Date: Tue, 22 Nov 1994 22:16:25 -0600 (CST) From: Kevyn Jacobs Subject: TOPEKA C-J LETTERS ABOUT PHELPS/ANGELOU FROM THE TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1994 REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION ------------------------------- LETTERS - MAYA ANGELOU TOPEKA HELD HOSTAGE How long is the city of Topeka going to be held hostage by Fred Phelps and his evil followers? (I will not give him the honor of calling him Rev.) The confrontation he subjected Maya Angelou to should be the final straw and embarrassment. These people are not Christians. The Bible tells us in I John 4:8 that God is love and also I John 4:20 which says a man cannot love God and hate his neighbor. Fred preaches only hate and evil. Every time someone tries to stop him, some judge lets him off, saying this is his "right". Where are our rights? Thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union, the voice of the majority is no longer heard. Perhaps it is time for us to start exercising our rights to live free of harassment and filth on our street corners and the slander that is perpetrated against anyone who opposes him. Come on, city officials - clean up this mess. -ELMA LUTHYE, TOPEKA FORGIVE US MAYA Dear Maya, I can't begin to tell you how grieved I was at the way you were treated in my home state of Kansas. Please forgive us. I revere you and your writings. If we've ever had a national treasure, it is you. Please do not feel bad toward all of us because of the lunatic antics of the Phelps clan. I've lived long enough to know in my heart that hate in the end will consume the hater - either here or in the hereafter. I also feel you handled the situation in the right manner. You are loved so much, I am just deeply sorry that it had to happen. -RICHARD D. TICE, CHANUTE SICKENING SPECTACLE I was sickened and ashamed to live in Topeka when I read that Maya Angelou was assaulted before her scheduled appearance at the Topeka Performing Arts Center last weekend, an that she felt the need to postpone her Emporia appearance because of the Phelps family and their treatment of her. They are allowed to deny us our rights. I don't understand this kind of freedom. -JOANNE MILLER MUNOZ, TOPEKA COME BACK, MAYA I join the silent and not-too-silent citizenry offering Topekan's embarrassing apology to Maya Angelou. Except for a very tiny fraction (but vociferous in style) of chronic protesters, we continue to welcome Maya Angelou with love, respect and admiration and good wishes as we identify with her positive messages. So welcome back (any time), Maya Angelou! -DR.MANUEL M. ESCUDERO, TOPEKA MISGUIDED ZEALOTS As a Christian, I feel it necessary to address an event that I just saw on the evening news that was taking place in your community. Some misguided zealots, calling themselves Christians, were displaying placards proclaiming God's hatred of "fags" and "gays." They claim that it is scriptural for God and the Church to hate sinners. This claim is false. God's word speaks of love and forgiveness for the sinner who repents and accepts the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures also tell of the judgement reserved for those who will not accept God's grace. Yes, God hates sin! But, God loves the sinner so much that "he gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I feel it is important that people know the behavior and attitude expressed by those in the newscast are not compatible with true Christianity, which emphasizes love and forgiveness while at the same time repudiates sinful behavior. -MARY CUNNINGHAM, STONEWALL, OKLA. A SHAMEFUL EPISODE The Harassment of Maya Angelou at the Topeka Performing Arts Center Nov. 13 was another shameful episode totally uncalled for. Shame on the city fathers, lawmakers and law enforcers who allow a gang of loonies to continue their outrageous picketing. When will the people with power to do so remove this kind of blight from our otherwise fair city? -AL WESTINGS, TOPEKA HOW LONG, CITY? I see the local preachers of hate are at it again - harassing an innocent person who was trying to bring joy to the rest of us. This time she was the world famous poet Maya Angelou, who is a loving, caring person who believes in diversity and peoplehood. She postponed a performance in Emporia after what happened here. She didn't want anyone hurt, especially the students. This sweet lady was verbally assaulted before she even got out of the car - not once, but for both performances. There were tears in her eyes. These preachers of hate who whine and whimper every time they think their first amendment rights are being violated, again proved Sunday that they don't care about anyone else's rights. City officials, how long are the rest of us citizens' and visitors' first amendment rights going to be violated? As a citizen of Topeka, I apologize to this sweet lady and to the people of Emporia. -MARY LOU SCHMIDT, TOPEKA