Cal Thomas’ attacks on Obama are unjustified

I read the Cal Thomas column only occasionally, and only to see what new distortions of fact and logic he has contrived to further disparage those who are not as far right as he is. His column that the Post printed last week, however, was of quite a different sort. He abandoned his usual use of innuendo and came out with a straightforward insult of the president. Evidently Cal is spoiling for a fight, perhaps because he is afraid that terrorists will get him. Of course, he would not do the fighting; rather, he would have American blood and treasure sent against jihadists everywhere. He is roundly berating Mr. Obama for being a wimp because the president does not “get it on” (Cal’s fight, that is).

Mr. Thomas cites the belligerent words of FDR to exemplify what he wants from Obama, but does anybody think FDR would have used those words if the Pearl Harbor attack had not just occurred? Cal may not care that, in the past decade, more American lives have been lost in attacking terrorist groups than were lost in terrorist attacks on Americans.

I urge the Salisbury Post to consider finding a different conservative columnist, one who can present constructive ideas instead of just railing against our elected leaders who are not conservative and truculent enough for his liking.

— Dick Brisbin

Salisbury

Editor’s note: We strive to present a variety of views, and some of them occasionally irritate readers. Cal Thomas makes no bones about opposing President Obama’s policies, but his column today comes close to defending the president.

God gave freedom to choose

In regard to the letter, “Response from a non-believer” (Dec. 19): Bible scriptures do get misunderstood or misinterpreted, but a child can randomly select verses to quote.

For decades, there have been other quotes which were believed to be in the Bible; for example, “God helps those who help themselves.” I am on my fourth time of reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelations, and I have yet to find those exact words.

This one as well as the “dirty little kitten” quote aren’t God’s words but mankind’s. Jonathan Edwards, who was also quoted, must have been a non-believer too. I would suggest reading Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, but it’ll be misunderstood as well.

Correct, people don’t sell everything and then give the money to the poor. Most don’t pay their 10 percent tithes, either. Truth is, everything belongs to God and he only loans it to us.

A lot of people also seem to think they’ll never have to live a poor person’s lifestyle. When people think too highly of themselves, they may end up losing everything. “You never miss the water until the well runs dry.”

God gave us the freedom to choose between the path which leads to him or the one to Satan, and to believe or not believe his words that are written in the Holy Bible. We are now under the covenant of the New Testament, not the old.

“In the judgment mankind will not be condemned because they conscientiously believe a lie, but because they did not believe the truth, because they neglected the opportunity of learning what truth is.”

— Ellie Mae Lambert

Salisbury

Editor’s note: Jonathan Edwards (1703-1753) was a Christian preacher, philosopher and theologian. During a 1949 crusade, evangelist Billy Graham preached Edwards’ famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

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