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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2016)
20 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon LETTERS Continued from page 18 s s s To the Editor: The “Bunkhouse Chronicle” of June 29 (“The big identity party”) is confusing. For example, the author claims that our constitution is “the principle aggravation” of militant Islamists who are attacking it because it is our “military cen- ter of gravity” (???). I have read a lot of pro- paganda in Arabic and English from the likes of ISIS and have found no mention of our constitu- tion. I suspect that few of its followers have heard of it. In addition, when discussing the constitution and its relationship to militant Islamists, the author seems to equate the separation of church and state with secularism. But they are not the same thing. The likes of ISIS are against the separation of church and state but not against secularism in the sense of non-religious law. Islamic law, or the Sharia, chiefly concerns family law (marriage, divorce, inheritance) and religious ritual (prayer, pilgrimage, the fast of Ramadan). Vast areas of law (administrative, civil, etc.), which we might call secular, lie outside it. More importantly, if the author wishes to criti- cize Islamic law, which version troubles him? There is no standard corpus of Islamic law. Indeed “Islamic law” and the “Sharia” are generic terms for interpretations of what is religiously permis- sible and forbidden based primarily on the Quran and the alleged words and deeds of Muhammad. These sources have been interpreted and rein- terpreted for centuries. Thus the Sharia is quali- fied by wide variations of opinion. Today the Sunnis have four major interpretations, from lib- eral to conservative. The Shiites have their own. So does ISIS. Furthermore, most Christians would be comfortable with many, perhaps most, provi- sions of Islamic law. For instance, it prohib- its female infanticide, prohibits usury, prohibits gambling, prohibits alcoholic beverages, prohib- its adultery, prohibits pimping, requires women to dress modestly (no mention of the veil) and requires giving 2.5 percent of one’s income to the poor. So, if one wishes to criticize Islamic law, one must be specific. Which version, which part? If not, it makes no more sense to criticize Islamic law as a whole than, say, American civil law. Gary Leiser s s s To the Editor: I moved to Sisters in 1958, and believe me there was peace and quiet. There were sirens when there was a fire, but none from an ambu- lance, because we did not have one. There was no traffic except for hunting season, and when it was over there was almost no traffic all win- ter. There was no noise from airplanes unless the Barclays went somewhere or the jets flew over. You could say I have seen many changes in the last 58 years. I, however, am not annoyed with any of the sounds, be it sirens every day or airplanes going over. It means that we welcomed all you newcomers even as it changed our lives. Maybe it was easier for us because it was a gradual transfor- mation. However for people to move here and then say I don’t like the noise so you need to stop flying airplanes is ludicrous. I think we just need to take a deep breath and realize that it is still the best place in the world to live — noise or no noise. Diana Pepperling s s s To the Editor: I am a Washington state resident writing about Sisters and areas nearby. You have something special yet increasingly rare in this hectic and noisy world. You have astounding beauty and relative quiet. Such a precious reality should not be taken lightly. To be shortsighted and lose this for the profits of a few is a travesty. I understand the benefit and necessity of airplane flights related to emergency services. However, constant commercial noise pollution will keep visi- tors away, cause relocation of residents and change one of the best things your area has to offer. I urge you to work together on the airport/heli- copter issues and come up with some real solutions. Katherine Moulton Whidbey Island, Washington s s s To the Editor: For those creating a ruckus about the noise at the airport, I have just a few things to remind you of: 1. You chose to live near an airport. 2. As with the rest of Sisters Country, things evolve and change; accept that change is the only constant in life. 3. If you just make yourself part of the problem by doing nothing but complaining, then you are the problem. Our world is a mess just for this reason — “everyone wants to tell their neighbors how to live, but no one wants to listen to how they feel.” The right answer in any situation is the one that serves everyone involved. Just because you have an issue with this doesn’t mean you are right. Michael Valoppi s s s See letterS on page 23 GOT CATS? FURRY FRIEND S 501 ( c )( 3 ) FOUNDATION www.furryfriendsfoundation.org 541-549-9941 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Spay / Neuter Sponsorships - Easy as 1-2-3 1. Stop by The Nugget office to fill out a simple form 2. Call Bend Spay & Neuter for an appointment 3. Take your pet — Furry Friends pays. Done!
