Latest news with #Christians'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why should some workers get a tax break on tips?
Aside from the 1968 World Series, my adolescent highlight was unexpectedly meeting Mr. Dave Bing in Ann Arbor in the early 1970s, then a player for the Detroit Pistons, while he was sidelined by an eye injury. After reading about Mr. Allan Hughes ("He 'loved' Barry Sanders as a Lions staffer, and Jocko Hughes still loves Detroit today," Detroit Free Press, May 25), I can say that it would have been a pleasure to meet Mr. Hughes as well. Kudos to him for his humanity and dedication to serving others. Victor Turner Concord, North Carolina Rather than sacrifice forests for solar farms, why don't utilities seek out roofs of large industrial facilities? (Editor's note: Last week, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources halted a plan to install solar panels on state-managed forest lands.) The shade of the solar panels would reduce air conditioning loads while keeping the generation closer to the users to minimize transmission losses. It could be a win for both parties. Dennis Green Farmington Hills Can anyone explain to me why some people who work in America deserve to not pay taxes on part of their earnings, while other workers who make the same amount must pay on all of them? Perhaps President Donald Trump and those who are leaning towards voting for this economic package feel they have found a way to encourage those folks to vote for them. Yes, it is illegal for them to write them a check to buy their vote but isn't this the same thing, just done in a different way? If we are going to offer this tax break to some workers, why are we not offering it to all that are in the same economic situation? There must be a reason, but it escapes me what it is. Think about it, please. Mitchell Radcliff Ann Arbor If we are going to tariff foreign goods at higher rates, why not try to lower our national debt, instead of trying to find ways to lower personal and business taxes? Why not force foreign countries to take back the tariff money the U.S. is charging their companies to bring foreign goods into our country? The U.S. would give back the tariff money by buying back U.S. Treasury bonds held by these foreign countries. That would finally start lowering our national debt, which is better than the U.S. Congress always raising our government's debt ceiling. Thomas Lukshaitis Sandusky, Michigan I had a deep conversation recently with a friend about the true goodness of people who are widely considered 'good Christians.' It really made me think about preconceived notions concerning religion and religious people that many of us have, so I thought I'd share. I am not very religious, but I have many close friends and relatives who have always been quite religious or found god later in their lives. This friend and I were discussing how it was that I could disagree with many of their beliefs, but I could still think of them as great people. At first glance, they are 'good Christians' who seem to love their neighbors and are kind people. The second glance is good too. It's easy to see that they really try to adhere to most of the teachings of Christ. They care for people, help people, pray for people, and are just good, upstanding members of society. More: Mackinac Policy Conference left early childhood education off this year's agenda | Opinion It is the third glance that got me wondering. While thinking of the disagreements that I might have with my religious friends, I had an epiphany. The so-called Christian tenets that my friends and family follow that I don't believe in, are not, in my opinion, very Christian at all. The most egregious example is that they use their religious beliefs to discriminate against those that are different, specifically those in the LGBTQ+ community. They interpret the Bible incorrectly to say that transgender people don't really exist, or that gay people are sinners, directly contradicting Jesus' teaching to love your neighbor as yourself. Now, the people that my friend and I were thinking of in my circle are truly very sweet people. They would never overtly discriminate against someone in this community, but this was the realization that my friend and I came to: While they aren't discriminating blatantly, they are still in fact discriminating. If you don't go to a gay wedding of a relative because it is not natural, you are spreading hate and unacceptance. If you tell your son that transgender people are an abomination and not just a different type of person, you are potentially propagating violence. If you scoff at someone who puts their preferred pronouns in an email, you are lending credence to the idea that they are weird and wrong. More: Detroit's Board of Police Commissioners needs major changes to be viable | Letter It is still tough for me to conclude, as my friend surmised, that maybe they are just bad people, but it did get me thinking. They may not be bad, but what they are doing is bad … and is there really a difference? Alton Fisher Redford Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. If you have a differing view from a letter writer, please feel free to submit a letter of your own in response. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tax on tips, national debt, solar farms, and good Christians | Letters
