Regarding the Dec. 1 article “Survey: Troops OK with ending DADT”: I do not know where reporters are getting this information but, it is incorrect. I am at a camp that has a number of soldiers and I have not heard any of them voice approval at ending “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Doing away with “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military is nothing more than some politician kowtowing to a political action committee or group. Its repeal will hinder the smooth operation of the military.

Richard Martin

Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq

Bible not a step-by-step guide

In response to the two Dec. 1 letters speaking of “misusing” Bible quotations to “further an agenda” (“Bible not a book of quotations” and “Averse to misusing verses”): Some people who think as those letter writers do need to take that advice as well.

I have seen people from different religions who misquote their holy books constantly. The one thing I have to ask is, where exactly does it say that God hates homosexuals? Where does Jesus specifically say he abhors homosexuals?

There are only a few verses out of the entire text of the Bible that refer to same-sex behaviors: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Timothy 1:10. However these are not the words of God or Jesus. They are the views of the person who wrote them.

Look at some other things listed in the Bible that are “offensive.” You should execute a woman who is not a virgin when she gets married (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). Or stone two married people guilty of adultery (Deuteronomy 22:22). If a man dies childless, you’d better force his widow to have intercourse with each of his brothers until she produces a male heir (Mark 12:18-27).

Of course people say “That’s ridiculous!” The Bible continues to be interpreted differently as time passes, as do all holy books.

Anyone in any religion can go through his holy book and choose the verse(s) he interprets as supporting his case. The Bible was not meant to be taken literally. I highly doubt that most people would follow the punishments listed or the many more found in any religious text.

The authors of “Bible not a book of quotations” and “Averse to misusing verses” should take their own advice and stop picking out verses they think support their argument. There are many homosexuals who are followers of the faiths that condemn their sexual orientation because of a belief in the entire message of the religion, not certain verses.

Staff Sgt. Kelly Calder

Fort Meade, Md.

View of gays is from a lost era

Wow, Stars and Stripes! Two letters from judgmental Christians (“Bible not a book of quotations” and “Averse to misusing verses,” Dec. 1)!

Thank you for making our day so much better, letter writers. Without your keen insights, we surely would have accepted as facts the absolute fallacies that people are different, your god(s) are not our god(s), your holy book is not our holy book, there is no such thing as sin, and morals are relative “in the eye of the beholder.” Now, because of your persuasive arguments, we are all on the same path to salvation. Even the gays are suddenly heterosexual this morning. Glory!

Seriously folks, the “don’t ask, don’t tell” train is leaving the station. You missed it. Get out of the service now while you still can (before you catch “the gay”).

James W. Johnson

Wiesbaden, Germany

Smith not only heinous offender

I find it somewhat disturbing, from a journalism sense, that Stars and Stripes has given Staff Sgt. Joshua Smith such extended adverse coverage while other very similar (or even worse) crimes within the military appear to get no exposure whatsoever. Do not misunderstand me. I am not downplaying anything Smith did, which is nothing less than criminal and personally repulsive. But it seems to me that it “depends” on who is doing the crime when it comes to who gets Stars and Stripes exposure.

Disbarred and now currently in prison, former Army judge advocate general lawyer and soldier prosecutor Daniel Woolverton pleaded guilty this year to not only child porn distribution but also making his own child porn video with an infant in his home in Virginia. Just Google his name and see what you find.

According to another website that tracks military corruption, Woolverton got 27 years in federal prison and will go to trial again in Virginia for rape and forcible sodomy on the infant.

Jeffrey Ziegler

Rohrbach, Germany

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