The American Spectator

p> The author has it correct even in the wording of the title. We are Christians first. Christianity MUST come before everything else in our lives. If the Republican platform would change its views on items such as abortion, there would be a mass exodus from the party. Why? We as Christians are tied to laws and precepts. We cannot change, we must not change. We have been here since the forming of our country. It is not the Republican Party that is the enemy of the left, it is the Christians. br> — Kevin W. br> Morgantown, West Virginia /p>

Amen Patrick Hynes, I am a conservative Roman Catholic who has been voting PRO-LIFE since my first election in 1976. Isn’t it amazing that those of us who value and respect all life are called radical extremists, as opposed to those who wish to destroy life in its most innocent form being referred to as mainstream. Isn’t it questioning why those who espouse good Christian values are considered dangerous, whereas those who murder thousands of people, i.e., the attacks on September 11, 2001, are called Freedom Fighters. Doesn’t it seem evilly ludicrous, that while the majority of Americans who adhere to the credo of the Great Ten Commandments are belittled, we have the publicly funded ACLU fighting for the right of grown men to sexually harm young boys. And while every year we have to fight for the right of the Christmas creche to be placed on public property during the legal public holiday of Christmas, taxpaying funded museums have the right to display sacrilegious displays of the Holy Crucifix, the blessed Mother Mary, and other sacred icons for Christians.

The most troublesome aspect of all the above mentioned is that of the gleefully liberal, socialist agenda driven media exploiting it to their benefit, i.e. the brave and ultimate sacrifice of the over 200 soldiers in the battle of the terrorist.

p>Well, I pray everyday that you are right, Patrick, that the tide is turning and common sense and decency shall prevail in this county. Prayer helps and courage such as those conservatives who took the battle to demand from our President the absolute (yes, black and white absolute) right person to sit on the supreme court in the years to come. br> — Joellen M. Arrabito br> Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey /p>

In regard to Mr. Danforth’s view regarding Christian fundamentalism, one has to wonder exactly what the so-called fundamentalist Christian position on specific issues is troubling to him. The labeling of a particular group may be convenient but hardly qualifies as a credible statement of opposition when the issues which define the so-called group identity are not described. For example; does Mr. Danforth disagree with the fundamentalists on abortion or gay marriage? The expansion of government power?

As former ambassador to the U.N. does he believe that the view that we should not sacrifice American sovereignty in order to get along with the rest of the world is inappropriate? Yes, he deserves credit for having defended Clarence Thomas during his nomination debate. What has he otherwise done to help level the playing field for everyone? As a Senator he was a consistent pro-firearms vote until he decided not to run for re-election, at which point he adopted the elitist anti-firearms position that the common masses should only be armed at the behest of the government. I will not comment on his role in the Waco investigation other than to suggest that no one familiar with his record believed he was going to ultimately find the FBI, or any federal law enforcement officials, culpable in the actions that resulted in the deaths of the Branch Davidians. As someone born to privilege his experience is based on a far different understanding of why the Bill of Rights is necessary than someone of lesser economic and social standing.

p>The reality is that while John Danforth may portray himself as a man of principle, he is also very careful about defining those principles in such a way that having to raise them doesn’t roil the water. But sometimes, to paraphrase C.S. Lewis, progress means to stop going in the wrong direction and turn around. When there is a strong difference on fundamental issues, those who are not willing to take strong positions and defend them without compromise, are always going to end up on the losing side. In Mr. Danforth’s go-along, let’s all be friends world, even though we disagree there is always room for accommodation. However, to suggest that the moral and social climate of our country is better as a result of his tenure in public life is ludicrous. To make a difference you have to understand what and why you believe as you do and then be prepared to defend them, even at the risk of losing.