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FBI to probe claims of 'targeted violence' against religious groups after evangelicals' protest in Seattle
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Tuesday he had requested an investigation into allegations of "targeted violence" against religious groups after an evangelical conservative group held a rally at Seattle City Hall in response to the mayor blaming Christians for igniting a weekend demonstration that turned violent. "We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion," Bongino wrote on X. The Christians' "Rattle in Seattle" demonstration began at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the 4th Avenue steps of City Hall in downtown Seattle, where counter-protesters were also present, according to Fox 13. A total of eight people were arrested for assault during dueling demonstrations as of 8 p.m., according to Seattle Police. No injuries were reported. Seattle Mayor Blames Christian Rally For Inspiring Violent 'Anarchists' Who 'Infiltrated' Counter-protest "Two opposing groups gathered along 4th Avenue. Streets around the dueling demonstrations were shut down for several hours, but reopened just before 8 p.m.," police said in a press release. Read On The Fox News App Fox News Digital has reached out to Seattle Police for possible updated arrest totals. Tuesday's protest comes after a demonstration on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park during MayDayUSA's "Don't Mess With Our Kids" rally and a pro-LGBTQ counter-protest. Police made 23 arrests at that demonstration after violence broke out when event organizers, attendees and counter-protesters converged. Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, released a statement after the weekend demonstration, blaming the Christian rally and infiltrating "anarchists" for the violence breaking out at the counter-protest. Blue State Mayor Proposes City Ordinance To Strengthen Transgender Care Protections In The Face Of Trump Eos "Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice," the mayor said at the time. "Today's far-right rally was held here for this very reason – to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values, in the heart of Seattle's most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood." "Anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did," he continued. The mayor also released respective statements on Tuesday from several of the city's Christian and Jewish leaders siding with Harrell and condemning the weekend "Rattle in Seattle" protest. "Mayday's desire is to wrap their personal hate, fear, and bigotry in Christian speak. It won't work," Rev. Dr. Patricia L. Hunter, a Baptist pastor, said in a statement. "The call of Jesus to his followers was to first love God and secondly to love our neighbors. In no way does the ideology or bad theology of this fringe group embody the love of God we are to exhibit. Those of us who actually follow the Jesus of the New Testament work to make the welcome tent bigger so that all God's children regardless of sexuality or sexual identity are welcome at the table of love, justice, grace, and mercy." Organizers of the "Rattle in Seattle" protest took issue with the mayor's statement, which they said showed religious bigotry and an attack on their First Amendment rights, and held the rally on Tuesday to protest his remarks. "Following the MayDay USA worship event at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, Mayor Harrell had the audacity to issue a press release blaming Christians for the premediated violence of Antifa which resulted in the hospitalization of Seattle Police Department personnel and the arrest of 23 Antifa agitators," the organizers said in a statement. "Under Mayor Harrell's leadership, the city of Seattle has continued its spiral into lawlessness and dysfunction while the First Amendment rights of citizens to peacefully assemble has been disregarded." Fox News Digital has out to the mayor's office for article source: FBI to probe claims of 'targeted violence' against religious groups after evangelicals' protest in Seattle
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
FBI to probe claims of ‘targeted violence' against religious groups after evangelicals' protest in Seattle
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Tuesday he had requested an investigation into allegations of 'targeted violence' against religious groups after an evangelical conservative group held a rally at Seattle City Hall in response to the mayor blaming Christians for igniting a weekend demonstration that turned violent. 'We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion,' Bongino wrote on X. The Christians' 'Rattle in Seattle' demonstration began at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the 4th Avenue steps of City Hall in downtown Seattle, where counter-protesters were also present, according to Fox 13. A total of eight people were arrested for assault during dueling demonstrations as of 8 p.m., according to Seattle Police. No injuries were reported. 'Two opposing groups gathered along 4th Avenue. Streets around the dueling demonstrations were shut down for several hours, but reopened just before 8 p.m.,' police said in a press release. Fox News Digital has reached out to Seattle Police for possible updated arrest totals. 