Do evangelicals not see Trump's 'lies and venom' are opposite of Jesus' teachings? | Letters

Prediction about a dangerous Trump turned out to be accurate?

Four years ago, when I was 80 years old, I told Sen. James Lankford that Donald Trump was the most dangerous politician of my lifetime. What an accurate statement that turned out to be! I also told Sen. Lankford that Trump was an habitual liar and was mentally deficient.

One of the very saddest aspects of the Trump era is the support he has received by so many of the white evangelical church members. I have been an ordained Southern Baptist minister since 1965. Did not the Christian women hear Trump say that he felt free to kiss a woman and grab her genital area? Did the husbands of these women not take extreme objection to Trump's statement about women? Did the evangelical leaders not hear Trump when he said that he never felt the need to ask God for forgiveness because he never felt he had done anything to need forgiveness? The almost daily lies and venom that comes out of the mouth of Trump are the exact opposite of the teachings of Jesus.

The 2024 election will have direct consequences on whether America will continue to have a democracy that we have known for so many years.

― Gerald Brown, Oklahoma City

No, on Sen. Dusty Deevers' no fault divorce bill

Had there have been a no fault divorce when I was a child in the '40s and '50s my mother would have been able to divorce my father who was aviiolent, unpredictable, abusive alcoholic.

There was no money for a lawyer or help from outside resources at that time. When there was finally enough police documentation, she divorced him.

My experience proves that NO ONE knows everything important, both good and bad, about the person you marry until you live with him or her.

ANY person should be able to choose to leave a marriage rather than live in conflict, fear and abuse for a lifetime.

Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has obviously NEVER had to live without hope of having joy, love and well-being for the rest of a lifetime.

― Carole Woods, Oklahoma City

More: What readers said about Senate Bill 1958, which would make it harder to end a marriage

Legislators should have open mind, conversations before amending 'Parents Bill of Rights'

Our Oklahoma 2024 Legislature introduced thousands of bills, calling for changes in laws or creating new laws. The Parents Bill of Rights passed committee hearing allowing guardians/parents to exclude concepts and ideas linked to health and sex education. Those who are in favor of the bill claim it will prevent human degradation, while others claim an advance of primordial human joys.

House Bill 3120 will give supreme authority by the school vs. individual, family or God to ascribe the individual’s title or pronoun. The bill has many pros and cons and will have an impact on students, teachers, families, neighborhoods, society. The who, what, when, why and how will decide, the alliances of the left, alliances of the right or the individual?

HB 3120 has some good things, it talks about AIDS/HIV, immunodeficiency syndromes, viruses, how they transmit and not transmit; we will learn how people continue to enjoy life and coexist with love and understanding their neighbors in an imperfect world. By talking about immunodeficiency will open minds to science and can lead to future cures, healthier economy and better society.

Unfortunately, there are dark sides of the bill, trying to prevent chaos opens doors to tyrants; it is a slippery slope bill.

Let us pray that our legislators keep their minds open and have in-depth conversations on HB 3120.

— Richard Prawdzienski, Edmond

Lost in the abortion discussion is value of the pregnant person

Many Republicans are now coming to the defense of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which usually results in the eventual destruction of frozen embryos, while pushing punishment of those who dispose of embryos when they don’t want to be pregnant — as well as jail time for anyone who helps them.

Both sides of the issue of abortion seem to agree that the further along a pregnancy is, the more hesitancy there should be in terminating that pregnancy. I believe most people who are familiar with pregnancy believe that life begins at conception. That’s when all the unique characteristics of a person are set for life. But to declare that a zygote the size of a pinhead, with only a few cells, is the same as a newborn baby is quite a stretch.

Seemingly lost in the abortion discussion is the value of the pregnant person, seeming to care only for the potential life in her uterus.

What about the girl who grew up in poverty and is working her way through college or trade school so she can have a better life?

Or the young man who must drop out of school to pay child support?

What about the married woman who is endangering her health by the strain of raising several children, and who can’t bear the thought of adding to her load with another? These decisions should not be made by legislators or other government officials!

― Ed Koonce, Mustang

Sex education opt-in only logical way

In reference of "Experts critical of new sex ed legislation," published Feb. 26, opt-in is the only logical, reasonable, respectful way to present controversial extracurricular classes to taxpayer-funded government school children.

— Greg Clift, Anadarko

Expanding mental health access with comprehensive support

With one in five Oklahomans experiencing mental health issues, mental health touches all of our lives, either directly or indirectly. To meet the growing demand, the state of Oklahoma has recently invested in various in-person and virtual services to provide access to quality mental health care, and we must continue to do more.

MAPS 4 allocated $44.6 million for the Mental Health and Addition project, which includes a restoration center, crisis centers and mental health housing. NorthCare was selected to provide these services, along with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. With over 20 trauma-informed programs spanning central Oklahoma and neighboring counties, we provide vital support to individuals of all ages. From counseling and therapy to crisis intervention and substance abuse treatment, our experienced professionals deliver compassionate care and assistance to those in need.

NorthCare is also constructing two new Urgent Recovery Centers, one is located in Guthrie and the other in Edmond. No longer is mental health an afterthought but an integral part of comprehensive healthcare. By investing in mental health facilities, we invest in the resilience and vitality of our communities, envisioning a future where mental health is destigmatized, accessible, and deeply ingrained in our collective well-being.

— Randy Tate, NorthCare CEO, Oklahoma City

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why can't evangelicals see through Trump's lies, venom? | Letters