FROM Karen M., Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA:

Rod,

I took a preliminary glance at your page and also read the Queer Planet. Now, I'm experiencing cognitive dissonance over what to have for lunch. If I forego the ham sandwhich and replace it with bologna, it'll be too freaky to eat. Maybe I'll skip lunch today. ;)

Nice work.
~karen

PHIL MARTIN RESPONDS: Dear Karen,

Thanks for the kind sentiments. Personally, I have always been a sucker for pimento loaf (which conveniently combines two sins for me!).


FROM BRYAN M., [NO CITY PROVIDED,] USA:

Hello, my name is Bryan and I just finished reading your essay entitled "Queer Planet". I am a Christian and I agree with the underlying message of your article.

The idea of which I'd like to express to you is that the Senator is correct and so are you. All of the acts he described and the acts that you described are in fact sins as defined in the Bible. The message you seemed to have missed is that EVERYONE does in fact deserve hell. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I do consider homosexuality a sin, but as you said, I also consider many of the things that I do in my life sin also. This does not mean that you or I have to be condemned to hell however. Jesus died on the cross to forgive ALL sins. He paid the price for the sins that you and I committ every single day of our lives. Once we have his salvation, nothing can take it away. These are all Biblical principles that are found in the Bible. No matter how hard people try...they can NOT get into heaven by leading a sinless life because everyone sins. Another quick point I would like to make is on your statement that all religions are "worshiping the same God". Nowhere in the Bible will you find a passage that allows for other religions...that's what makes Christianity so unique. Jesus said "No one can come to the Father except through me". Also, the leaders of other religions...they all died. Jesus rose from the dead...he was not merely a man...he was God in man. I hope you do not take this letter in a hostile way. It is in no way meant as a shot to you or your beliefs. I simply wanted to express my view of your article. I would love to hear further comments on what you think of this topic. I hope to hear from you soon.

Bryan


PHIL MARTIN RESPONDS:
Dear Bryan,

Thanks for writing. I appreciate and respect your point of view. There are a few things that you believe, however, that I do not.

First, that one must be a Chrisitian in order to find "salvation". I understand that the New Testatment of the Bible says that it is only through Christ one can be saved. But there are other books that say other things than just the Bible. So are you condemning all Jews and Muslims (and all the people who have never even heard the name of Christ) to hell? Maybe you can justify that within your belief strucuture, but I cannot.

Second, I am well aware that we all sin. That, of course, was the point to the column. But what is sin to one person is not to another. I have a very strong belief in God and I try to live my life in such a way as to not bring harm to my fellow man; homosexuality to me is clearly not a sin.

Third, I believe that one can be a "good Chrisitian" and gay (practicing...and not apologizing). Indeed, there are many Christian denominations (United Church of Christ, Quakers, Lutherans, etc...) that ordain openly gay and lesbian ministers. And many more will in the next few years. Just as "Chrisitians" at one point defended their racism (slavery) and sexism (women not to be active in the church or to vote)[See TABLOID HART on the Southern Baptist Convention. --- Ed.]; they now hide behind a couple of passages that have been interpreted to be anti-gay to justify their homohatred.

On the issue of "homosexuality" in the Bible, I would leave you with two thoughts: the word "homosexual" was never in any translation of the Bible until 1946 and that Christ never once condemned homosexuality.

As I stated before Bryan, I respect your thoughts and your right to speak them. We simply have very different perspectives. It is only when people in power (such as Senator Lott) hide behide the Bible to hurt a group of peope (queers) in order to gain votes, that I get angry. I wish you all the best over the coming years. Good luck with your studies!

FROM David W., San Francisco, USA:

I just read Queer Planet and laughed my ass off! Up until now I thought that the column was kind of boring and that it lacked the humor and bite that we are known to posess, but Phil Martin's comment about the Diana & Supremes endless play with NO LIPSync knocked me off my chair. Really! I think he's finally found his stride. Please, please, have him keep this up!

Queer in 'Frisco


PHIL MARTIN RESPONDS: Dear Queer in Frisco,

As long as my editor keeps me supplied with Viagra...I'll keep it up! Glad you enjoyed.

Ooops!

Hi Jeff - and thanks for the big thumbs-up!

One minor clarification: our correct url is

http://www.american-politics.com/

Gene Gaudette
American Affairs Editor


ROD RESPONDS: Gene, thanks for visiting the G21 and for writing. Sorry for the bad link. I corrected it on Monday, as soon as I received a copy of your e-mail. Come back often! AND tell a friend. ;=)

You can't please all of the people....

Please be informed that the Henny Youngman Polish jokes which were found on your page are insulting to Polish Americans. They are located at: g.21.net/joke 51.html

Please take the appropriate action.

Stanley


ROD RESPONDS: Stanley,

Thanks for visiting the G21 and for writing. We appreciate hearing from our readers. As you may also have noticed, we took the First Amendment Pledge which would preclude our censoring the humor of the late Mr. Youngman(as noted on our Message Board page from an earlier contact.)

Obviously, it was not our intention to offend, rather we print all reader submissions intact. Thus, your comment would be more appropriately addressed to the reader, rather than the editorial staff of the magazine.

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