Feb. 18 Letters to the Editor

It’s humans who confuse the message

“The recent discussion about Christianity should be put in different terms,” says Sam Korff’s Feb. 5 letter. He suggests, “imagine that the Christ story …” Let me interrupt here by saying that I can imagine just about anything, but to imagine Christ as “a worthless $10 bill” or “as merely a symbol” is to lay into the grave every value, hope and truth that emanates from Christ.

If, “Christhood is available to all who see what the symbol represents,” as Korff says, than what pathetic value is there in a symbol represented by a lie that was formed in the imagination of a man’s mind who swore that it was the truth? But then he flips his wooden nickel and says that there is a “desire for spirits to break free,” that, “God is present in all men,” and “that Christ is the symbol of spiritual love in the heart.” All this begs the question from what seed, in not a literal Christ, do these innate needs sprout from and if it be Korff’s Christ then again, what value, furthermore who is this God that Korff alludes to if not the God of the very real Jesus Christ?

Korff continues with, “Calling the Christ story a biographical fact has justified some of the vilest deeds in human history.” Others would choose to say that neither Christ nor his life has anything to do with humans that choose to distort, corrupt or otherwise confuse the pure message of the gospel.

D.L. McAlister

Kelso

Poor treatment

This is about the way I have been treated in this town ever since I moved here. An example is back in the Clinton administration I had my yellow van legally parked in front of my house licensed and everything and still the police put a tow sign on it. Now three months ago the county sent me a foreclosure notice on my house because I didn’t pay the mosquito spraying taxes. Well, the reason I didn’t pay the taxes is because I have a total dispensation since I was 62. I am now 70.

Nice to know the way we are treated in the states when our innocent boys are still dying for this in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. I guess what I am trying to say is this: Now that we have made our world a safer place, why don’t we try to straighten out some of the injustice in our own country? The foreigners know how screwed up we really are. They correspond with relatives who live here.

Also, this is about the Longview Senior Center. Most people there are nice, humane people. I used to have fun, then somewhere along the line things changed. I talked to a fellow five years ago. We met outside on the sidewalk after playing pool. He said, “What is wrong with them?” I knew right away what he was talking about. “It’s a clique,” I said. I suppose a lot of people haven’t been back. Three or four pool players think they own the center. They act that way so they can dominate the tables.

Gene Ekman

Longview

Build a better community

I would like to organize a group-oriented outreach program, in which myself and any number of willing participants will begin building a foundation for a better community, including more youth activities and charitable events. By doing so, I hope to instill the loving, caring spirit in the hearts and minds of everyone in our community.

I want to find the good in a world where all hope seems lost, and then share it with everyone. I want to express the value of compassion, integrity and open-mindedness, but most of all, I want to give meaning to this life in the least selfish way I possibly can.

If you are sincerely interested in helping me to achieve this goal, please attend this non-exclusive (all are welcome), all ages, gathering at 6 p.m. March 1 at Vernie’s Pizza, 900 Triangle Center in Longview to further discuss my purpose. I recommend bringing a pen and notepad to take some notes and maybe some contact information. You may contact me by email at x_jared@hotmail.com. I would appreciate RSVP if you are interested in attending or have any further suggestions.

Jared Mitchell

Longview

Too much commentary

Vincent O’Rourke (Feb. 4 letter) cites three biblical passages of Hebrews buying or being told by God that they have been given land some 3400 to 3000 years ago in what is now Palestine. I presume he is making the “God’s chosen people” and “God gave them the land” arguments for Israel. Occupancy and/or actual ownership in the interval to the present is to be ignored? Should current claimants have to prove rather just claim descent from the ancient purchasers or grantees?

Karen Armstrong, an English scholar of religions, tells a story. Solomon Grayzel, “A History of the Jews,” and a book on the Talmud have a similar tale. In the time of Christ a Jewish priest was challenged to stand on one foot and recite the Torah (Christian’s Old Testament). He responded, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you, the rest is commentary.” I would suggest that much of the strife and hatred in Palestine is because commentary takes precedence. Using the Bible to claim privilege or superiority is all too common and destructive.

Richard C. Nau

Longview