Letters to the Editor for Sunday, January 17, 2010

Writer: Wrong to equate GOP, Christianity
I was struck by Clifford Russell’s Jan. 12 letter to the editor that seemed to advocate more “righteous” Republicans and casting aside Democrats with their atheism and socialism.

He described capitalism as the supreme economic system, which only needed to be steered correctly by righteous Christians. He decried the socialist attempt by the Democrats to make available more home ownership for the poor through sub-prime lending as the prime mover for our current economic plight.

Well, what would a “righteous” Christian advocate for the poor of this country? Were the Democrats wrong in making their attempt or was the problem with the economic mechanics of the attempt? The GOP loves to cloak itself in Christianity while it advocates “personal responsibility” in a context that brings to mind “survival of the fittest” Darwinism of the late 19th century capitalistsm.

Marcus Borg, in the final chapter of his book “The First Paul,” tells of the Apostle Paul making his final trip to the Jerusalem community, which was headed by James, the acknowledged brother of Jesus. James is described as an ascetic conservative whose community practiced a form of shared wealth. There were no individual possessions, the community owned all. The community was constantly in need. It’s easy to imagine that not only the poor but also the lazy would have posed a drain on its resources. There is no doubt that James saw this “communist” attempt as a fitting way to bring life to his brother’s words. “Blessed are the poor.” There’s also that passage about the camel passing through the eye of a needle being compared to a rich man entering the kingdom of God (however, you may want to interpret that for your own comfort). But then, as near as I can tell, Jesus wasn’t all about bringing comfort to the comfortable. His eschatology was imminent.

If Jesus were here today, would he be an advocate for some sort of wealth sharing? The GOP constantly decries any tax or program that could be described as wealth redistribution. Any tax that pays for any social program or any gift that we make to a charity is wealth redistribution.

It will be interesting to see what “righteous Christians” wearing the GOP label will regard as a proper level of wealth redistribution on the part of the government. Imagine a Jewish rabbi (Jesus was Jewish) wandering about the country preaching a message of love for one’s neighbor and urging his listeners to transform their lives.

Would anybody listen to that message today? Probably not. It’s too uncomfortable, and it doesn’t resonate with consumption driven capitalism.

It’s much easier to embrace one’s version of Christianity than to embrace Jesus.
ART COSTAN
Forest

‘Barackracy’? Hah!
In his Jan. 7 letter to the editor, “‘Barackracy’ has replaced democracy,” Rod Ellis says we had a republic and a democracy until President Barack Obama won.

That Democrats won the House and Senate means nothing to him. Some people somehow see only their economic views in the Constitution. And if you disagree, then your vote just does not count.

He believes dissent is suppressed. Yet some rightwing television commentators still have their jobs after calling for revolution. I challenge him to name one similar instance under a Republican?

Somehow, former President George W. Bush got a mandate despite losing the popular vote in 2000.We were already in one war, so he lied to start an expensive, bloody second war. If you complained, you were a traitor. It was fine for Bush to bankrupt us as long as he said the words Mr. Ellis wanted to hear.

President Obama has kept us from deeper economic troubles. Some prefer worse difficulties as long as their holy economic writ is followed. Then they would blame Democrats. Similarly, former President Bill Clinton was condemned for a good U.S. economy despite a world depression at the time (which he shortened).

President Obama is doing more in Afghanistan and Pakistan to protect us from our enemies. God bless him, and help him do it!
THOMAS R. CARWILE
Lynchburg