Rick Johnson, Salisbury, NC
♦LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Last Monday several thousand citizens attended a rally to support our county commissioners and their decision to Pray in Jesus’ Name. One individual stepped to the podium to express her displeasure. Her name is Whitney Johnson Peckmen and she claims to be an American Muslim. She also told us she felt ”uninvited” when attending county commission meetings. I’ve never seen evidences of non-Christian religions actually being uninvited or unwelcomed. But that is not the focus of my letter.
Dear Ms Peckmen:
I spent 5 years in a moderate Muslim country. I found them to be respectful and wonderful people. However, they take their religious dictates much more seriously than many American Christians. Let me point out a few issues you may not be unaware of. These issues stem from the Qur’an and the Hadith.
First, you would not have been allowed to venture from your home without a male escort. Normally this escort would be a direct family member. Leaving without an escort could possibly have led to your death.
Second, you would not have allowed you to walk through town without your head covering. In many areas you would be forced to cover yourself from head to toe. Such immodesty could possibly have lead to your death.
Third, you would not have been allowed to express yourself to a male is a position of authority. You would be viewed as arrogant and out of line. Your punishment could possibly be death.
Fourth, just the idea of approaching a governmental agency and expressing your displeasure of their prayer practices would be seen as an abomination. You would surely have been imprisoned and executed for blasphemy.
Ms Peckmen, in closing I would suggest you venture to the home of your religion and experience the freedoms they allow their females. Then, come back and experience the freedoms established by the Founders of this great nation.
