TNT letters: Vaccinating children against COVID-19; church and state; the war on Christmas
COVID vaccines
Re: “Children should be vaccinated against COVID-19” (TNT, 11/14/2021)
I was very disheartened to read a recent opinion piece (by The News Tribune Editorial board) that described some questions parents have asked their pediatrician regarding the safety of the COVID-19 vaccination as “far-fetched and unfounded.”
On the subject of COVID-19, have we parents lost the freedom to ask questions of our pediatrician without those questions being shot down by dismissive labels? Regardless of a person’s opinion on this topic of vaccinating children, a parent’s right to ask questions of their physician should only be seen as information gathering so as to make the most informed choice possible for their child. Labeling questions negatively only creates further division and distrust on this subject.
Julie Kott, Gig Harbor
Church and state
Catholic bishops need not be confused by the president’s ostensible dissonance between personal beliefs and governmental actions. Elected officials cannot equally represent all people if they properly “embody Church teaching” because everyone is guaranteed constitutional rights to abortion and to freedom of and from religion.
If the Church wishes to dissolve the separation of church and state, is America then to endure religious whiplash with the election of each new president? Would the Church endorse this private-public alignment if the president was Protestant? Jewish? Muslim?
If not, it stands to reason the most equitable leader may be someone who does not practice a particular faith. This is unlikely, however, given that atheists, for example, continually poll last behind adherents of various faiths that Americans are willing to elect president.
Instead of broadening their definition of scandal to ensnare greater numbers of their own flock, perhaps the bishops should focus their “special responsibility” on providing just reparations to the victims of abuses the Church perpetrated. Or do their vestments absolve them of the duty to “serve the human family by upholding human life and dignity”?
Rodman Bolek, University Place
War on Christmas
Re: “Tacoma holiday tree and menorah lighting downtown this weekend” (TNT, 11/23/21)
Opening my TNT app this Tuesday morning (11/23) I immediately noticed the irony and hypocrisy in first the headline and then the story about this coming weekend’s celebration of the holiday season in downtown Tacoma.
The headline and the body of the story mention the lighting of a “holiday” tree and a menorah. In the story we learn that the lighting of the menorah, presented by Chabad Jewish Center of Pierce County, is in honor of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah. The story also tells us that the “holiday” tree, which will be decorated with “traditional holiday” decorations, was donated by Skyline Presbyterian Church. But which holiday and traditions are represented by the tree? And why did a Christian church supply the tree?
What is The News Tribune so afraid of? The tree is a Christmas tree, and it represents the Christian holiday of Christmas—full stop. At least the video caption acknowledges Christmas (how’d that get past the editor?).
Even an atheist like myself can recognize the idiocy of political correctness.
R. Daniel Van Eycke, Poulsbo