Christian Symbol on Traffic Tickets

In reference to the story on the Manhattan Beach police officer Steve Fletcher, putting a (small c , thank you) christian symbol on the traffic tickets he issues, I submit the following.

First, Ms. Kathleen Parsons should be commended for having the integrity to stick up for what she believes and also for having the courage to do so. I hope she does not (as I have) receive hate letters and phone calls some of the “love your neighbor, turn the other cheek” christians (sic) will most probably heap on her. (In my experience, most do not identify themselves.)

Why would Fletcher change the way he signs his name to include a fish symbol drawn in the exact way christians (sic) do unless he was attempting to proselytize? Fish can certainly be drawn in many different ways, but when drawn in that particular manner anyone but a very uninformed person would know it is a christian (sic) symbol. And is Fletcher lying when he says it’s just part of his signature? I say yes, he is lying! And, I certainly would not believe any police report he wrote!

Then the Manhattan Beach prosecutor, Gregory Palmer, makes a totally idiotic statement that Fletcher had signed “thousands of tickets with the symbol and Parsons was the first to complain.” Merely because a thing has been done for years is not a rational or logical reason to continue to do it. And, more importantly, when what’s being done is wrong, it’s stupid to continue to do it!

The mayor and the Manhattan Beach City Council should inform Palmer his job is to enforce the law. And not to make excuses for those who break the law. (Maybe Palmer worked for Nixon.)

Fletcher states he has been signing his name that way “for years.” It makes no difference how long he has been doing it or why he is doing it. A public servant has no right to impose any religious views on others while performing official duties.

Would christians (sic) like it if our paper money had “There Is No God” printed on it? Would they like our pledge to have “under no God” inserted into it?

When a baby is born, the baby does not believe in anything! (And particularly not in any religion!) Thus, all babies, and that means every single one, is born an Atheist! Then, many are just programmed to believe a particular brand of gobblygook (religion).

America is supposed to be for all people and not just those who have not yet outgrown their childhood programming. (All religions think they are the only right one and none have any proof. Facts are, all religions are nothing but very childish superstitions.) Me? I’m “born again” all right, I’m a “born-again” (capital A) Atheist, and I’m damn proud of deprogramming myself!

In knowledge, logic and reason,

NEIL C. REINHARDT

El Segundo