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December 03. 2014 12:01AM Letters to the Editor, Dec. 3 Supporting Cochran This letter is in support of Sgt. Dace Cochran and his right to give his personal opinion without it relating to his employment. We all have the right to "free speech," not just the protesters, those against God, gays, etc. There is a Biblical passage that says for men to lie with men is an abomination, also one that says hate the sin and not the sinner. Dace Cochran's stance is hate the sin not the sinner. I believe that it is time for those of us that believe that Jesus Christ is our lord and savior need to stand up for that belief. Christians have been persecuted over the centuries and that is still the case. We live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. I stand behind Sgt. Cochran's right to state his opinion and admire him for his beliefs and convictions. May God Bless you, Dace. Marge E. Cecil, Grants Pass Pipeline would benefit few When we evaluate the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline, we should ask who really benefits. The project is clearly designed to increase the profits of the project companies and the salaries of their executives. By exporting fracked natural gas (methane) to Asia, these companies will gain substantially. But what of the rest of us? The answers is simply that we lose for many reasons. Save for a handful of jobs, we will not benefit in any way. However, far more jobs would be created by promoting renewable energy. Many landowners will suffer property loss through eminent domain, Our rivers and forests (private, U.S. Forest Service, and BLM) will be compromised by the construction and maintenance of a 36-inch pipeline with its huge right of way. Users of Coos Bay waterways will be disrupted by frequent tanker passages closing the estuary. Our wildlife will be compromised by pipeline construction, maintenance, and resolving the inevitable leaks. As a result of successful natural gas exports, the price of gas will climb. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking), which compromises local environmental and human health, will be encouraged. And finally, climate chaos around the globe will be promoted as more greenhouse gases are emitted into our atmosphere. Kathy Conway, co-facilitator, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now Religion In America Regarding the recent debate concerning the right to speak out against something on a person’s private time, let’s break the discussion down to its underlying irritant, that being Christianity and its worldview of absolutes. No homosexuality, no adultery, no abortion, no other gods, etc. Really, people are tired of Christians and their restrictive absolutes! Today’s national religion is called pluralism. This is the belief that all religions are acceptable and correct. Unfortunately for the pluralist, if all religions are equally true, then they are also all equally false! Now, a doctrine of our national religion is called the “new tolerance.” This worldview preaches that I must approve and agree with everyone. This belief I contrast with “true tolerance.” True tolerance gives people the freedom to their worldview even when I don’t agree or approve of it. I want to be a true tolerant Christian, not a new tolerant pluralist. Although I don’t always agree with others, I still want to love all people, as Jesus did and does, regardless of their worldview.  Indeed, we live in a time where it is wrong to say what is wrong! Thus, the debate will rage on. But kudos to the sergeant. He demonstrated courage to speak out against the common American religion. In our day, that’s the rarest type of courage: moral courage! Daniel A. Tomlinson, Medford http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141203/Opinion/141209912 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->