Open Letter to the Dominion-Post, Morgantown

Pastor Terry;


I understand what you mean. My little series The New River Diary, which pokes fun at Baptists, Protestants, and Catholics was rejected by the Tamarac jury because it "may be offensive to some Catholics." The ongoing struggle between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland is common history; yet, I was rejected for using this conflict during the early part of the series. I made fun of the Baptist's local church interpersonal conflicts as well, but "offense to the Catholics" was the only concern. Some of the movies sold in state juried bookstores throughout West Virginia (Matewan" etc.) have language which is offensive but are approved for their historical content. It doesn't matter that conservative Christians are offended. What I am saying is that certain groups are "protected" by denying the right of free speech to others. Here is the text that got me rejected. "When it came to his religious beliefs, he was even more complex. He tolerated and used religion only when it served his cause, but deep inside, he felt that religion was the source of all the problems in the world, especially Ireland. As we all know, there are three ways to enter any religion: be born into it, be converted to it, or just say you're in it. Patrick fell into the latter category when necessary. Although he had little concern for religious doctrine or history, he often claimed to be a Catholic because, at the time, it better served his purpose. However, if the truth were known, Catholicism was simply the least of the two religious evils in his way of thinking. This professed position also gave a semblance of validity to his hatred for the English. He blamed all the suffering of Ireland on British Protestantism. Why, he even accused and cursed them for bringing the Potato Famine of 1845 and 46 upon the poor declaring that if God were a Protestant, he would gladly stand with atheism. It was clear to any person who had any theological, or even traditional basis for his own beliefs that Patrickʼs hatred for Protestantism was based merely on politics. "


It seems that religious freedom and freedom of speech go hand in hand. It is the responsibility of any nation or culture to allow its people to voice opinions about personal beliefs and the beliefs of others. This is a vital part of our co existence. Denying any group to write and speak opinions is wrong. I admit that those who are seeking violence and the destruction of others is a concern, but in the case of the Muslims, the violence is already underway. The denial of our citizens to point out and lead people away from these destructive groups places us at their mercy. Americanism is not a race or a religion. It is the acceptance of the beliefs upon which this nation was founded. However, today, the American citizen has less rights than those who seek to invade and undermine our country. If our founding fathers were as afraid of offending those who seek to oppress us, we would have no nation at all. The failure to engage in the struggle that birthed this nation will be the death of it.


J. L. Jones
Ordinary Citizen
http://www.cherith-bible-inst.org/