From Deseret News archives:
Ministers — or public menace?
Ron Briggs
Taylorsville
Those who think the city is bowing to the LDS Church by creating a buffer zone at conference are wrong. The city is creating a buffer zone to bow to the constitutionally-mandated right of peaceable assembly.
Bruce T. Forbes
Kearns
I will be in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday BECAUSE the protesters will be present for LDS general conference. Why wasn't this one of the answers on your "quick poll" today?
David J. Vergobbi
Salt Lake City
Their vulgarity, meanness and hatred for what is sacred suggest the street preachers have never read John 8, where Jesus confronted the Pharisees and taught that their behavior proved their parentage.
Richard Smurthwaite
Bountiful
There should be a comic strip in the funnies called "Lonnie and the Street Preachers." They should live next door to Mr. and Mrs. Dagwood Bumstead.
Douglas Lister Cotant
Salt Lake City
If I go onto public land and stand underneath a natural bridge, I could get arrested because the NPS wants to honor the religious beliefs of the Hopi and Navajo tribes. But if I go onto private property, owned by the LDS Church, and behave in the same manner, I will have the protection of the ACLU, the courts and Mayor Anderson. The double standard is incredible.
Gary Hulet
Lindon
My wedding day was ruined because of these cowardly individuals. They were screaming profanities at me and my wife, leaving her in tears for the rest of the day. I have no problem with a polite, calm discussion on politics and religion. I do take issue with those who make a spiritual weekend into a weekend of intimidation, hate, bigotry and misery.
Pete Lauber
West Valley City
When the serpent rears its ugly head and spews its hateful venom, do not ignore it and certainly do not try to negotiate with it, but rather be grateful for the opportunity to endure it well.
Jerry Kartchner
Centerville
The solution for dealing with the so-called street preachers seems fairly simple to me: Ignore them.
Laura M. Bybee
Herriman
The very presence of (the street preachers) fortifies the comments of a Norwegian gentleman who stated, "There must be something to Mormonism since they are persecuted so."
Cheryl Barney
Salt Lake City
What's needed is to have an LDS kilted bagpiper, stationed near each protester, to entertain the protester with Scottish bagpipe music. I suspect conferencegoers would rather hear bagpipe music over Lonnie and his friends.
Don Wilson