4 People rally in Seattle's Cal Anderson Park on May 24, 2025. KOMO News Tuesday's protest comes after a demonstration on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park during MayDayUSA's 'Don't Mess With Our Kids' rally and a pro-LGBTQ counter-protest. Police made 23 arrests at that demonstration after violence broke out when event organizers, attendees and counter-protesters converged. Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, released a statement after the weekend demonstration, blaming the Christian rally and infiltrating 'anarchists' for the violence breaking out at the counter-protest. 'Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice,' the mayor said at the time. 'Today's far-right rally was held here for this very reason – to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values, in the heart of Seattle's most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.' 4 Tuesday's protest comes after a demonstration on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park during MayDayUSA's 'Don't Mess With Our Kids' rally and a pro-LGBTQ counter-protest. KIRO7 4 Law enforcement detain a person during the clash between groups in Seattle over the weekend. KOMO News 'Anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did,' he continued. The mayor also released respective statements on Tuesday from several of the city's Christian and Jewish leaders siding with Harrell and condemning the weekend 'Rattle in Seattle' protest. 'Mayday's desire is to wrap their personal hate, fear, and bigotry in Christian speak. It won't work,' Rev. Dr. Patricia L. Hunter, a Baptist pastor, said in a statement. 'The call of Jesus to his followers was to first love God and secondly to love our neighbors. In no way does the ideology or bad theology of this fringe group embody the love of God we are to exhibit. Those of us who actually follow the Jesus of the New Testament work to make the welcome tent bigger so that all God's children regardless of sexuality or sexual identity are welcome at the table of love, justice, grace, and mercy.' Organizers of the 'Rattle in Seattle' protest took issue with the mayor's statement, which they said showed religious bigotry and an attack on their First Amendment rights, and held the rally on Tuesday to protest his remarks. 4 Police made 23 arrests at that demonstration after violence broke out when event organizers, attendees and counter-protesters converged. KIRO7 'Following the MayDay USA worship event at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, Mayor Harrell had the audacity to issue a press release blaming Christians for the premediated violence of Antifa which resulted in the hospitalization of Seattle Police Department personnel and the arrest of 23 Antifa agitators,' the organizers said in a statement. 'Under Mayor Harrell's leadership, the city of Seattle has continued its spiral into lawlessness and dysfunction while the First Amendment rights of citizens to peacefully assemble has been disregarded.' Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor's office for comment.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Human rights body raises concern over eviction of Christians by land mafia in Pakistan's Punjab
Christian farmers are being evicted from their lands by the mafia in Pakistan's Punjab, and the provincial government appears to be a silent spectator, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said on Wednesday. Also Read | Five persons, including a Christian, arrested on blasphemy charges in Pakistan's Punjab After conducting a fact-finding investigation on a complaint of the pastor of Church Derek Abad, the HRCP said that the Christian community's farmland has been occupied in Kot Addu, some 400 kms from Lahore. The commission said it has found an alarming rise in Christians' farmland being occupied by local land mafias and a consistent failure by the state to uphold court rulings that protect these vulnerable farmers. The Christian farmers informed the HRCP that their writ petition is pending in the Lahore High Court, which has issued a stay order to prevent any evictions. They said they are still awaiting land allotment letters, following judgments in their favour. The HRCP said it is concerned that in the absence of such documentation, the farmers will lose the little land they currently cultivate. "This will leave them vulnerable to forced displacement and without a source of income, increasing their risk of falling deeper into poverty." The rights group also urged the Punjab government to issue land allotment letters to all eligible farmers in Derek Abad. "The government must also take decisive legal action against land mafias and individuals involved in unlawful evictions and provide urgent protection to the affected families to ensure that they can live and work without fear of reprisal. As Christians, this community is doubly vulnerable and deserves recognition, legal protection and restitution for decades of state neglect," the commission said.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Not funny, John Oliver: Standing for religious liberty doesn't equate to 'hate'
