Monday, July 7, 2014
There are some things that are rights, and there are other things that people have been led to believe are rights. A right is something that is enumerated in our Constitution to keep our government out of -- the right to free speech; the right to freely assemble; the right to bear arms, etc. But we do not have the right to contraceptives. And we certainly don't have the right to make someone else pay for them. We have been trained by our government to think entitlements are rights. They are not.
GERALD WHITELY, Ringgold, Ga.
The overwhelming view of the scientific community is that creation science is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Bad science and even worse theology, creationism is a theological concept that masquerades as science and relies on scientifically untestable supernatural theories. The various science disciplines, e.g. anthropology, archaeology, paleontology, etc., have formed societies that maintain the professional standards of their respective fields. If proponents of creationism are interested in being taken seriously by the scientific community, they are welcome to join these societies, attend the meetings, and present and defend their theories. They have been notably conspicuous by their absence. Creationists first confronted the scientific world and failed. Next they tried the courts, where they were also turned back. Now they have appealed to the political establishment, where standards are less rigorous and ideology, votes and money talk. As a result much of the Republican Party has become increasingly subservient to a brand of religiosity that is intolerant of science and reason. Why are creationists making this political effort? Probably because they realize those who struggled with 10th-grade algebra and 11th-grade chemistry (like me!) are less rigorous in their standards and judgments than legitimate scientists.
GEORGE B. REED JR., Rossville
The Obamacare penalty just caught up with me this month. It was explained to me that the $30 increase in my private health insurance premiums was mandated by the Affordable Heath Care Act! "You're welcome," whoever you are, now that I'm financially subsidizing your federal health care. WILLIS MARTIN