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Letter writer's belief depends on opinion

Re: "True religion depends on one's beliefs," Nov. 4 letter: Rosemary Hawkins said, "When it comes to spiritual beliefs, truth is a matter of opinion."

Strangely, Hawkins sees herself free from the slough of religious irrationalism that she imposes on others. One can only conclude with Hawkins that religious truth is merely opinion and thus autobiographical, without objective meaning; or that Hawkins believes to possess that privileged place of objectivity that allows her to pass universal judgment on religious truth claims.

If it's the former, then her letter was just one more person's "spiritual belief" expressing a distaste for other religious perspectives, which isn't very remarkable. However, if it's the latter, then she believes her letter conveyed objective truth about religion and her point is self-contradictory.

Hawkins' view has the pretense of even-handedness. But the fact is that it's just one more perspective that claims to have religious truth cornered.

Because the Christian Scriptures teach that Christ is the truth and the exclusive way, all contrary claims are false by definition, including Islam. Therefore, Hawkins' denial of such claims is just another way of saying that Christianity is a "false religion," the very thing she wants to "take exception" with.

Pro-choice opposition isn't about saving lives

Opponents to a woman's right to control her own body confuse me. They are opposed to abortion because all life is sacred. An abortion kills an innocent life. An abortion kills a baby. Yet, the vast majority of these folks say that abortion is OK in the case of rape or incest. So those lives are not sacred?

It seems to me that opposition to a woman's right to choose is not really about saving innocent lives. It is simply about controlling women.

Public health care can take out profits

There are 48 other countries whose citizens, on average, live longer than we do. These other countries all have some sort of government-administered health care for all of their citizens, including China, Canada, England and even Bosnia and Iran.

Take the profits out of health care. If every citizen and others are required to have a complete physical and full-panel blood test, this country would save billions. The government would invest more money into research to find cures.

My Medicare works fine, and we need the same for all people in this country. Yes, I am aware that seniors might not have needless procedures performed. There are many simple home remedies that could save millions and keep people living longer.

Thanks for helping Virginia be a red state

I would like to extend my personal thanks to Sen. Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello for their enormous contribution to getting Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie elected as governor in their respective states. I especially want to thank them for the extra work they did in their home state of Virginia to ensure the McDonnell victory.

Were it not for Warner and Perriello's absurd, unquestioning and blind following of the Democratic Party line, these people never would have been elected. They showed Virginia voters -- (their counterparts did the same for the Republicans in New Jersey) -- how repressive life might become under their Democratic leadership. They showed their constituency total disregard for its wishes and angered enough people to go out and vote key Democrats out of office. Well done and thanks for the help.

I look forward to more help from them in continuing to convert right-thinking liberals and Democrats to the conservative way.

See them next election -- as they exit, stage left.

Hunting helped humans to survive

This is in response to Rita Ross' letter "Hunting does more harm than good," Nov. 5:

I wonder if Ross considers the fact that we are all here today due to the fact that our very own ancestors depended upon the means of hunting as a main source of food for themselves and their families. Let's not get into the discussion of the booming deer herd not only here in Virginia, but nationally.

The tradition of deer hunting goes back hundreds of years and very likely made a great impact on the very existence of people just like Ross and her family. So I ask you this: Do you think your ancestors were vegetarians? Or were they folks who just chose not to eat deer, rabbits, turkeys or really any game animal that was available to provide nourishment to their families?

I think not.

One way to cure smoker's litter

On my way to work each evening, I noticed that smokers had dropped a pile of cigarette butts outside the door. One night, I dropped a banana peel into the pile of cigarette butts. The next night, I dropped an apple core. Unlike the cigarette butts, my droppings would have gone back to nature in a few weeks.

One more day passed, and the mess had been cleaned up and a "No Smoking" sign posted.

America can't afford entitlement mentality

As a fellow retiree receiving Social Security benefits, I am astounded that Jill Elggren ("Critics of supplement don't understand," Nov. 4 letter) is apparently oblivious to the following facts pertaining to President Obama's proposed $250 supplement for recipients:

1. Social Security is not welfare. It provides a specific, defined benefit earned by contributions during recipients' working years, with adjustments, by law, based upon increases in the annual cost of living.

2. The cost of living remained stable during the past year, meaning no increase in benefits is warranted for 2010.

3. The government, already trillions of dollars in debt, has no money with which to pay for the supplement. Therefore, funds to provide the proposed lump-sum benefit must be confiscated from those who earn them, to be redistributed to those who didn't.

4. The supplement represents a classic political bribe to pacify a powerful voting block, seniors, unfortunately by both parties, as weak-willed Republicans scramble to get on the bandwagon.

Elggren's letter is indicative of the rapidly escalating entitlement-mentality of far too many citizens in this country today. In an extremely rare circumstance, I have to agree with The Times editorial position that the proposed supplement is unjustified, undeserved and unaffordable, ("Short takes: The $13 billion political payout," Oct. 17).