June Edwards

On 1/18/07, June Edwards of Oneonta had a thoughtful letter published in the Oneonta Star entitled: “Vote on issues, not religion.” Edwards stated that Hitler used Christianity as a propaganda tool to sway the masses. Historically, candidates for public office have use religion to gain the trust of voters, but once elected, some have greatly abuse the power of the office.

She wrote: “Hitler, of course, was an extreme case. He in no way followed the ‘love thy neighbor’ teachings of Jesus. But did the ‘born again’ George Bush when he attacked a country that had not threatened us and was not involved in the 9/11 attacks? A war that has killed, maimed and dislocated hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, most of them innocent of any wrongdoing, certainly the women and children. Did his ‘higher Father’ tell him to approve rendition and torture, and probably the destruction of the torture tapes? Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

“Instead of a person’s religious faith, find out what his or her beliefs are regarding preemptive war, universal health care, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program for children, Social Security, tax cuts for the very wealthy, minimum wage, public schools, science education, gay rights, immigration, unfettered free markets, clean air and water regulations, food safety, port safety, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, global warming, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan.

“All candidates promise more than will be carried out if elected, but their responses to questions on issues reveal their priorities and what their presidency might entail much better than religious statements used to ‘sway the masses.’ ”

Salt Lake City, Mayor Ross Anderson suggests we ask those that take us to war: “What part of ‘Thou shalt not kill’ do you not understand? What part of ‘Blessed are the peacekeepers do you not understand?”