Sophistry...
Feb 06, 2014 | 1022 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Cambridge Dictionaries defines “sophistry” as, “the clever use of arguments that seem true but are really false ... to deceive people.” I submit this is what Mr. James Hofmann is about in his column.

It isn’t a specious patient/country comparison, or Obama as incompetent physician; his column is, first, about the “original intent” of the framers of the Constitution. He doesn’t say it, but it’s there, fourth paragraph. The “original intent” business is just lead-in to Mr. Hofmann’s real intent: reminding us of the Creator/God/Ten Commandments foundation without which the U.S. of A. cannot thrive or even survive.

He uses the word, “demise.” Quoting slaveholding Founders who also laughed and scorned the idea of women’s rights doesn’t work anymore. Thus for “original intent.”

Those religious quotes fit nicely with Mr. James Schmidt’s letter on the same T-I page; but it makes Mr. Hofmann’s question, “Do we continue to allow a free expression of religious beliefs in the public square?” unsupportable.

If the letters page in the newspaper isn’t “the public square” what is?

We all know people who believe a Creator God is nothing more than a “sky pixie,” like the Tooth Fairy. Will the letter writers deny those Americans the right to hold those beliefs? No, they won’t, not out loud.

A message for Messrs Schmidt and Hofmann, and I won’t put it in code language the way they did: In a free and open America the majority no longer gets to vote on the rights of a minority. The activist conservative “secular” Supreme Court of the United States says so.

—Kevin B. McGann

Castle Valley
Share This Article |

Copyright 2013 The Times-Independent. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.