2001 Soap Box Archives

An open letter to Michael

I recently did a soapbox piece talking about, among other things, the inability of children being able to pray in school. I received an e-mail from a gentleman named Michael informing me that I was wrong about children having prayer in school, that individual prayer was not forbidden. He also let me know that I should have my column edited because my grammar and spelling made me appear uneducated. Hi Michael, Thank you for the e-mail and stating your opinion. I wish that everybody would. I will respond to some of the things you had to say in your e-mail. First of all, let’s get the education issue out of the way. I am not a highly educated man, formally speaking. I made it through high school and didn’t attempt to go any further because a college education in my profession would not have been very useful. And while I appreciate your constructive criticism, my column is not meant to be an example of grammatical nor political correctness. It is quite simply the opinion of a simple man. Neither is it meant to be a light in the darkness for the intellectual community and does not cater to the popular concepts held by such people. I am anti-abortion, pro-life, pro Christian, anti socialism and I believe that everybody in this nation should learn to speak English, simply because they'll never be able to truly assimilate into this society without doing so. I believe in school vouchers so that children of differing faiths can be instructed in their individual beliefs without offending the sensibilities of others. I believe in smaller government, cleaner television and truthful news reporting. I make no apologies for my Christianity. I believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, the only way, the only truth and the only life. I believe in racial equality and not the self serving, band aid surgery type of rhetorical clap trap expounded by some of the minority leaders. I believe in the right to bear arms. I refuse to be afraid in my own house and I believe that I have the right to protect my family by whatever means necessary. I believe in giving a day’s work for a day’s pay . I believe that every man who fathers a child should be responsible for that child’s welfare until it reaches the age of majority. I believe that every able bodied man would work for a living instead of living off the taxpayers. Conversely, I believe that every truly disabled person should be able to receive all the help they need. I believe that every person should be responsible for their own actions and held accountable for them. I believe in the punishment of criminals up to and including the death penalty. I believe in the American dream. I believe that if you’re willing to try hard enough that you can make something out of yourself. Well Michael, that’s some of the deeply held beliefs of a simple uneducated man.

What do you think?

God Bless America
Charlie Daniels