Religious freedom, bathrooms, Sanders, Trump and helping with repairs

It’s not religious freedom

Re “Senate bill says religion no excuse for discrimination” (Capitol & California, May 27): For many people, loving acceptance of all of God’s children is a positive, moral good, even a religious imperative.

To exclude anyone from full participation in society because of their sexual orientation, gender or gender identity is not “religious freedom.” It is religious oppression.

Bathroom use elsewhere

I can understand how the government of North Carolina might feel it’s necessary to clear up any confusion over which gender is allowed in which bathrooms. When I first was there in 1956, my dad was driving us from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles. We stopped for gas, and I went to the restroom area. It was clearly marked: Men, Women, Colored. I asked my dad what was “colored,” but he told me to shut up and get back in the car.

That isn’t to say I haven’t encountered “gender confusion” in a bathroom. On my honeymoon in July 1968, I was in Florence, Italy, attending a performance of “The Barber of Seville.” At intermission, I went to the men’s room with about 150 attendees and started using one of the troughs along the wall. Then a solid line of women traipsed into the men’s room to use the stalls along the wall behind us. I looked to my left (he didn’t care), then my right (he didn’t care either); I figured if they didn’t care, neither did I.

I guess the people of North Carolina need to have everything spelled out.

What is Bernie’s new America?

Re “Sanders strong run has given his faithful hope for future” (Insight, May 23): The biggest shock in the presidential campaign is the support Sen. Bernie Sanders has received, especially from young people. Sanders’ vision for America would result in a huge concentration of power with millions of people in a centralized bureaucracy, adding trillions to an already unmanageable debt.

One Memorial Day I visited the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. I was struck by how young these fallen heroes were, growing up during the Depression, most from families struggling to make ends meet. When war came, they served willingly, never asking, “What has the government done for me?”

We listen to Sanders’ rantings, telling us how unfair government is, his rapturous audiences responding: “Yes, free stuff, gimme.”

I think of those lying at Omaha Beach and wonder what their reaction would be to Bernie and his minions’ vision for our country. I believe they would say, “Is this what we died for?”

Christians voting for Trump?

Re “Conservatives jettison ideals to embrace Trump” (Viewpoints, May 17): Either by reading the New Testament or searching the Internet, it is easy to find the teachings attributed to Jesus: Treat everyone with kindness and generosity, care for the poor and disabled, provide shelter to those seeking refuge, be humble, and so on.

Why do Christians vote for a man who has incited hatred and violence; sanctioned insulting women, the disabled and minorities; and is famous for his outsized ego?

It seems to me that anyone who votes for Trump should turn in their Christian card.

Appreciating program’s help

The Rebuilding Together Sacramento program has my deepest gratitude and appreciation. I am blessed and humbled by the generosity of the contractors, community volunteers and the businesses who contributed their time, energy and materials to fixing my house.

These folks gave from their hearts with many much-needed repairs.

This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Religious freedom, bathrooms, Sanders, Trump and helping with repairs."