My LTTE to the Louisville paper about funding the Baptist University

[kevinbgoode]

which kicked out the gay student a week or so ago for violating the school's religious tenets. While I'm not a Kentucky resident (I live 60 miles from the border) they may not publish it at all, but I decided to go off on a rant about the state approving $11 million dollars to construct a pharmacy school at the Baptist institution and provide $1 million in scholarships to students attending. . .who obviously. . .must be rightwing "conservative" christians in order to not kicked out of the school. Anyway, I thought I'd post this to see what ya'll think - especially since they may not publish it. . .so here it is:

Editor:

It appears to me the Kentucky legislature, along with Governor Fletcher, seems to be missing several points about the $11 million investment in a Pharmacy school and scholarships for the religiously correct educational agenda at the University of The Cumberlands.

Despite the rather obvious use of taxpayer funds to construct facilities in which only persons of certain "values" may enroll, Kentucky residents would do well to inquire about just what kind of pharmacists the state is attempting to graduate from that institution.

Given the policies of the university, do Kentuckians really want an annual crop of new pharmacists sent to the counters of our corner drug store to deny access to prescriptions they've been taught to morally disapprove of or have to consult with their minister before filling? Are these going to be graduates who will proselytize each time an unmarried adult wishes to purchase a condom, or who will refuse to fill an antibiotic if an abortion clinic writes the prescription? Will these be graduates who will, based on their educational alma mater's teachings, refuse to fill a prescription for AIDS medicines?

Governor Fletcher claims he was elected to uphold the constitution and move every person in Kentucky toward the future. Perhaps he and Senator Williams should take a careful look at that document, particularly Section Five (amended to 1980) which clearly says: "No preference shall ever be given by law to any religious sect, society or denomination;nor to any particular creed, mode of worship or system of ecclesiastical polity; nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, to contribute to the erection or maintenance of any such place, or to the salary or support of any minister or religion. . ."

It's rather obvious that when the University of the Cumberlands kicked out a straight "A" gay student in theater arts that the President of the institution believes that any facility and person on campus is attending a house of worship. That is all the information the governor needs to properly veto that $11 million in taxpayer funding.

[Erika]

1. Their telephone # is 1-800-343-1609

Great letter.

[xchrom]

2. well done.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Great letter!

Let us know if your LTTE gets published. Of course, it's probably too well-written and rational for most RW rags.

Your points about all the scholarship money to their pharmacy school was a good one. It truly scares me to think what kind of doctors/nurses/pharmacologists are being churned out by RW fundie colleges.

[jarab]

4. Well written LTTE.

I'll keep an eye out for the real thing; should get published.
...O...

[salin]

5. I agree, very well written,

points are made very strongly.