I appended Bill Tozer’s letter below. I originally did not post it because it’s filled with mistakes grounded in speculation. That said, his larger point stands — namely, lefties who drivel about their tolerant inclusivity seldom practice what they preach. Perhaps one week in a Bernie Bro reeducation camp would cure them of this self-flattery.
Joann Muneta’s letter illustrates the point. She wants a “welcoming, inclusive and harmonious” community. But she does not want a community that welcomes slavery sympathizers or patriarchal households. This is not a defense of slavery or patriarchy; this is a repudiation of leftist sloganeering. It’s inconsistent to contend for universal inclusion while simultaneously excluding those who disagree with your politics.
Lefties in Moscow would be better served to say what they think: Wilson and his followers are pigs and they should be treated as such. Put another way, Wilson and his followers should be treated the same way they treat others.
These statements are true, defensible, and free of hypocrisy — and the truth-teller won’t have to spend any time in a Bernie Bro reeducation camp.
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Most letters supported candidates and qualifications
Bill Tozer’s Jan 18 letter to the Daily News stated that letters and support for the winners of the Moscow City Council election were expressions of prejudice against members of Christ Church and its affiliates. Actually most of these letters discussed the outstanding qualifications of Zabala, Laflin and Kelly.Others discussed candidates’ positions about allowing expansion of educational institutions in downtown Moscow, and three candidates’ opposition to the city’s ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Commenting on qualifications and positions is an important part of the electoral process.
Candidate James Urquidez raised the issue of religious affiliation saying that he wanted to be elected to show the community the value of a Christian on council. He also said that he should be elected because we have a lot of Christians in the city. Did he think we have never had any Christian council members? Did he think that religion should be a basis for electing candidates? When asked about Christ Church’s mission “to make Moscow a Christian town,” which lists among other things, providing “Christian leadership in . . . politics,” he said all religions try to do this.
Proselytizing is indeed a part of some religions, but it is not surprising or hypocritical that citizens who treasure their diverse religious beliefs and freedom of thought would oppose having any one church dominate our community and try to change its culture.
From glossing over the evils of slavery, to asserting that God wants women to be submissive to their husbands, to his antagonism toward our gay and lesbian friends and citizens, Christ Church leader Doug Wilson gives Moscow serious reasons for concern. Hopefully the good people who attend and support Christ Church can understand these concerns so we can move forward together in keeping our community welcoming, inclusive and harmonious.
Joann Muneta
Moscow
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A touch of irony, hypocrisy
Reading your recent story covering the swearing in of the new Moscow City Council members reminded me of the pre-election swarm of letters appearing on these pages telling voters that if they want maximum inclusivity in our city, voters must avoid supporting (read exclude) candidates who attend a certain church in town.
Remember also the stink raised a couple of years ago by some other folks concerning Christ Church members seeking positions on the board for the Moscow Food Co-op? Am I the only person in Moscow who smells a little bit of irony, perhaps even a touch of hypocrisy, in that perspective?
Full disclosure here: I have never attended a single service at Christ Church nor am I a personal friend of Doug Wilson. But every individual I know who attends that church is a top-notch citizen of our community.
Further, I seriously doubt that any person in our community, irrespective of that individual’s worldview, would be considered persona non grata in Christ Church or any other Bible-believing church in our area. Apparently, however, to many inclusive-minded folks in our town, members of Christ Church are to be excluded from leadership positions.
Bill Tozer
Moscow
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I appreciate reading the comments of concerned citizens of Moscow. It is critical in a free society to express one’s opinion and to express alternative viewpoints in an effort to both inform and educate. This is what we should strive for. What I fail to understand is the need to attack opposing viewpoints and community members and neighbors with such virulence. Is there really a need to attack those that express their viewpoint that differs from our own with such disdain? Is this where we have evolved as a free society, a republic a nation of humanity? I think it is important to step back and ask yourself, if I were wounded in a foxhole, defending the nation so others could benefit. Would I allow a person whose opinion, religion, race, creed, sex or color, etc. to attend to my wounds so that I may live another day, and enjoy the freedoms for which we held so dear? Would I find it in myself to have the empathy to try to understand and appreciate them or would I take from them what I could and in the end, attack them for having difference? It is important to care and to express our opinion, but when we attack others with such vile disdain for those that are our neighbors and fellow countrymen, what does that say about us? We cannot move forward with such divisiveness and disrespect. I respect the fact that we can agree to disagree. A free society should strive to come together not tear itself apart, that is the strength that lies within us. If we allow ourselves to shoot anger with such hostility at each other, we fail to understand the true enemy that seeks to destroy what we both hold sacred. Peace…play nice.
The idea that a free society has to accept all beliefs and points of view is ludicrous. We have th ability to decide what is acceptable and what is not. The theology of CC is NOT acceptable nor are their actions.
My answer regarding your foxhole question is “No. I would not allow a member of Christ Church to attend to my wounds.” We have members of the medical community who support the neoConfederate theology promoted by the Wilson Corporation. I, for one, would like to know which physicians and businesses are owned or operated by people that believe the garbage Wilson is selling. I sure as hell don’t want my dollars supporting them. They’re a cancer on this small community.
I take nothing from them and expect nothing in return.
Agreed. Let’s disabuse ourselves of the notion that a kirker would attend to an opponent’s wounds, because they would not — unless it involved cyanide.