Opinion: Letters to the Editor

Other N.Y. locations better for mosque

To the Editor:

Would Mr. Duffett feel differently about a mosque being built at Ground Zero if one of his daughters was killed there? The heart of the matter isn’t about religious freedom but impropriety.

If appears to be one more victory for the terrorists who expect the world to embrace their distorted beliefs. They continue to refer to us as “infidels” and they hate our beliefs and freedoms. Certainly there are other pieces of real estate in New York that would be appropriate locations to build a mosque.

Perhaps Mr. Duffett should listen to the imam’s diatribes against the U.S. He then may have a less tolerant view of this situation.

Joanne Geraets, Mitchell

Kristi Noem’s focus: Feeding partisan fire

To the Editor:

Kristi Noem, Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, claims that South Dakota doesn’t have a voice in Congress. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is South Dakota’s independent voice in the U.S. House of Representatives and that voice is loud and strong.

Our congresswoman puts partisanship aside to serve the people of South Dakota. She has a strong record of working and standing up to both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to do what is best for South Dakota.

As a true moderate and leader of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin doesn’t let any party’s agenda get in the way of doing what is right for South Dakotans. In this congressional session alone, she has opposed many policies proposed by the Democratic leadership in Congress, including the financial and auto industry bailouts, the cap-and-trade energy bill and the health-care reform bill, unpopular among many South Dakotans.

Stephanie’s opponent, Kristi Noem, would however do nothing but promote her party’s agenda, disregarding the true interests of most South Dakotans. Noem has already focused her campaign on partisan issues that contribute to our country’s ongoing divisive political climate.

Noem’s focus is clearly on feeding partisan fires, not working toward real solutions. South Dakota needs a member of Congress who will represent the people of our state, not the extreme interests of the party. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has proven that she is that independent voice for South Dakota in Congress.

Please support Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin this November to ensure South Dakota’s voice in Congress is maintained.

Suzie Jones, Burke

A new Corn Palace? Are you people nuts?

To the Editor:

I am seeing articles in the newspapers and on TV about building a new Corn Palace. Are you nuts? Why would Mitchell do that? A new one would never have the history and charm of the old one. I have been there to Polka Fests many times, and there are always people going through and looking at the pictures and enjoying seeing a historic, unique building like the present Corn Palace. Please don’t tear it down. A new one would not take the place of the current one.

Joyce Hodges, Brookings

Another profession needed as leaders

To the Editor:

It is not unpatriotic to state the obvious — that the state of our nation is not good. It is better to so state early rather than late because nations falling from within might fall quite slowly. Possible foreign aggression is noted while internal problems grow.

This bureaucracy that the federal government sold the states to make a driver’s license a national ID card is a disaster that is costly, time consuming and nearly worthless. The government wants you in fear of security while they strip away your liberties and freedom. Like a dictatorship, they used the needed driver’s license. This may be the largest national hoax in recent times. Because of name changes, this greatly discriminates against the women.

Women often spend great sums and time for this — for what? That is a lot to find the unknown. They cannot even find a terrorist on the street or with explosives in his sock or jock. Go secure the border.

Dissatisfaction with government in Iran has demonstrators in the street. The tea party, right or wrong, may be the beginning.

It is a statistical fact that the U.S. citizens give Congress only a 20 percent positive rating now. Maybe lawyers and judges (more lawyers) should not be there from the president down to the county judge.

Let’s try some other profession.

Rex Alberts, Yankton

A mosque in Islam is still an embassy

To the Editor:

What is the purpose or concept of a Muslim mosque from an Islamic perspective? A mosque in Islam is what is considered waqf’s property. Waqf’s property (a mosque) in Islam is never to be dismantled. If you dismantle a mosque or a building that is called a mosque, then it is an invocation of jihad (holy war — bloodshed of non-Muslims or infidels).

Second of all, a mosque in Islam is an embassy. It is an embassy, whether erected or a building purchased to present or symbolize a Muslim national presence or occupation within a nation that is non-Muslim, i.e. America.

You see, it has nothing to do with just a religion. It is an embassy (mosque) in order to basically Islamize the regions around them and then to being the jihad operation.

Jihad in Islam comes through three states. Stage one: political. Stage two: financial funding. Stage three: the jihad act itself (Shariah law).

Americans need to focus on the first stage of political efforts of Muslims in any area of America in rejecting the purchase of a building or property and erecting a building for a mosque.

By peaceful and deceptive means, Muslims are step-by-step Islamizing America and will eventually establish Shariah law.

Check out Europe.

John Shaw, Mitchell

Do not let mosque be built at N.Y. site

To the Editor:

Out of obscurity onto the political scene, with no notion how to run the government, Obama emerged, his “best” connection being to socialists such as William Ayers. Ayers has been a 10-year fugitive for bombing the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol and other government buildings.

Obama has yet to produce his true identity. If we sacrifice our future and happiness, he’ll meet his goal of messiahship.

Obama is using propaganda in the form of social justice to influence the youth who have no idea that his term means socialism, communism, feminism and anti-capitalism. There is now great support for combining capitalism with socialism making communitarianism. Obama will completely bankrupt the nation.

“Freedom of worship” is starting to replace “freedom of religion,” this latter encompassing all the freedom our founders left for us in the Constitution. Freedom of worship will take many things from us, including talk radio and confining all religious activity within the churches.

Muslims are allowed to lie if it furthers the cause of Allah. By passing public law, Obama will promise amnesty to entice Democrat votes this fall. We can look for many cleverly devised ways to make sure democrats win.

We must not allow building of this 13-story mosque at Ground Zero. This will be an embassy working toward world domination, concentrating on Sharia law. This is an entirely too sensitive area for too many Americans who lost loved ones here. Muslims love to put mosques as pointers of their deadly deeds (9-11).

Jesus Christ gave His life for us that we might have an unimaginably beautiful life with Him. We don’t begin to understand the vast goodness of God.

Sandie Rice, Mitchell

Tags: our towns, new york mosque, joanne geraets, kristi noem, suzie jones, new corn palace, joyce hodges, john shaw, sandie rice, opinion, burke, profession, letters