Letters, 2/16: Darwin and Christianity

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Concerning Douglas Hall’s letter referring to supposed Darwinian quotes suggesting that he was, in the end, a Christian, I offer the following rejoinders from Charles Darwin’s autobiography, written when he was 67 years old: “I can indeed hardly see how anybody ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my father, brother, and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine.”

And, also from his autobiography: “The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an agnostic.”

Darwin did indeed once mention “the Creator” in his “Origin of Species,” but not in the first edition. These words were inserted only in later editions, apparently so as to placate his wife Emma and not offend the general public any more than necessary. Indeed, Darwin’s wife censored the autobiographical account of his abandonment of Christianity for more than half a century.

After Darwin’s death, an evangelist named Lady Hope, widow of Admiral of the Fleet James Hope, claimed to have visited Darwin on his deathbed and to have obtained the quotes relative to the Book of Hebrews and to “Christ Jesus and his salvation” that were noted by Hall. These quotes were clearly fabricated, as reported by Darwin’s daughter Henrietta in 1922, who also noted that Lady Hope “was not present during his last illness, or any illness.”

Paul A. Johnsgard, Lincoln

No savings for students

The Lincoln Journal Star front-page story, “House OKs $39 billion in savings” should have been titled, “House gives elderly, poor students $39 billion bill,” because that is exactly what happened. It is fascinating that Republicans touted this horrific measure as “necessary” to “hold the line” on the immense federal deficit.

This measure would not have been necessary had Republicans not been so eager to hand out over $100 billion in tax breaks in 2002 and 2003 to the wealthiest one percent of Americans, which created this deficit. I know my family saw no benefit from these.

I am further infuriated because the largest cuts come from student aid. As a recent college graduate, I can attest that college is not cheap. I paid my own way through college, doing my best to hold down the amount I had to borrow, working both during the school year and during the summers. For multiple summers, I worked over 100 hours per week all summer long. Yet I still face 15 years in loan repayment, and now, with the hiking of the student loan interest rates, it looks like five more years.

Perhaps I should send my bill for those extra years to Reps. Jeff Fortenberry, Tom Osborne and Lee Terry. After all, with the $70 billion more in tax breaks planned by Republicans, I think they might have some extra cash lying around.

Matthew Peirce, Lincoln

Reduce property taxes

The president proposed to reduce taxes. I’m all for that. But for the working class, not the big corporations. They are the wealthy and can pay the tax.

The only fair tax is income tax — the more you earn, the more you pay — and the sales tax — the more you spend the more tax you pay. Raise that tax and lower the property tax.

We retired in 1991, and at that time 16 percent of our income went to pay taxes. Today, 46 percent of our income goes to pay property tax. Our income is the same today as it was in 1991.

Alfred G. Brejcha, Western

Spending Osborne’s cash

Someone who aspires to be governor should be able to put their money where their mouth is. Tom Osborne’s money obviously left his mouth very quickly, since he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars more than Dave Heineman’s campaign. 

How is he going to be able to control state spending and cut taxes when he can’t hold on to his own campaign’s pocket change? “Whoever is faithful with little will be faithful with much” (Luke 16:10) — and the opposite is also true.

Matthew Kinsley, Lincoln

Why I don’t vote GOP

In response to Wes Hager’s condemnation of the Democrats, I will offer my reasons for never voting Republican:

George “W.,” Dick Cheney, “Scooter” Libby, Carl Rove, Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, “Duke” Cunningham, Bob Ney, Pat Robertson, the obscene profits of the oil companies and the $8 trillion national debt.

Loren Lutkemeier, Bladen

Pastor violated trust

It is a time-honored privilege given to clergy in Nebraska to be “chaplain of the day” while offering the morning invocation in the Unicameral. It is a unique occasion for the chaplain to encourage others to seek the guidance of their God regarding the weighty matters filling the day’s agenda. A chaplain’s remarks should be carefully chosen to express high regard for the diverse beliefs and personal views of everyone assembled.

The chaplain’s role in the Unicameral is a relationship of trust with our senators. This is a trust I believe Pastor Tom Swartley threatened when he violated the guidelines explained to every guest chaplain, and used the podium as a “bully pulpit” to express his personal beliefs during his recent prayer before the state Legislature.

As a pastor who has served in military, hospital, and other chaplaincy roles, I ask our state senators to please forgive the misguided zeal of my fellow pastor who serves his community and congregation well, but may have misunderstood the role of a chaplain.

I would also ask religious leaders of our state to prayerfully consider the role one is asked to fulfill, when serving as chaplain before the state Legislature. I am most grateful for the warm reception I received when I have prayed to God before the Unicameral, and I believe we owe our senators and their guests the same mutual regard and respect they give us when we serve as their chaplain of the day.

The Rev. Dennis Patience, Lincoln

Pastor, First Christian Church

Trauma for father, child

I don’t know why Attorney General Jon Bruning won’t go after the guys that fathered children by younger girls. They get off scot-free.

This young man did the right thing by his girlfriend even if she was young. They had a happy family and he worked and supported them. Many of these so-called fathers are doing nothing to help the young girls they got pregnant and expect the state or the girls’ families to take care of them. This is soooo wrong.

The young man was supporting his family. Commute his sentence to no time in prison. He doesn’t deserve the ridicule and time in prison.

This is trauma for the child, too. There is a bond between this man and his child.

Valera Otte, Seward