Letters to the Editor - 11/17/07

Meredith Dayton


The truth about deism

Mr. Irvin Forbing needs to stick to Christianity and quit trying to define deism for deists (Letters, Nov. 15). Deism was of English origin, largely credited to Lord Herbert of Cherbury. It then migrated to France. American Colonial Deism is more of a hybrid between those two forms.

Deism is not antagonistic to Christianity in general; it simply says each person has the right to believe as they choose via their reason. Most deists regard "holy books" as hearsay, that is, second-hand information. Hearsay is not always false, but it does not constitute evidence one has to accept. Most deists regard Jesus as a very wise man, though not necessarily divine.

Many deists do not object to prayer, although they prefer prayers of gratitude and contemplation as opposed to petitions. Some deists see God as an active yet nondescript unifying force in the world while others see God as completely withdrawn. The variations of deism are as wide as the number of people who identify with it.

Not all the founders were deists, but most of the prominent ones were, or at least held deistic philosophies. Usually, it was the politicians who did not openly declare themselves as deists even though their writings hold very close to that line of thinking. It was considered rude to "wear your religion on your sleeve" for political purposes. A sentiment I wish would return to politics today.

Travis Clementsmith


Environmental measures harm humans

It is the fire season again, and many, many homes are burning and have been burned by the stupidity of [some] environmentalists who wonít let a person clean his property of unnecessary weeds and brush. … According to these self-appointeds, an owner of some property cannot clear it of brush and weeds unless they say so. Isnít that the pits?

Also [some] environmentalists would seem to rather save a warty toad than a human being. Whoever heard of a gnat catcher before these people showed up? A bird can fly or hop to another plant or tree as they have for centuries without the aid of our well-known environmentalists.

Now, they are even going to shut down the supply of water to our farms and homes so a lowly minnow has plenty of water to swim in. Our well-known politicians sit on their hands and let these people tell them and others what they can do and what they cannot do with their property, pretending that ìthey know better than you do.î Think about it.

Roger Meredith


Time for a change from nature to people

May I respond to a letter written by the president of our local Audubon Society http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/11/14/opinion/letters/11_13_0718_22_24.txt î> (Nov. 14)? Evidently this man did not watch any television while the wildfires were burning the homes of many residents of San Diego County. Nothing I read said that they were going to bulldoze the jungle along the San Luis Rey River.

He was right about it being a jungle. It is like many of the areas along the creeks and rivers in the county. Itís about years of neglect from not doing anything about the dead growth under the new green growth on top. A lot of our local officials think if itís green itís fireproof. Well itís not, just ask the people who have lost their homes to the fires.


