Stamp still a sticky topic

Regarding Russell Niewierowski’s letter to the Daily Pilot:

I found Lolita Harper’s article regarding the controversial U.S.

Postal Service stamp commemorating the Islamic holiday, Eid,

interesting. I thought Niewierowski’s letter in response was shocking

and disturbing.

He refers to “misguided fanatics” then promptly groups Charles

Darwin, atheists and “world religions” in the same category with

Adolf Hitler and the Ku Klux Klan. The rest of his letter somehow

excludes Christianity from this group. I understood his attitude with

most on the list but Hitler and the KKK?

Niewierowski, if you check your history books, you will find the

KKK was mostly made up of “good Christians.” In fact, if the KKK

charter that was rumored to be on Balboa Island in the mid 1940s were

still here, he could be considered a prime candidate for membership.

I see little difference in Niewierowski’s Christianity and Muslim

mullahs calling for Jihad. Until now, I haven’t really understood why

we are fighting in Iraq. Niewierowski’s letter makes it clear. It is

we “good Christians” against the infidels. With God on our side, we

must prevail.

It’s the Crusades all over again, only this time we will win. As

we retreat back to the Middle Ages, can the Inquisition be far away?

Talk about your misguided fanatics.

The major religions are based on love and understanding.

Niewierowski’s Christianity appears to be all about exclusion and

hatred.

The founders of the United States wisely did not establish a

national religion, even though most were “God-fearing men.” We have

become a nation of many cultures and beliefs because of our

farsighted attitude of inclusion.

I’ll take my chances with Darwin and the atheists if Niewierowski

represents what organized religion is all about.

MIKE STEINER

Costa Mesa

The small band of misguided fanatics protesting the Ramadan

postage stamp can’t complain that their free speech has been

restricted: The Pilot has twice now given them a platform from which

to spew their venomous hatred.

I am far from a fan of President Bush, but it somehow seems

appropriate to quote to them his words: “It’s important for our

fellow Americans to understand that Americans of Muslim faith share

the same grief that we all share from what happened to our country;

that they’re just as proud of America as I am proud of America; that

they love our country as much as I love our country ... . All

Americans must recognize that the face of terror is not the true face

of Islam. Islam is a faith that brings comfort to a billion people

around the world. It’s a faith that has made brothers and sisters of

every race. It’s a faith based upon love, not hate.”

After all, I would not want the U.S. Postal Service to stop

issuing a Christmas stamp because Ku Klux Klan extremists have burned

crosses and lynched blacks, or because, over the ages, many others

have launched pogroms against Jews in the name of Christ.

PAUL EKLOF

Costa Mesa

I am amazed at the negative reaction to the article about the new

Islamic holiday stamp. All the arguments draw on patriotism,

Christianity and even Christmas to say that our use of this stamp is

wrong. Hogwash. (Notice my kind word.)

Yes, we are at war. The “yes” vote was almost unanimous to go to

war. War invariably results in the unfortunate loss of our men. It

also results in the loss of the enemy’s men. But why hold on so

tightly to the mentality of war -- the idea of “us versus them?” It

is as if we think the war will never end. When it does end, are we

going to harbor a grudge? Does everyone still have a problem with the

Germans and the Japanese from World War II? Thank God for the

generations that come after who have no lingering feelings of hate.

If you can look past the war and have hope for peace, you should

be thinking of ways to draw people of the world together, not looking

for reasons to further divide us. Negative thinking makes the war

last longer. We all want the war to end eventually. We should be

looking for peace and harmony.

Anyone who wants to hold on to the ill feelings should think about

what kind of road we are paving for our children. Why not start now

changing the negative feelings to positive and giving some impetus to

moving forward and away from the “us versus them” mentality? What is

the harm in having an Islamic stamp? If more of us do not buy into

keeping this war going, it would help to end it. The thinking of the

“majority” is what makes things happen.

I have no desire to silence anyone, one way or the other, but

those of us who disagree should be heard.

JENNIFER COPELAND

Newport Beach