Not funny, John Oliver: Standing for religious liberty doesn't equate to 'hate' | Opinion Attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom have proven extremely successful in protecting Christians' constitutional rights, which is probably why HBO's John Oliver decided to attack them. Show Caption Hide Caption Emmys: John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black talk election 2024 Comedians John Oliver, Jon Stewart and Lewis Black spoke with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa about the upcoming election on the Emmys red carpet. I realize we increasingly have become a society that embraces a 'my way or the highway' attitude. Both sides are guilty of that way of thinking. Yet, it seems especially egregious from those on the left. Progressives' lack of tolerance for other views has presented itself in different iterations, from the cancel culture phenomenon to angry demonstrations on college campuses when a conservative dares to speak. So perhaps it's not surprising that liberals love slapping labels on those who have the audacity to believe something different from progressive dogma. Nazi. Hitler. Bigot. Hater. To name a few. In the latest episode of his HBO show 'Last Week Tonight,' comedian John Oliver joined the name-calling party, devoting a full 30 minutes to the nonprofit Christian legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom. His conclusion? ADF, in Oliver's view, has 'worked extremely hard to put a misleadingly friendly face on what is an utterly hateful ideology. And it benefits immensely from people not knowing just how poisonous and disingenuous it is.' Opinion: NPR has a right to exist. That doesn't mean it has a right to my tax dollars. Free speech and religious freedom aren't a laughing matter That's quite the accusation. And Oliver's screed – without any additional background about ADF – could easily make HBO's viewers falsely conclude that something truly nefarious is going on. In reality, Oliver's rant painted a picture that doesn't exist. 'John Oliver's recent 'Last Week Tonight' episode is an unfortunately predictable exercise in manipulating audiences with sound bites, statements, and distorted narratives with little to no context, designed to draw applause more than present truth," said Kristen Waggoner, president and CEO of ADF, via email. "Rather than engaging our issues in good faith, Mr. Oliver relied on outdated tropes and vulgar laugh lines that are not journalism – they are propaganda meant to silence principled dissent." ADF states on its website that its purpose is to 'advance the God-given right to freely live and speak the truth.' And the attorneys with ADF have proven extremely successful in advancing those rights, which is probably why Oliver decided to attack them. Opinion: Ivy League is still struggling to figure out what's free speech – and what isn't. Since 2011, ADF has directly represented the winning parties in 15 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and has played roles in dozens of other victories since its founding in 1994. The 'God-given' rights that ADF seeks to defend are some of our most cherished constitutional rights. The First Amendment offers robust protections for free speech and religious freedom, and these rights are at the heart of ADF's work. Oliver brought up former cases dealing with Colorado cake baker Jack Phillips and Colorado web designer Lorie Smith. Both Phillips and Smith – represented by ADF – won their cases before the Supreme Court. And both of them fought against the government forcing them to create certain messages about marriage that would offend their deeply held beliefs. Opinion: Activists have made baker Jack Phillips' life miserable. Please leave him alone. While Oliver may find it hilarious that many Americans still believe in God and traditional marriage, that doesn't mean they are 'bad' or don't deserve inherent rights when acting out their faith in public life. I'm guessing Oliver didn't speak directly with Phillips or Smith, but I have, and they are far from bigots and 'haters.' They simply want to serve their customers while not having to betray their First Amendment rights in their creative work. LGBTQ rights and other freedoms must coexist Oliver seems most perturbed about the work ADF does in the LGBTQ arena. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. ADF has stood strongly against transgender athletes playing on girls' and women's sports teams, but this isn't a matter of 'hate.' It's about fairness and upholding current laws like Title IX, which prevents discrimination based on sex in schools that take federal funding. The more liberals try to force women to compete against biological males, the more it will backfire on them. A new poll from NBC News Stay Tuned confirms that 75% of Americans don't think transgender athletes should play on female teams. And 71% agree there are only two genders: male and female. Opinion: Trump is winning for women and girls by preserving Title IX's original intent So ADF is far from the fringe on this issue. Oliver also brought up 'concerns' about an ADF-related case the Supreme Court will decide by the end of June. That case out of Oklahoma could allow for the first religious charter school in the country. Oliver said he doesn't like that the school's policy is to interact with students and staff based on their 'biological sex.' We live in an extremely diverse country, with many different perspectives on how to see the world. And that's fine. Our Constitution provides a roadmap for how to balance these competing interests. If liberals like Oliver are serious about combating intolerance and 'hate,' they should start by looking in the mirror. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
