Letters to the Editor: July 20, 2016 

Open letter

To Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: America is a democracy, not a theocracy. We have separation of church and state, which means freedom of religion, freedom from religion, no state-endorsed religion and no religious test. However, bigoted, “Christian” Republicans like you do not understand this and instead either seek to legislate your religion against everyone else or judge, condemn and discriminate.

Your religion is just that; yours. If your faith is so true and right, be happy and content with it. Stop trying to legislate it against everyone else. Stop forcing your hate on the rest of America. We do not want or need your judgment or your brand of saving. Spare us your ignorance and unwarranted hate, discrimination and bigotry.

Your rights end where the next person’s begins. If everyone truly treated everyone else the way they themselves want to be treated — regardless of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity — the world would be an infinitely better place. One of the main problems  is religious zealots like you. You cherry-pick your doctrine to use against any group you do not understand and ignore the main tenets of your faith. And you simultaneously excuse yourselves from any wrongdoing because you consider yourselves to be on the side of right. No matter how impassioned one’s beliefs may be does not make said beliefs true or right. The solution is very simple: Respect the innate dignity and inalienable rights of all human beings, period.

All the killing and discrimination in God’s name is a complete farce. It is all for nothing, no positive end result, as it yields only death and destruction, ruined lives, damaged family relationships and pain and suffering of countless innocent victims. You and your brand of hate are part of the problem, not the solution. Your social media post blaming Orlando terrorist victims for their own deaths and injuries is despicable.

Stacy Smith

Oklahoma City

‘Injustice anywhere’

Regarding the horrifying shootings of Dallas police officers and, in other parts of the country, questionable shootings by police:

When societal problems go inadequately addressed/ignored/unresolved and more evil things happen, the only surprise is that so many people act surprised.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” —Martin Luther King Jr.

Jack Bowen

Fort Worth, Texas

Straight on hate

In his letter, “Redefining hate” (Opinion, Letters, June 29, Oklahoma Gazette), Pete Lepo states that Donald Trump “... has not said anything negative about Hispanics.” In announcing his campaign for president last June, Mr. Trump said that Mexicans were rapists and that they were bringing drugs and crime into the U.S.

Sounds like negative comments to me, but apparently not to Mr. Lepo.

Delores Jackson

Oklahoma City

Concerning statements

Concerning Jack Fowler’s news article “Transcending hate” in the June 22 issue of the Gazette, I take exception to a quote by Paula Sophia Schonauer. She states that “plenty” of American pastors promote “that it’s within a Christian’s duty to kill gay people.”

That is simply not true. To make this statement would seem to nullify many other good points that Paula makes. She comes across as uninformed on the topic or being guilty of fabrication to make her point.

Even Bill Maher, one of America’s best-known atheists, addresses this issue when comparing Christianity with Islam and says exactly the opposite of Paula Schonauer in a recent interview with Charlie Rose.

Schonauer needs to retract her statement to re-establish her credibility as a spokesperson for the LGBT community.

Steve Stearman

Oklahoma City