Letters to editor need more scrutiny
"Humans did not evolve the bonding hormone oxytocin until they moved into colder, more rugged country " bonding to their sexual partner and their children was not in the genes of everyone struggling to survive " the non-bonders took over "_ Herbert Faulkner, Roxbury
After several readings of Mr. Faulkner's letter, I'm certain of only his general drift (to wit, "abortion is wrong.") I do not fault the writer for this _ I do fault the editor(s) who allow such a jumble to make it to print without combing the mess out a bit.
I also fault the editors for failing in their responsibility to act as arbiters in our social discourse. Mr. Faulkner's representations on the science of bonding are inaccurate and represent views that took us to Dachau and Auschwitz. Oxytocin is a hormone common to all mammals and has been for millions of years; it did not evolve as humans migrated to colder climates. That kind of 19th-century eugenics racist tripe has no place in a newspaper that purports to be objective, not even in the letters column. Less copying, more editing!
As for Mr. Faulkner's contention that Christian morals will save America: First, I applaud all good Christians for taking it upon themselves to make our country a better place; God knows we need all the help we can get. Second, I also applaud the millions of non-Christians who are trying just as hard to make America better. Third, I recognize that we have both common goals and differences of opinion on what a better America should look like. Our nation was founded on the principle of separation of church and state. The laws we enact as a nation must embrace the broadest possible range of beliefs, so that our diversity can be our strength, not our downfall.
Stuart Anderson
Otego
Christian faith is strong in Haiti
If you have ever had the opportunity as I have, to visit Haiti and to meet the beautiful people there, to work with them, to worship with them, then you have been blessed. They are a special people, many of whom faithfully praise God in prayer and song and heart in such a way that one would think they had everything.
The reality, of course, is the opposite. Most of them live on less than $2 a day in conditions that are often beyond belief because of the lack of basic infrastructure and jobs in Haiti.
When I heard on the news that voices were raised in song by a group of Haitians that were working to uncover the injured, I was not surprised.
The Christian faith is staple for managing the challenges that have been prevalent in Haiti for years. That is why I was tremendously shocked and horrified by the timing and the remarks of Rev. Pat Robertson concerning the earthquake in Haiti.
Claiming the disaster was caused by a "Pact with the devil" made during the time of Napoleon III, Robertson implies the Haitians are responsible for the earthquake as retribution from God for their alliance with the devil through voodoo.
Here are the facts: Voodoo came to Haiti as the common animistic religion of African slaves late in the 17th century. Over the years the Haitian people have moved in mass away from the Voodoo religion and toward Christianity.
Today 80 percent of Haitians are Roman Catholic; 15 percent are Protestant. In my experience, any church you walk by on a given night of the week reverberates with songs of praise. After several hours of worship, everyone reluctantly goes home.
So much for the idea that God's redemption and grace is not upon Haiti.
Rev Kurt W. Funke
South New Berlin
