Pass The Kudos, Please

He has done it again!! That Ollie guy, your writer, has sucked me in again!! I read his story a few weeks back and read this story about the Extreme-X dude (“San Diego’s Superhero,” Cover Story, April 16). Ollie has a special way of coming off to readers like myself. I enjoy reading his work. I saw him on KUSI news too. He is truly an asset to your team, and I wanted to mention that to you guys. Nothing more, nothing less. He has a special way with words, clearly. Keep up the good stories, Ollie!! Please pass on the kudos to him!!

Aaron Mathison
Chula Vista

Reader Captured

Re Matthew Lickona’s story “Church on Sunday?” (Cover Story, April 9).

It would be an understatement to say I was his captive audience from beginning to end. Mr. Lickona’s article sparkled with vitality, style, and information. I could smell the incense and hear the rustle of heavy silk. I marveled over the Chaldean Mass and its “element of strangeness.” Thus, when the story finished on page 48, I was still busy watching Father Jon Braun, “chalice in one hand and spoon in the other.” I did not want the story to end. I did not want to leave this fascinating voyage of discovery.

It’s comforting to know that your paper continues to serve the public — especially during these hard times — with excellent reading from your treasure trove of writers. Thank you.

C. McLaren
Coronado

Saturday Sunday Sabbath

Re Mr. Matthew Lickona’s article: “Church on Sunday?” (Cover Story, April 9).

Early Christians worshiped on Saturday, or the Sabbath. Christ, while observing the Sabbath, set Himself in word and act against this absurd rigorism that made man a slave of the day. He reproved the scribes and Pharisees for putting an intolerable burden on men’s shoulders (Matthew 23:4) and proclaimed the principle that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). He cured on the Sabbath and defended His disciples for plucking ears of corn on that day. In His arguments with the Pharisees on this account, He showed that the Sabbath is not broken in cases of necessity or by acts of charity (Matthew 12:3 sqq.; Mark 2:25 sqq.; Luke 6:3 sqq.; 14:5). St. Paul enumerates the Sabbath among the Jewish observances which are not obligatory on Christians (Colossians 2:16; Galatians 4:9–10; Romans 14:5). The gentile converts held their religious meetings on Sunday (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Paul preached on the Sabbath (Acts 13:14).

So what happened? Why did Christians stop going to church on Saturday and start going on Sunday?

The Roman Emperor Constantine, after winning a battle, became a Christian. In 321 AD, he issued an edict forbidding work on Sunday. Christians in general had hitherto held Saturday as sacred. In 324 AD, the emperor formally established Christianity as the official religion of the empire.

The Catholic Council of Laodicea, 363 AD, Canon 29:

“Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema (an abomination or curse) from Christ.”

And that’s how Christians started worshiping on Sunday instead of Saturday.

Name Withheld by Request
via email

Truth Serum

While I know it will be a terrible strain for everyone, could we possibly inject some truth into the “90 percent of Mexico’s guns come from the U.S.” issue (“Mommy, Why Are They Shooting at Us Again?” Cover Story, April 2). The truth is a little closer to 17 percent: foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/ 04/02/myth-percent-guns-mexico-fraction-number-claimed/.

And while I know it will be even more of a strain, could we at least use some common sense here? The Mexican drug cartels are run by people with connections to international crime syndicates, with literally millions of dollars at their disposal. If they can get raw heroin and cocaine, why would they not be able to get any weapons they want?

Steven Moschak
via email

A Name Means Nothing

This is Chaos Rabbit with my little input and intakes on some of the comments left on your letters page.

This is in response to all these people who are frothing at the mouth over the response to the article called “My Gender Is Bunny” (Cover Story, March 26). First off, as far as the article itself goes, the entire article could be summed up in three letters: what the f*** is this about? This article is all over the place. We’re talking about guys being changed into chicks, online dragons, virtual reality, “he” being called “she.” It’s all like one big, busy ride. But I waded through the article, said, okay, that was about as interesting as having a spike jammed up my nose, but I got through it.

Now, I’m sitting here reading all the people whining in, “This isn’t right. He wants to be called a she. Why can’t you refer to him as a she?” Folks, look at my name. My name is Chaos Rabbit. But guess what, I’m not really a rabbit. You know, you can call something something, but the bottom line is, if you’re born with a certain kind of chromosome, whether it be X or Y, you are what you are. If it’s an innie, you’re a girl, if it’s an outie, you’re a guy. And frankly, it doesn’t matter if you go in and have surgery to change yourself into a male, a female, or a table lamp in outward appearance. You are what you are. The rest of it’s just b*******. You’re trying to cover up and become something you’re not.

As far as these people who are saying, “Well, you should respect this person. If they want to be called a she, you should call them a she.” Hey, I want to be called the emperor of Wyoming. That doesn’t make me the emperor of Wyoming, and the name Chaos Rabbit doesn’t really make me a rabbit.

One of the big problems we have in our society lately is everybody is all whiny, touchy-feely about trying to embrace all the different active lifestyles. “You should embrace their lifestyle. You should respect their choices.” Sometimes their choices are stupid, idiotic, and moronic. And “lifestyle” is an idiotic word; to quote George Carlin, “Hey, Genghis Khan, in an active sense, had a nice lifestyle. Jeffrey Dahmer had an alternative lifestyle.” If you’re a guy, you’re a guy. If you’re a girl, you’re a girl. If you want to play dress up and have the money to make yourself into something you’re not, fine. But let’s call a rose a rose, let’s call a guy a guy, and let’s call a girl a girl.

As far as this development alternative species, okay, great. Now we’re going to have to worry about having restrooms for guys, restrooms for girls, restrooms for guys who want to be girls, restrooms for girls who want to be guys, and restrooms for people who want to be lions, tigers, and bears, oh my. I think there should be a place where we could dump these people, like a big island, where if you’re insane and you can’t figure out where you are or what your life is about, you get there.

P.S.: Hi, this is Chaos Rabbit again. I want to clarify a couple of things to save you guys from getting stormed by large groups with torches and a whole big debate. This is sort of a postscript to my previous letter. Look, I’m not against the gay community. I’m not against the transgender or the bisexuals; what you do in your own bedroom is your own place. But listen, folks, if you guys want to have the freedom to do what you want and you want us to respect your lifestyle choices, then for crying out loud, give the author of that article the same respect. If he chooses to not refer to a person who wants to be refereed to as a male or a shemale or a female or whatever little handle they want to hang on themselves, then you’ve got to respect his decision in the same way that you request him to respect your choices on your lifestyle.

Chaos Rabbit
via phone

Originals 10, Covers 0

Regarding the lead story by Jay Allen Sanford on March 19, “Borrowed Music, Borrowed Look, Borrowed Fame.” I find it mind-blowing how some of these tribute cover bands can make a living touring the States and other countries with few endorsements or tour support. I noticed while reading this story that financial backing was not mentioned. Touring would be next to impossible without support.

I have seen my share of cover bands, hard rock and metal, and I admit some do a great job, but no matter how well you play, you can’t beat the original. Remember that the music you are performing is not what you created. Paying tribute to someone special who is no longer alive is admirable and acceptable. It’s very traditional in classical music, keeping the spirit alive and well.

What we are faced with now is an epidemic of cover bands imitating the music of artists who are still active, living, touring, releasing albums and CDs, and signed to major record labels. If music history has taught us anything, there is one thing certain: great music created by the original artist, composer, musician will last forever, music that perseveres through the ages, and when this is all said and done, the original will remain victorious.

Tony D. Metal
Spring Valley