Steve Martens’ Jan. 29 column in support of the ERA mentioned that as far as the columnist knew, the state could not fire a teacher for being gay.

This is not the case, as until sexual orientation is on the list of things the state does not allow discrimination about, such as race and sex, it is perfectly legal and school districts or the state itself can get away with it, except in the few districts that protect from discrimination on this basis within their district.

In David Staff’s letter against Brian Johnson’s excellent column he points out that Johnson claims the actions of intolerant Christians were wrong. Staff asks, “Yet not being a Christian, where does he get his standard? And indeed, what makes his standard superior?”

Is Staff really narrow-minded enough to think that Christianity is the only standard people could base their moral standard on with so many other religions and legitimate non-religious systems of thought in this world? Perhaps if Johnson’s and others’ standards are based on fundamental concern for the rights and happiness of others or on a more open interpretation of a religion like Christianity, this does make them superior to those who take a narrow view of one religion and try to force it on everyone else regardless of their different beliefs and needs like the Christians Johnson criticizes do.

Tom Soppe

Iowa City