Example: [Collected via e-mail, September 2007]
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It's time to stomp out atheists in America. The majority of Americans would love to see atheists kicked out of America. If you don't believe in God, then get out of this country.
The United States is based on having freedom of religion, speech, etc., which means you can believe in God any way you want (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc.), but you must believe. I don't recall freedom of religion meaning no religion. Our currency even says, "In God We Trust." So, to all the atheists in America: Get out of our country. Atheists have caused the ruin of this great nation by taking prayer out of our schools and being able to practice what can only be called evil. I don't care if they have never committed a crime, atheists are the reason crime is rampant. |
Origins: Attempting to assign any kind of "true" or "false" status to letters to the editor is often tricky, because such letters are generally expressions of opinion (rather than fact), and the senders of such letters are not even necessarily the original authors. (Readers often
In this case, at least, we can make a few statements about the above-reproduced letter advocating that Americans "Stomp out atheists":
- It was printed by a newspaper (specifically the
2007 edition of the Alaskan newspaper Peninsula Clarion) over the name of one Alice Shannon of Soldotna, Alaska:
- As the Clarion explained in a later editorial, however, the letter was intended as a spoof, one that did not originate with its sender:
Weeks later we received the following letter from Ms. Shannon:
"While I've been thoroughly entertained by the overwhelming number of passionate responses to myJanuary 29th letter, it should probably be noted that, as at least one writer speculated, it was a complete joke. I think it has run its course and at this time space in the Letters to the Editor section should be reserved for more important issues."
Now we were angry. Numerous attempts to contactMs. Shannon proved the letter was a hoax, and we stopped printing any letters referring to hers. Shortly afterward, we received a letter from a person telling us the same letter was found in a blog from a woman from South Carolina, and he sent us the Web address.
We wanted our readers to know the story behind the letter. - Given the plenitude of
e-mails we've received over the years expressing the very same sentiments as this letter, it (regardless of the intentions of its creator and/or sender) apparently does reflect the genuine opinions of a not insubstantial readership base.
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