Mr. Speaker:

Most Americans believe we live in dangerous times, and I must agree. Today I want to talk about how I see those dangers and what Congress ought to do about them.

Of course, the Monday-morning quarterbacks are now explaining, with political overtones, what we should have done to prevent the 9/11 tragedy. Unfortunately, in doing so, foreign policy changes are never considered.

I have, for more than two decades, been severely critical of our post-World War II foreign policy. I have perceived it to be not in our best interest and have believed that it presented a serious danger to our security.

For the record, in January of 2000 I stated the following on this floor:

Our commercial interests and foreign policy are no longer separate...as bad as it is that average Americans are forced to subsidize such a system, we additionally are placed in greater danger because of our arrogant policy of bombing nations that do not submit to our wishes. This generates hatred directed toward America ...and exposes us to a greater threat of terrorism, since this is the only vehicle our victims can use to retaliate against a powerful military state...the cost in terms of lost liberties and unnecessary exposure to terrorism is difficult to assess, but in time, it will become apparent to all of us that foreign interventionism is of no benefit to American citizens, but instead is a threat to our liberties.

Again, let me remind you I made these statements on the House floor in January 2000. Unfortunately, my greatest fears and warnings have been borne out.

I believe my concerns are as relevant today as they were then. We should move with caution in this post-9/11 period so we do not make our problems worse overseas while further undermining our liberties at home.

So far our post-9/11 policies have challenged the rule of law here at home, and our efforts against the al Qaeda have essentially come up empty-handed. The best we can tell now, instead of being in one place, the members of the al Qaeda are scattered around the world, with more of them in allied Pakistan than in Afghanistan. Our efforts to find our enemies have put the CIA in 80 different countries. The question that we must answer some day is whether we can catch enemies faster than we make new ones. So far it appears we are losing.

The letter you are about to read could change your life. Christians, people of ALL religions, MUST awken to the myths of their religion and begin living for TODAY and for all of HUMANITY. If you can explain ANY of what is written in the letter below, I would like to hear from you. And, YES, it is ALL "in context." So much of what we are told we "should" do or should "not" do is based on teachings from the OLD TESTAMENT - and NOT the NEW TESTAMENT. Yet, all Christians accept the Old Testament as being the word of God and a sacred book. For those who believe this, here is a letter - written with tongue firmly planted in cheek - but **very serious** as to the hypocrisy of religion and its pick and choose "laws of God" to follow. To ANY preacher or educated Christian - this is for you. If you would like to respond, please write
writerranger@paxemail.com

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Unchanging Law. I have learned a great deal from your teachings, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws - like the one we always cite regarding homosexuality - and how to follow them. Any help would be appreciated, I'm really running into much difficulty and this is just a partial list of questions.

Okay.....

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. But the Bible IS clear on this: "Leviticus 1:9 'Its entrails, however, and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer up in smoke all of it on the altar for a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD."

2. I am giving consideration to selling my daughters into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? I DO understand, according to the Bible, she may never go free: Exodus 21:7 "If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to go free as the male slaves do."

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual "uncleanliness" - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. I want to remain pure for the lord as the Bible instructs on this issue: Lev.15:19-24: "When a woman has a discharge, if her discharge in her body is blood, she shall continue in her menstrual impurity for seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.
20 'Everything also on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean, and everything on which she sits shall be unclean.
21 'Anyone who touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening.
22 'Whoever touches any thing on which she sits shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening.
23 'Whether it be on the bed or on the thing on which she is sitting, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening.
24 If a man actually lies with her so that her menstrual impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.
25 Now if a woman has a discharge of her blood many days, not at the period of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond that period, all the days of her impure discharge she shall continue as though in her menstrual impurity; she is unclean.
26 Any bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her like her bed at menstruation; and every thing on which she sits shall be unclean, like her uncleanness at that time.
27 Likewise, whoever touches them shall be unclean and shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening.
28 When she becomes clean from her discharge, she shall count off for herself seven days; and afterward she will be clean.
29 Then on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them in to the priest, to the doorway of the tent of meeting.
30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement on her behalf before the LORD because of her impure discharge."

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? To me, God made no distinction: Leviticus 25:44 "As for your male and female slaves whom you may have--you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you."

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? It couldn't be any clearer and I certainly want to please the Lord: Exodus 35:2 "For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death."

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality or any of these other things I've mentioned? I don't agree. Can you settle this? The Bible IS clear on not eating shellfish, so I don't need help there, just wondering if it's as important as the other things? Leviticus 11:10 "But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you,"

7. Lev. 21:16-23 clearly states that there are many reasons that one cannot approach the altar of God. One is a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? I was so dissappointed to know I am a lesser person to God. I wish I could do something about my eyesight. Also, my son has a broken leg, and my sister was born with a deformity. This truly distresses me. What can you suggest? Again, this is very, very clear in the Bible!
Lev 21:16-23:
16 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "Speak to Aaron, saying, 'No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God.
18 'For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb,
19 or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand,
20 or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles.
21 'No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the LORD'S offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.
22 'He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,
23 only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them."

8.Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. I am beginning to look like the shaggy dog, but I know I am pleasing the Lord. What though should I do about my sinful friends? The Bible, again, is clear - I DO understand. Lev. 19:27 "You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard."

9. I know from Lev. 11:7-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? This may seem a silly question, but I know all of God's laws are to followed, but I really enjoy tossing a football around and the plastic ones for kids just aren't the same.
Lev. 11:7-8 "and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew cud, it is unclean to you. You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you."

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. However, it sounds like that is the method God says to use as I will cite the passage, it just seems like a lot of trouble.
Lev. 24:10-16: "Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the sons of Israel; and the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel struggled with each other in the camp.
11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)
12 They put him in custody so that the command of the LORD might be made clear to them.
13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
14 "Bring the one who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then let all the congregation stone him.
15 "You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin.
16 'Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death."

Oh! Real quick, concerning the above -- Since getting the whole town together to stone them might be a problem (conflicting schedules and all), couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? Obviously, I'm sure you know I am speaking of Lev. 20:14:
"If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst." Just checking and seeking Godly advice.

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging!

In Christian Love,

A Believer