Crazy Xian writes against Wicca in my local paper

[carrowsboy]

Lambasting looney, liberal look of letter

To the editor:


To believe the rantings of Stanley Kustesky (1-1-04) one would have to assume he got his political, theological and reality training through the collective writings of Michael Jackson and Daffy Duck.


I would like to answer some of his concerns point by point.


First, Mr. Kustesky makes light of the possibility of Al Queda and Taliban terrorists cells existing in Chesterfield County. Maybe they don't. Maybe they do. But, I can guarantee him one thing; the terror of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, spousal and child abuse, divorce and abandonment and a lack of respect for self or others is rampant everywhere. And the fact is, confessing Christians have less incidents of these in their families than any other segment of our society.


Also, Mr. Kustesky is facetious in his remarks about the existence of satanist cults in Chesterfield. If he does not believe they do exist in our communities and schools, I would suggest he call the Chesterfield County Police Department and ask them if they take their existence seriously.


This gentleman also quotes the Constitution when making the point Wiccans, or any religion, should be allowed access to pray at the Board of Supervisors meetings. He quotes, 'we shall make no law respecting the establishing of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' The refusal to allow a group to do an invocation neither stops the establishment of a religion nor does it prohibit the free exercise of any religion. Wicca and many other religions are allowed to operate in Chesterfield and throughout this country. This is part of the wisdom of our founding fathers.


While The United States and our laws were founded in Christian teachings and heritage, other religions were given the right to exist and flourish. This was done in part because of our founders' recent history with concern to a national religion. They wanted everyone to worship as they pleased. But, that has nothing to do with where this country is grounded. And like it or not, that is Christianity.


He also asks the question are white Christian females, black Christian males or black Christian females excluded from leading the Board's invocation. The answer is NO. Certainly, they are not excluded.


He also states concern for 145 religions being excluded. Would he really allow everyone the opportunity to participate? There would be no expectations of legitimacy? The church of overweight, bad golfing grandfathers could take their rightful place with every other "religion"?


Apparently, Mr. Kustesky gets his spiritual guidance from the fiction of Mark Twain. Two-thirds of his letter are Twain quotes in his rants against religion. He gives several examples of Twain's humanistic view if religion. Most don't even deserve comment, but he quotes Twain in wondering why a group of people (most of us) who hate music, singing, going to church or being around other people (I hope I never have to visit Mr. Kustesky's world) would aspire to going to heaven, where singing, harp playing and praying are all that will be done.


WHAT?


And guess who this gentleman is quoting from Twain's book. Satan!


Some of the next paragraphs are so disjointed, vague and ridiculous, I find no need to respond. I cannot believe any reasoning person could take him seriously.


Later he reiterates the legal right of everyone to have freedom of religions. Wiccans are absolutely allowed to practice their religion without persecution. Giving or not giving an invocation does not change that.


He also states that The Board is supposed to represent each one of us equally. This is not possible. They should have the same respect for each one of their constituents, but quite often they have difficult decisions to make where the benefits of one is served at the expense of another. Basically, you can't please everyone. They make decisions based on their beliefs, knowledge and experience and hope that serves them well on election day. If you don't believe it, check and see who the last politician was that won an election unanimously.


This gentleman and many believe the Wiccans only concern is our earth. According to the World Book, Wiccans believe they can use their powers to influence people and events, cast spells, cast an "evil eye" (kill by looking at someone), tell the future, control the weather and they have helping spirits in the form of animals. Actually, I can see how Mr. Kustesky could be a strong supporter of the Wicks, but that does not give any credence to Wicca as a religion or any rights to Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors as a Forum for prayer.


Mr. Kustesky is very pious by stating that when a case such as this becomes so politicized it is an insult to common sense and common decency. He may be right. At the same time, he wrote a 1,200 word essay to a newspaper and asked that it be printed.


I would suggest Mr. Kustesky would be better served by spending his time in the best selling book of all time - the Bible - (and Twain nor anyone else is a close second) rather than obscure fiction written over 100 years ago.


I applaud the courage and determination of the Chesterfield County Board Of Supervisors for staying true to their beliefs in the face of Mr. Kustesky, the ACLU and other politically correct purveyors of liberal crappola.

[arcane1]

1. Chesterfield County, VA!

the homestead is representin'!

:hi:

(expatriated Richmonder here)

on edit- I notice this letter-writer maintaining the FICTION: "While The United States and our laws were founded in Christian teachings and heritage"

seems he could use a cursory reading of our founding documents, starting with the Treaty of Tripoli. I'm getting sick of that founded-on-Christianity bullshit getting dished out regularly but never challenged :grr:

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Yes, Wiccans have a plan for world domination

I was just explaining this in the Islamophobia Thread du jour.

[DrWeird]

5. I ran out of suffixes!

You say he had them confused with pagans. I say he had them confused with COBRA- an elite terrorist organization determined to rule the world!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. Can we print the letter he was responding to, as well?

That seems fair.

http://www.whywiccanssuck.com/

[KamaAina]

4. What utter bilge. Fundies have the highest divorce rate.

the terror of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, spousal and child abuse, divorce and abandonment and a lack of respect for self or others is rampant everywhere. And the fact is, confessing Christians have less incidents of these in their families than any other segment of our society

oh sorry, I meant "confessing Christians". My bad. They probably have the highest abuse rate, too ("spare the rod and spoil the child" and all that), though I'm not sure statistics are gathered along these lines.

Say, when exactly did World Book become part of the Murdoch/fascist media empire?

According to the World Book, Wiccans believe they can use their powers to influence people and events, cast spells, cast an "evil eye" (kill by looking at someone), tell the future, control the weather and they have helping spirits in the form of animals.

Kill by looking at someone?! They must have Wiccans confused with the ancient Hawaiian kahuna 'ana'ana, an elite priestly class whose members supposedly could pray someone to death. But Wiccans?! Ye goddesses! As for controlling the weather, looks to me like we could use a few more Wiccans around much of the country... :-)

To the crazy Xtian in question: BOO-YAH!

[wryter2000]

6. Bushwa

I don't think there's a shred of evidence that Xtians are freer of those social ills than the rest of the population. What a maroon!

[carrowsboy]

7. the "obscure" writer

Mark Twain