Letters to the editor Jan. 12
Keep religion out of politics
David Ingram’s recent comments in defense of Sen. John Fuller after the publication of criticism by both Kyle Waterman and myself lead me to believe that Mr. Ingram needs some clarification in regards to one of my comments.
Judging from the Inter Lake’s front page article (Jan. 1, 2023) about bills that Sen. Fuller and Sen. Keith Regier are planning to introduce, those two gentlemen don’t get it either.
What I meant to say is that Mr. Fuller’s religious beliefs don’t belong in politics.
Our nation was founded on principles of freedom of (or from) religion and taxation without representation. The concept of the separation of church and state has been an integral part of our society for generations, yet today I see the influence of religion playing a major role in the actions of radical conservative politicians.
I would like to remind Mr. Fuller and his colleagues that there are three branches of government in our state and nation, and your church is not one of them.
I would also remind Mr. Fuller that he is neither a medical doctor nor a psychologist and has no qualifications to diagnose why a young man or woman has gender dysphoria. That is a matter for that person, their family and their medical professionals to deal with, not the government; especially a government under the control of the so-called “party of less government.”
To characterize his actions as “completely and totally” protecting the children is incredibly arrogant and misleading. It is, rather, an attempt to shove his personal beliefs down the throats of people who think differently than he does and who he appears to feel are inferior to him.
I encourage Messrs. Fuller, Regier, Ingram and their colleagues to listen to the science regarding gender affirming care. It is not mutilation; most treatment is chemical, not surgical. Treatment is safe and successful. Suicide rates among gender-dysphoric people drop dramatically with gender affirming care, whether surgical or not.
Stop being afraid of people who are different than you. You’re not going to “catch” homosexuality or transgenderism by being around people or reading a book about them. They are not a threat.
The threat is our state moving toward a fascist theocracy, with a government that prefers a certain moral code derived from a certain religion and that moral code turns into legislation to suit one certain point of view.
Our elected officials need to remember that they represent all of us and that we expect them to act responsibly. That means not wasting their time and our money with frivolous legislation that benefits no one or further enriches the wealthy at our expense or chasing imaginary demons like voter fraud (are you listening, Rep. Braxton Mitchell?).
So if you can’t keep your religion separate from your politics, then maybe it’s time to make a decision about which means the most to you and give the other one up.
— Tim Wiley, Kalispell
Differing projects
I cannot think of enough repugnant words to describe my feelings for the efforts to erect an invasive alpine coaster near Lakeside (Daily Inter Lake, Jan. 6). If the developers Jessica and Torsten Wedel are from Montana, then shame on them. If they are from out of state, then they should get the heck out of the Flathead and go back to whatever amusement park they came from.
On the other hand, I cannot think of enough salubrious words to describe the intent of Carolyn and Doug Kohrs to put their land into a conservation easement (Inter Lake, Jan. 6). In my eyes Mr. and Mrs. Kohrs are some of the best Montanans — and they have my blessings rather than my excoriations.
Open space and breathing room is more in keeping with this state’s personality — and not the duplication of some New York City Coney Island scream attraction.
— Bert Gildart, Bigfork