Open alcohol container offends, not Jesus sign
In 2006, an estimated 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes in the United States for an average of one fatality every 30 minutes. What a staggering, heart-breaking loss of human life. Sadder still, a preventable loss.
Good for Guilford Sheriff's Deputy M. Osborne for protecting the public at the sobriety checkpoint when N.C. A&T Professor M. Reza Salami was cited having an open container of alcohol in his car ("Patrol car Jesus raises legal hackles," Dec. 1).
Good for Sheriff BJ Barnes for resisting Professor Salami's obvious subterfuge in trying to direct attention away from his own egregious behavior by bullying the sheriff's office, calling Osborne's "Jesus is your savior" sign in his patrol car "offensive."
Professor Salami, someone else's personal religious beliefs are not "offensive."
Mixing alcohol with driving is.
Julie Schindler
William Liszka
Greensboro
Comments (6)
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there are four (4) LTTE's in todays blog concerning professor salami, i for one am glad to hear the voice(s) of reason spoken out against salami's attempt at misdirection.
there was an old series on called Beretta and it's theme song went something like this " if you can't do the time, then don't do the crime " - in most cases the back seat of patrol cars are occupied by those in society who have broken or are accused of breaking law(s) - salami is no different. an introspective look would be appropriate on his part.
Posted on December 6, 2007 9:05 AM
I'm going to play devil's advocate (excuse the pun) and say that I do not agree with displaying personal messages such as these in a patrol car. It is unprofessional.
However, that does not excuse the professor from breaking the law.
Posted on December 6, 2007 9:31 AM
I can see your point Nit, what if we have a Muslim cop who decides to put an "Allah Akbar!!" sticker in his patrol car. Better not have 'em at all lest the ACLU pounce on this one.
That being said, I'm sick of people being offended by every damn thing they see or hear.
Posted on December 6, 2007 10:29 AM
Dan,
I see your point. People are just too thin-skinned. I was in a meeting earlier this week where the chairperson concluded the meeting with "Have a happy holiday"
More than one person yelled back, "and MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU too!" I chuckled at the scene.
Like you, I'm getting offended at people being offended.
Posted on December 6, 2007 1:14 PM
The deputy has no right or business putting his religious paraphenalia is his patrol car. He is welcome to put whatever he wants on or in his personal vehicle. His patrol car is public property and his sticker or sign or whatever it is has no place there. I have no respect for a sheriff who defends the deputy of violation of the constitution and think that he used very poor judgment.
Posted on December 7, 2007 10:45 AM
I think what scares so many is the fear that government will become immoral and unjust without religion.
A government can be moral and just, but it MUST not be religious. History has proven this to be a dangerous combination.
Posted on December 8, 2007 1:23 PM