality. Idol worship, which even in New Testament times involved, again, sex with the temple prostitutes. Paul warned the Corinthians against this because that was worshipping false Gods instead of the one true God, idol worship. Now what Jesus told us about homosexuality: NOTHING. He did however, praise a Roman Centurion who was in a same sex relationship for his faith when he asked that his lover (the word has been mistranslated as "servant" was seriously ill) be healed. ( Matt 8:5-13 ) Jesus was also against fraud, usery, legalism in the church, discrimination against children and women and discrimination against immigrants and abuse of the disabled and elderly.

16) Comment by Attila - 17/09/2012

Me thinks that Miss, Ms. or Mrs. Browning should identify herself as more of an indoctrinator than an educator.

17) Comment by nimby? - 17/09/2012

the advocate is neither liberal or conservative . it is a business trying to stay afloat . the Howard Stern phenomena ; controversy gets attention . current theme , atheists vs christians . the advocate is well aware of this ....

18) Comment by bourbon-soda - 17/09/2012

@dday168 - your cite leads to a "page not found," but thanks. What a supposedly statistically valid poll have to do with a conclusion drawn from an N of less than 10, and the sample selected to prove a point, and submitted mostly by ordinary citizens rather than by journalist? By an edumacator, no less. What ever happened to teachers?

19) Comment by DMJ - 17/09/2012

Oh, and jdk, to answer your question....Jesus never said anything about homosexuality. Not one thing. He was very much against divorce and usury (finance). Should we do away with lending money at interest as well?

20) Comment by DMJ - 17/09/2012

I'm not always on the same page as Ms. Browning. I think she alienates more than convinces, probably on purpose. That being said, she's right about the lack of bias in the Advocate. The Advocate goes out of its way to print opinions from both sides. Whenever a Republican reads or hears something that doesn't support what they already believe, they cry bias. It's getting old.

21) Comment by 8.3 - 17/09/2012

"the primary duty of the federal government is to protect the nation from other nation's" where is that primary duty to the sole exclusion of all others stated in the constitution? What family? SIcilian? What if one is an orphan? Another "patriot" rewriting history. By the way, when did Ayn Rand sign the constitution or maybe she wasn't there? The declaration of Independence maybe? As a matter of fact, Edmund Burke did not attend either of these events either.

22) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 17/09/2012

Lying with...

23) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 17/09/2012

Jdk, please show us the scripture where Jesus even mentioned homosexuality. A true Christian should be able to find it in no time. Let's stick to the new testament since good Christians often jpick and choose which mosaic laws they should still consider valid, i.e.mlying witty another man vs. eating shellfish, or wearing blended fabrics.

24) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 17/09/2012

Tradewinns post wrongly reflects the idea that religious tribalism is the answer to our social needs. The notion that your tribe/ extended family should bear the burden of your welfare is outdated but reflective of the religious fundamentalist mindset. As for the federal government's duty, it is much larger than just national defence. "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Recognize that? Looks like the government provides for more than defence.

25) Comment by jdk944 - 17/09/2012

So expected from Browning. Our so called "educator". I would review your use of thanking Jesus Christ while you "slam" organization such are FRC. So tell us Ms. Browning, what did God and his son Jesus tell us about Homosexuality? Sounds like a "Cafeteria Christian" at best - picking and choosing what she wants to when it comes to The Bible!!

26) Comment by tradewinns - 17/09/2012

"So why do we pay taxes, if not to ensure that the government is there to help when disaster strikes or when we are too old, young or disabled to work". the primary duty of the federal government is to protect the nation from other nation's. the FAMILY is where one should turn for everything that you mention.

27) Comment by dday198 - 17/09/2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/us/politics/in-poll-obama-opens- medicare-edge-over-romney.html?smi www.nytimes.com people effected by the romney/ ryan right wing agenda are paying more attention as the election gets closer. i can only conclude that ***** drinks alot.

28) Comment by bourbon-soda - 17/09/2012

What kind of curriculum does one take in order to become an edumacator, and does it include anything about small and retrospectively selected samples?