LETTERS: DECLARE ABORTION-FREE DAY IN MISSOURI

To the editor:

I appreciate and respect the feelings of Chris Layton and others who feel that the death penalty is wrong. However, they can't have it both ways. These same people argue until they are blue in the face that we should not allow any type of prayer in school because it violates the separation of church and state. I have trouble understanding their logic: It's bad to let a child say a short prayer in school, yet it is good to commute a sentence of a convicted murderer in order to please a religious leader. Given this as the argument, if Pat Robertson were to visit Missouri and ask us to outlaw abortions, should we not honor his wishes as well.

Let us declare an abortion-free day in Missouri. At least the babies in an abortion are innocent. Kill the babies and spare the homicidal butchers of our society appears to be mainstream these days. People in society today are twisting God's law to suit their particular beliefs and behaviors. Today's average Joe or Jane only adheres to the Ten Commandments when it doesn't conflict with his or her own lifestyle.

Constantly I am hearing from people that we are behind the times, that we need to get with it, that people in Europe are more progressive, and why can't we be more like them? Do you really want to be more like them? In the last 100 years, which country has kept Europe from being either totally German or totally Soviet? Hmm? God has blessed us with freedom which was given to us with the blood of our fathers and grandfathers. If we lose sight of that, then we are lost as a nation.

In my heart of hearts, I am willing to bet that Chris Layton is a devout Catholic and probably would be thrilled if our government allowed prayer in school. I respect him for that. What I think is totally reprehensible is what Mel Carnahan did to our judicial system. He commuted the sentence of a malicious killer out of respect for a religious leader's beliefs. This is contrary to his stated belief in separation of church and state. He has used that argument in the past to defend his stand on several issues including school vouchers and school prayer. Carnahan also wants to kill innocent babies who are partially born, yet slap the hand of a vicious murderer.

We can see the same tactics being used by Bill Clinton to swing opinion polls his way. If people don't wake up soon, this country will no longer have a judicial system that is impartial. The rule of polls will override the rule of law. I urge everyone to get out and vote the next election and let Carnahan and Clinton know that we have had enough.

JIM KREWSON

Shawneetown