MAILBAG:

Thomas Thorkelson’s clarification of Mormon beliefs about the relation of Jesus and Satan were helpful and appreciated. (“Huckabee question complicates perception of our church.” Jan. 4.) No religion should be judged on the basis of misrepresentation.

In addition, his explanation helps clarify one significant difference between Mormons and Evangelical Christians, who believe that Jesus the same being as God the Father (and therefore not a creature of God), as the Nicene Creed affirms. Evangelical Christians would not agree with Mr. Thorkelson’s assertion that Satan (Lucifer) is the complete antithesis of Jesus Christ. Instead, what Anglican priest Michael Ward said about God applies equally to Jesus Christ: The opposite of the devil is not God, but the archangel Michael.

There are many issues upon which Mormons and Evangelical Christians can and do agree, but the ultimate identity of Jesus Christ remains, for now, a significant watershed.

Dennis Okholm

Costa Mesa

Let’s keep our visions with new CM mayor

I would like to congratulate Allan Mansoor on a job well done as mayor of Costa Mesa. I have been a resident of this city for more than 40 years, and I have seen the many changes that have taken place.

The mark of a good leader is if the entity he/she is leading is making progress toward and ultimately achieving the goals set out by the people who are in charge of that entity. Mansoor has done this. Are we there yet? Is there still much work to do? I am sure Mansoor would agree: Of course there is.

This administration has set the tone for good things to come. The city’s issues are of the utmost importance for its current and future residents. Mansoor has brought to the forefront several initiatives that, although not popular, are issues our city needs to deal with.

For those who say Mansoor has given Costa Mesa “the disgraceful reputation as being one of the most intolerant and racist cities in America” (Leslie Slevin, Jan. 3), I would say you are misinformed. Could you show me one publication that has stated that? If that is the case, then every American politician who deals with illegal immigration must be racist — and I don’t think that is the case. Immigration is a highly complex issue that even our federal government is trying to figure out. Nobody has all the answers.

This is tough stuff — we all agree on that. What we need are solutions now, not more talk. That is what Mansoor has set the course for. Is Mansoor or what he has done perfect? No; no human being is. That said, he has tried and in many cases succeeded to make this city we call home a better place. That is more than good enough for me.

I look forward to Eric Bever continuing what has been put into place and hopefully taking Costa Mesa to another level. Hold true to the vision. We are making progress.

Greg Spicer

Costa Mesa

Bicyclists: Heed stop signs, just as drivers do

I’ve already written to you folks once about this, and frankly I’ll keep writing until you publish something.

It’s bad enough that every day I have to deal with drivers who don’t know that it’s the first person at the stop line who goes at a four-way stop — not “I’ll go when I feel like it even when someone’s in the middle of an intersection.”

But bike riders are about to drive me mad! Because they do not even bother to stop. They think just because they’re on “more environmentally friendly” transportation they can keep going without slowing down or looking.

I’ve seen kids cut diagonally across intersections — but the worst offenders are adults between 20 and 50.

They just keep running stop signs. I deal with between 12 to 20 of these types every time I drive. People old enough ought to know better.

Please, remind bike riders they must stop at stop signs. They don’t automatically have the right-of-way. It would be nice to see more cops pulling them over for such violations.

Jami JoAnne Russell

Costa Mesa

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