Gun culture
This Advent as the Christian churches await the coming prince of peace, mass shootings riddle our nation. This is little surprise since Americans have an abiding faith in guns — whether the pistol under the pillow, the firepower of law enforcement, the howitzer sold to Ukraine, or the Trident submarine stocked with nuclear weapons awaiting launch order.
We flood the world with guns big and little, venerate warrior masculinity, and pass hours in front of screens filled with killing. The nation is possessed by the myth of redemptive violence — that the violence of the good guys is salvific, that if we just kill the right people, the world will be a better place — nurturing mass killing both domestically and abroad.
Too often the churches trust in an American ethos of “God, guns and country” rather than the Jesus ethos of relentless nonviolent resistance to evil, of putting up the sword and taking up the cross, of love so radical and inclusive that it includes even the enemy, for whom it will die rather than kill.
Steve Baggarly, Norfolk
Positive affirmations
November provided positive affirmations for being a U.S. citizen and a Tidewater resident.
Elections: On consecutive days, radio broadcaster Tony Macrini and AM radio WNIS provided local candidates a forum to introduce themselves, the issues and intentions if elected. Candidates for school boards and city councils and commissioners were articulate, informed and explicit. I did not agree with all of their positions, but each impressed me as passionate about improving our quality of life — an encouraging contrast to candidates and campaigns dominating larger news outlets.
Veterans Day: This year’s Veterans Day was not exceptional; however, public recognition of the service and sacrifice of our sailors, soldiers, Marines and airmen is always encouraging. As a career Navy service member, I’m old enough to recall when such appreciation was not the case, and I hope we never take it for granted.
Jury duty: The final event was my selection for jury duty. This was my first such experience, and the entire event was inspiring. A civil case, it was not a frivolous matter, but one with serious personal, professional, financial and social implications. All parties: the principals, their attorneys, the judge and court officials, and my fellow jurors gave the process the appropriate respect and consideration.
My military career provided countless occasions to swear an oath to protect and “defend the Constitution of the United States”; November provided positive affirmation that being a U.S. citizen and Tidewater resident remains a blessing.
Gregg Smith, Virginia Beach
Stop giveaways
Re “How naïve” (Your Views, Nov. 25): The writer forgets the dog and pony show the Democrats have been milking for a year and a half with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hand-picked GOP members. He also forgets the loser of the 2nd Congressional District, her three election cycles of bad-mouthing her opponent, and very little, “here is what I’ll do for you.”
The letter writer forgets that the change in election laws makes our democracy stronger; voter ID laws are good, ballot harvesting is not good for our democracy. Clearing voter lists of ineligible voters is good for democracy. The writer fails to see or admit to who is running this administration; the White House constantly backtracks what President Joe Biden says. The White House claimed to have created nearly 10 million jobs, however, many are returning from the pandemic; the list is long. Constant giveaways, of which at least one will be debated in court. Open you eyes; the people deserve good government, not free stuff.
Viewpoints
Michael Mulvoy, Poquoson
Vote Republican
First and foremost, merry Christmas. Next, I want to ask this question, what does the average voter see in a Democrat that they don’t see in a Republican? And, the voter then votes for the Democrat on Election Day.
I will tell you what I see in a Democrat that makes me always vote Republican. I see Democrats as elite politicians who only care about themselves and what their agenda is for our country, which, if they had their way, would be to destroy our nation, and, in many ways, they’re trying to do it now with the liberal media’s help.
Don’t be fooled by their claims to defend and support our Constitution. They hate the Constitution and everything it gives us. They also hate our God-given freedom, which is something we all should cherish. I also don’t know of any Democrat who does cherish our freedom.
If the Democrats really had their way, we would be a lowly developing nation. They simply do not care, and for those of you who vote for Democrats at election time, you should ask yourself, “Do I care enough about my freedom to not vote for Democrats and to vote for a Republican? Do I not care at all about what happens to the country?”
I close with this thought, if you really care about and love America, vote for a Republican; not all Republicans are that bad, just a few are Republicans in Name Only.
Mike Niehaus, Portsmouth