Letters to the editor: January 7

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Submit your letter to the editor

ISLAM

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Dilemma facing moderates

Columnist Tom Patterson says that it is decision time for the moderate Muslims, and that moderate Muslims are the key to eradicating Islamic-inspired terrorism (Opinion 2, Monday). But we need to understand that moderate Muslims cannot help us even if they want to. The ultimate dilemma is that Islamic-inspired terrorism, as Patterson calls it, is just that because it is based on the Koran and on the sayings of Muhammad. The basic principle of Islam is that the Koran is the literal word of Allah — perfect, complete, immutable and valid for all of eternity. Even moderate Muslims cannot publicly deny this, although that is precisely what is necessary in order to counter the Muslim terrorists who have the Koran and the example of Muhammad on their side — they quote the Koran and Muhammad all the time.

We and courageous individuals like Dr. Zuhdi Jasser (mentioned in Denis Egan’s excellent letter Monday) can call upon moderate Muslims to speak out against the imams and the Muslim religious establishment; but they never do speak out because that would require publicly rejecting portions of the Koran, which they cannot do and still retain their nominal identity as Muslims.

Therefore, the most that moderate Muslims can do is to go about their lives in silent disobedience to the requirements of the Koran, Muhammad and the sharia. Millions of Muslims do this; they don’t even go to mosque regularly. So, unfortunately, it is up to us to eradicate Islamic-inspired terrorism without their public support.

CARL GOLDBERG

TEMPE

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

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No bias in opposing

This is in response to the Dec. 26 letter from Debra J. White. No one is anti-immigrant, regardless of what country they are from. The only thing people are upset and angry about is the illegal immigrant. Her example of the Holocaust during Hitler’s time isn’t related because the Jewish people or anyone else they sent to the “camps” were already citizens of the country they were arrested in. They were not illegal.

We are against illegals, regardless of what country they are from, and they should be sent home.

BILL PHILLIPS

CHANDLER

Just issue more visas

Instead of the newspapers and others crying how we’ll hurt our economy by ridding ourselves of illegal immigrants, why doesn’t the government get busy and issue more green cards so these people can come here and work legally? That is what our main gripe is about.

Are you trying to say we can’t do it legally?

KENNETH W. COLLINS

MESA

TIGERS

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Don’t cage wild animals

On Christmas Day, the same day one boy was killed by an escaped tiger in California and two others were mauled, another tiger was found shot to death alongside an apartment complex in Dallas. Tigers do not belong in backyard cages. Please support Haley’s Act (HR 1947) or a similar bill to end the breeding of big cats outside of the internationally sanctioned Species Survival Plans administered by accredited zoos.

This tragedy would never have happened if Congress had made Haley’s Act a priority when it was first introduced two years ago. Please make it your priority this year.

Big cats and other wild animals do not belong in the hands of the public.

Too many animals suffer and the owners don’t know how to properly care for the animals, nor provide for the safety of themselves or the public. It is time to ban the ownership of all wild animals with the exception of those in accredited zoos and sanctuaries.

You can see the video and read the press report here: www.bigcatrescue.org/video/b42008/5000reward.htm

REBECCA SCHNEIDER

MESA

DECADES THEME PARK

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Parks thrive in Florida’s heat

As a resident of Orlando, Fla. for over 15 years, I had to express my extreme support for the planned Decades Music Theme park in Eloy. All I can say is Arizona is probably one of the most overlooked states when it comes to tourist-type development. And why? Because it usually has to do with a comment such as, “but it’s just so hot! Moving to Arizona from Florida was probably the best move my family ever made. When you consider the humidity of Florida, and in particular central Florida, it truly is a very miserable place to be in the summer. And it’s not much different than the other 75 percent of the year, which is oddly enough the percentage of humidity it feels like year round.

I personally moved my company to Arizona because it has low humidity, various temperature differences throughout the year, great business opportunities in the web development world, and no hurricanes! I must also state that what Disney, SeaWorld and Universal Studios did for central Florida, can very easily be done here in Arizona. Because of its tourism base, Floridians pay no state taxes, and there’s always new hotels, attractions, entertainment, and dining concepts being brought to the area. This brings jobs, plenty of revenue to the state, lower taxes, and high property values across the region.

I hate crowds and waiting in theme park lines, which is why as a resident of the Orlando area, it was always nice to be able to go during the off-peak seasons and walk right on up to everything.

DOUG JUSTICE

QUEEN CREEK